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AmEx Platinum (Schwab, Morgan) 150,000


Originally posted 5/7/26, reposting 6/12/26 since the timing is good now to apply for a Platinum card and maximize the semi-annual FHR credit and the quarterly Resy and Lululemon credits. (ht sixsillysquirrels)

The Offer

Schwab link | Morgan Stanley link

  • American Express Charles Schwab Platinum is offering 150,000 bonus points after $12,000 in spend within the first 6 months.
  • American Express Morgan Stanley Platinum is offering 150,000 bonus points after $12,000 in spend within the first 6 months.

Offers end 7/8/26.

 

Card Details

Card Details

  • Annual fee of $895 is not waived the first year
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 5x points per $1 spent on purchases made with airlines directly 
    • 5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotel & airline bookings made on the American Express travel website
    • 1x points on all other purchases
  • Lounge access:
    • Centurion lounge access
    • International American Express lounge access
    • Delta SkyClub lounge access
    • Priority pass select membership
    • Airspace lounge access
    • The Global Lounge Collection
  • Leaders Club Sterling status for Leading Hotels of the World, Marriott Gold status, Hilton Gold status, car rental status with Avis, Hertz, National

  • No foreign transaction fees

Card Credits

  • $600 hotel credit ($300 from Jan-June and $300 from Jul-Dec), (FHR any stay; THC min. 2-night stay), more discussion in this dedicated post
  • $400 Resy credit ($100 per quarter) – See the post, Maximizing The Resy $400 Dining Credit On American Express Platinum Card.
  • $300 Lululemon credit ($75 each quarter) – See this post, Maximizing The Lululemon $300 Credit On American Express Platinum Card.
  • $300 Entertainment credits – the Entertainment credit is being increased from $20 to $25 each month, and also expands what works to include the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV. More discussion here.
  • $120 Uber One credit 
  • $200 Uber Cash
  • $200 Oura Ring credit. Oura does require a paid subscription, see more analysis in this dedicated post.
  • $200 airline incidental credit 
  • $155 Walmart+ membership credit ($12.99 each month) 
  • $100 Saks credit ($50 Jan-Jun, $50 Jul-Dec) – this credit is ending soon
  • $300 Equinox credit and $300 SoulCycle credit 
  • $209 CLEAR membership credit
  • $85/$120 TSApre/GlobalEntry credits (once every 4-4.5 years)

Exclusives

Exclusive to the Morgan Stanley version:

  • Get your first Additional Platinum Card Free (The annual fee for each Additional Platinum Card is $195. There is no annual fee for Companion Platinum Cards.)
  • Redeem points as cash, credited to your E*TRADE or Morgan Stanley account, at a value of 1 cent per point. Unlimited.
  • Morgan Stanley Annual Engagement Bonus – up to $895 annually into your Platinum CashPlus account  offsetting the annual fee. (Must have Platinum CashPlus account, Morgan investment relationship, $5k monthly deposits + $25k daily cash balance requirements to avoid CashPlus fees.)

Exclusive to the Schwab version:

  • Redeem points as cash, credited to your Schwab brokerage or retirement account, at a value of 1.1 cents per point. Limit 1M points (.8 cents afterward). 
  • Schwab Appreciation Bonus – an annual statement credit based on Schwab assets: $100 with $250k+, $200 with $1M+, $1,000 with $10M+.

Our Verdict

This is the highest-ever straight-up points offer on the Schwab and Morgan Stanley Platinum cards. They did also raise the spend from $8,000 to $12,000. Some people will also be interested in the cashout option, especially from the Schwab card with the 1.1 cent cashout rate. 

The annual fee is massive at $895, but many people find it worth the fee with all the added credits. I’m considering applying. We will add this to our list of the best credit card bonuses.

Typically you can get one bonus per lifetime from AmEx, and so it might be easier to get these other flavors of AmEx Platinum if you previously had the vanilla AmEx Platinum card. In reality, I’m not sure how much any of this matters since AmEx introduced popup jail – if interested, simply submit an application and see if they offer you the bonus. 

Note: the regular AmEx Platinum card offers “as high as” 175,000 points so you might want to try that one first and see if they offer the 175k offer for you.

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Nearly 1 million investors in Trump’s memecoin lost a collective $3.8 billion as he cashed in



President Donald Trump has raked in hundreds of millions of dollars from his signature cryptocurrency while his supporters have largely been left holding the bag, according to a report.

Of the 1.48 million wallets that bought the $TRUMP memecoin since it launched just three days before Trump’s second inauguration last year, about 66%, or 988,905 wallets, had lost money by the end of June. According to data from blockchain analytics firm Nansen, the combined losses were $3.81 billion, reported the New York Times.

The losses are stark given that President Trump has claimed large profits from the token, which sports a picture of him with his fist in the air and the words “Fight, Fight, Fight,” in reference to the Butler, PA attempted assassination attempt in 2024. According to the president’s most recent financial disclosures, he had pocketed $636 million from the $TRUMP memecoin alone.

Trump Organization affiliates CIC Digital and Fight Fight Fight LLC own roughly 80% of the token supply, and Trump earns transaction fees each time the coin is bought or sold, according to CNN, meaning he profits regardless of whether the price rises or falls.

Trump also used his large social media presence to announce the coin in posts on both X and Truth Social when the coin launched last January.

“My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE! It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING! Join my very special Trump Community,” he wrote at the time.

But for his followers who put money into the token, the result has brought on less winning than expected. 

The Trump coin

The $TRUMP crypto is a memecoin, meaning its value isn’t tied to anything intrinsic. Because of this, the coin’s value can vary wildly. And indeed it has: the coin on Tuesday was trading at $1.68, down 97% from its all-time-high of $75.35.

While the coin’s own website says it is not an investment opportunity and is instead “intended to function as an expression of support for, and engagement with, the ideals and beliefs embodied by the symbol “$TRUMP” and the associated artwork,” many investors bought the coin with the hope that it might surge in value during Trump’s presidency.

While major losses have hit retail investors, Trump, once a cryptocurrency skeptic, has seen his crypto businesses quickly become a major part of his financial empire. His latest financial disclosure, as required to be filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, showed that his crypto earnings reached $1.4 billion last year, making up the majority of what Trump has earned since returning to office. 

Apart from his earnings from the $TRUMP coin, his companies also received $799 million from World Liberty Financial, the crypto venture he co-founded with his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. That sum included about $250 million from selling his interests in World Liberty Financial as well as more than $520 million from sales of another token, World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token, which has also plummeted more than 80% from its peak.

With the Trump memecoin, only fewer than 500,000 people actually made money, totaling $4 billion in gains, according to the Nansen report. Still, these gains represented mostly early buyers who got in during the first hours of trading, before the token surged and then crashed. The Nansen report said that the group who won on Trump’s memecoin “reflects a small number of early buyers capturing enormous gains while the broad retail majority absorbed the losses.”

This is a common dynamic with meme coins. While early buyers and insiders often profit when a coin takes off, retail investors who arrive later are often left with the steepest losses.

As for the White House, a spokesperson told the Associated Press that Trump is not involved in business decisions, and that “neither the President nor his family has ever engaged—or will ever engage—in conflicts of interest.”

The White House did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.

The Quarterly Review: Why Every Physician Should Be Doing This



Most high-achieving physicians I know do one of two things when it comes to reviewing their finances and their life. They either do a big annual reflection in January that fades by February, or they do nothing at all and just keep moving.

Neither works particularly well. And I spent years doing both before I figured out why.

The annual review is too infrequent. You can be drifting in the wrong direction for months before you notice. By the time you sit down in December to assess the year, too much has already happened to course-correct. You don’t get a bad quarter. You get a bad year.

The no-review approach is even more costly. It feels efficient because you’re always moving, but you’re navigating without a map. You’re responding to whatever is loudest instead of what actually matters.

The quarterly personal review sits in the middle. It’s the frequency that lets you catch problems early enough to fix them, without being so constant that it becomes another task on an already overloaded schedule.

Here’s the core idea: if you review quarterly, the worst outcome is a bad quarter. You catch it. You adjust. You move on. For physicians managing clinical work, investments, family, and often a side business or two, that kind of regular checkpoint isn’t a luxury. It’s how you stay intentional instead of just reactive.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Any investment involves risk, and you should consult your financial advisor, attorney, or CPA before making any investment decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The author and associated entities disclaim any liability for loss incurred as a result of the use of this material or its content.

It’s not just the talks. Or the speakers. Or the strategies.

PIMDCON, the #1 Real Estate & Entrepreneurship Conference for Physicians, works because of what happens between the sessions.

The conversations. The clarity. The shift.

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Why Clarity Is the Real Goal

Before getting into the mechanics, I want to name something that often gets overlooked in conversations about reviews and goal-setting.

The point isn’t optimization. The point is clarity.

I’ve talked to a lot of physicians who carry a low-grade financial anxiety that never fully goes away. They’re earning good money. They have investments. Nothing is catastrophically wrong. But there’s always this nagging feeling that they’re behind, that something is off, that they should be doing more.

Most of the time, that feeling has nothing to do with reality. It comes from uncertainty.

When you glance at your bank account and the number looks lower than expected, your brain fills in the blanks with worst-case scenarios. When you haven’t looked at your net worth in six months, every market headline feels personal. When you don’t have a clear picture of where you actually stand, the anxiety finds its own answer, and that answer is almost always more alarming than the truth.

What I’ve found, consistently, is that the antidote to that scarcity feeling isn’t cutting back or working harder. It’s clarity. When you sit down and actually look at your full financial picture, income trends, passive income progress, net worth direction, where the money is going, something shifts. The fog lifts. The anxiety doesn’t disappear entirely, but it becomes manageable because it’s now grounded in real information.

And that clarity extends well beyond finances. Should you cut back your clinical hours? Take on a new investment? Make a significant career change? Those decisions feel impossible when you’re operating without a clear picture of your current situation. When you have that picture, the decisions become a lot more straightforward. You’re working from data, not dread.

The Four Areas I Review Every Quarter

I keep this simple. Four areas, same template, every quarter.

The first is financial health. I look at total income for the quarter and what percentage came from sources that don’t require my active time. That ratio is the number I care about most. I also check net worth direction, not the precise figure but the trend, and I look for leaks. Subscriptions, fees, underperforming assets I’ve been meaning to address. You’d be surprised what accumulates when you’re not looking.

The financial review is where most people get their biggest wake-up call. Not because things are bad, but because they’ve never actually looked at everything together in one place. Seeing the full picture, even when it’s imperfect, is almost always better than the story your brain has been telling you.

The second area is time and energy. I pull up my actual calendar for the past 90 days. Not what I planned. What happened. Then I ask one question: does this look like the life I said I wanted, or does it look like the life I defaulted into? Those are very different things, and the calendar doesn’t lie.

Third is relationships. Family, close friends, key professional relationships. Is there anyone I’ve been meaning to reach out to that I’ve been pushing back? Physicians are skilled at rationalizing neglect. There’s always a next quarter coming. The review forces you to name it before another three months pass.

Fourth is projects and professional trajectory. What moved forward? What stalled? And most importantly, is there anything I’ve been avoiding that I already know needs attention? That last question is the one I sit with the longest.

What I’m avoiding is almost always the most important thing on the list.

How to Actually Run It

Block two to three hours. Do it alone. No interruptions.

Start with a journal, before you open any spreadsheets or pull any data. Three questions: How do I actually feel about where things are right now? What’s working that I’m not giving myself credit for? What am I pretending not to see?

That last question is the most important one. It surfaces the things you already know but haven’t made yourself look at directly.

After the journal, pull the data. Financials, calendar, project metrics. Here’s something worth knowing: the journal entry and the data won’t always agree. That gap is information. If the numbers are better than your feelings suggest, that tells you something about where your anxiety is actually coming from. If the numbers are worse, you needed to know that anyway.

I use the same one-page template every quarter. Same four areas, same questions. The consistency matters more than the format. After a year you have four data points. After two years, eight. You start to see patterns you would have completely missed otherwise.


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What to Do With What You Find

This is where most review processes fall apart. You do the reflection, you feel productive, and then you go back to your regular life and nothing changes.

The fix is simple: leave every quarterly review with a maximum of two adjustments. Not a full overhaul. Two specific things you’re going to do differently in the next 90 days.

And distinguish between the two types of adjustments. One is doing more of something. The other is stopping something. In my experience, the second one is almost always more valuable. Physicians are skilled at adding.

We take on more, commit to more, optimize more. We’re much less practiced at subtracting. But eliminating one thing that’s draining time or energy without producing results is often worth more than any new habit you could add.

What Actually Changes

A physician I worked with had been feeling behind for most of a year. Good income, reasonable investments, nothing obviously wrong. But he hadn’t done any kind of deliberate review in nine months.

We talked through the process. He started running quarterly reviews. A few cycles in, he told me something I’ve heard versions of many times since: for the first time in years, he felt like he was actually steering his life instead of just surviving it.

And he stopped feeling behind. Not because his numbers changed overnight, but because he finally knew what was actually true. The anxiety had been filling a vacuum that clarity eventually closed.

That’s what this process is actually for. Not to grade yourself against some ideal, and not to manufacture motivation you don’t have. Just to look at your life honestly, on a frequent enough basis that you can actually make adjustments while they still matter.

If you’re interested in going deeper on this kind of work alongside other physicians who are doing the same, the is a good place to start. You can learn more at .


Were these helpful in any way? Make sure to sign up for the newsletter and join the Passive Income Docs Facebook Group for more physician-tailored content.

Peter Kim, MD is the founder of Passive Income MD, the creator of Passive Real Estate Academy, and offers weekly education through his Monday podcast, the Passive Income MD Podcast. Join our community at the Passive Income Doc Facebook Group.


Disclaimer: I am not a CPA, attorney, or financial advisor. The information in this post is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, legal, or financial advice. Please consult a qualified professional about your specific situation before making any decisions.

Further Reading



Best Student Loan Rates for July 7, 2026: Abe Leads At 2.39%


Student loan rates have are getting even more competitive as peak back to school season starts. As of July 7, 2026, private student loan lenders are offering fixed rates as low as 2.39% APR and variable rates starting as low as 3.03% APR, depending on credit profile, degree program, and repayment term. 

Abe® Student Loans, Sallie Mae, College Ave Student Loans are currently tied for the lowest fixed rate loan available. Student Choice is currently offering the lowest variable rate student loan available.

While federal student loan rates are set annually by Congress, private lenders continue to adjust based on market conditions and Treasury yields. Staying current on these changes can save borrowers hundreds (or even thousands) over the life of a loan.

💰 Today’s Best Student Loan Rates At a Glance

Here are the best private student loan rates today:

Lender

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Cosigner Required?

Abe® Student Loans

2.39% – 16.58%

3.50% – 16.50%

No

College Ave

2.39% – 17.99%

3.89% – 17.99%

Yes

Earnest

2.54% – 16.49%

4.99% – 16.85%

No

Sallie Mae

2.39% – 17.49%

3.75% – 16.95%

No

Student Choice

2.99% – 14.74%

3.03% – 15.00%

Optional

1. Abe® Student LoansAbe offers private student loans to a undergraduate, graduate, and post-bachelor graduate certificate students, with flexible repayment options and no origination, late payment, or forbearance fees. Rates start as low as 2.39% APR. Read our full Abe Student Loans review.

2. College Ave – College Ave Student Loans offers some of the lowest fixed rates on student loans on the market today. They are one of the largest private student loan lenders, and have highly competitive rates on their loans. Rates start as low as 2.39% APR. Read our full College Ave Student Loans review.

3. Earnest – Earnest Student Loans is a solid choice as a private lender, with a well known brand name and one of the lowest rates available. Rates start as low as 2.54% APR, but it does require both an autopay and loyalty discount to get the lowest rate. Read our full Earnest Student Loans Review.

4. Sallie Mae – Sallie Mae is probably one of the most well-known lenders on this list. They are the nation’s largest private student loan lender by loan volume. As a result, they also offer some of the most competitive private student loans and parent loans out there. Rates start as low as 2.39% APR. Read our full Sallie Mae review.

5. Student Choice Student Choice is a service that works with a huge network of credit unions nationwide to match you with low cost student loans offered by credit unions. They currently have some of the lowest variable rate student loans on the market. Rates start as low as 2.99% APR for fixed rates and 3.03% APR for variable rate loans. Read our full Student Choice Student Loans review.

Federal Loans: Remember, the federal student loan interest rates are fixed. They won’t change again until the next academic year.

  • Undergraduate Direct: 6.52%
  • Graduate Direct: 8.07%
  • Parent PLUS Loans: 9.07%

You can find a full list of the best private student loans here >>

Fixed vs. Variable Rates: Which Should You Choose?

There’s a lot of uncertainty that borrowers don’t like with variable rates, which can make sense, but in a declining rate environment, it also opens the potential for future savings. Here’s what to know:

  • Fixed rates stay the same for the life of the loan, offering predictable monthly payments. They’re better for borrowers who plan to repay over many years.
  • Variable rates can change with market conditions, starting lower but carrying risk if the Fed raises rates again. They can make sense for borrowers who expect to pay off loans quickly.

Most private lenders allow you to check rates without affecting your credit score. Always compare both options before signing.

What To Know Before Borrowing

Before taking out a private student loan, make sure you understand exactly what you’re signing up for.

  • Cosigner rules: Most undergraduates need a cosigner – which is someone (usually a parent) that is just as legally responsible for the loan. Check for early cosigner release after consistent on-time payments.
  • Repayment flexibility: Look for lenders offering in-school deferment, interest-only options, or income-based repayment.
  • Discounts: Many lenders provide 0.25% off for autopay.
  • Fees: Compared to federal loans, private loans offer fewer fees – including no origination fees.
  • Safety: Federal loans offer loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans. Exhaust federal options before turning to private loans.

For most families, borrowing federal student loans first makes the most sense. However, for parents looking at parent PLUS vs. private loans, private loans can make more sense.

How We Track And Verify Student Loan Rates

At The College Investor, our editorial team reviews student loan rates daily from more than a dozen major lenders. We verify data using official lender disclosures, regulatory filings, and real-time rate sheets.

We only include lenders offering loans to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. All rates are updated regularly and represent the lowest available APRs with autopay discounts applied.

Our coverage is independent and not influenced by compensation. While we may earn a referral fee when you open a loan through certain links, this never affects our editorial recommendations. Our goal is simple: to help you find the most affordable path to borrow responsibly.

FAQs

How often do private student loan rates change?

Lenders can adjust daily based on bond market movements and Federal Reserve actions, as well as their own competitive goals.

Are private student loans fixed or variable?

You can choose either. Fixed rates offer stability, while variable rates change with the market.

Do private student loans qualify for forgiveness?

No. Only federal student loans are eligible for forgiveness programs like PSLF or IBR.

Is a cosigner always required?

Not always, but most undergraduate borrowers will need one to qualify.

Can I refinance later if rates drop?

Yes. Refinancing can reduce your rate and monthly payment, though you’ll lose federal benefits if you refinance federal loans.

Disclosures



Abe Student Loans

Before applying for a private student loan, DR Bank and Monogram LLC recommend exhausting all financial aid alternatives including grants, scholarships, and federal student loans.

The Abe® student loan is made by DR Bank, Member FDIC (“Lender”). All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to Lender’s underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions and other terms and conditions apply. LENDER AND MONOGRAM LLC EACH RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.

* In order to estimate your available rates and loan options, with your authorization, DR Bank will initiate a soft credit inquiry. Soft credit inquiries do not affect your credit. Any rates and loan options offered to you are estimates only.

1Interest rates and APRs (Annual Percentage Rates): Interest rates and APRs (Annual Percentage Rates) depend upon (1) the student’s and cosigner’s (if applicable) credit histories, (2) the rate type selected, (3) the repayment option and repayment term selected, (4) the expected number of years in deferment, (5) type of degree program, and (6) the requested loan amount. Rates and terms are effective as of 07/01/2026. The variable interest rate for each calendar month is calculated by adding the 30-Day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index plus a fixed margin assigned to each loan. The current SOFR index, published on the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, is 3.750% as of 07/01/2026. The applicable index or margin for variable rate loans may change over time and result in a different APR than shown. The fixed rate assigned to a loan will never change except as required by law or if you request and qualify for an interest rate discount, or receive In-School Default Protection (see footnote 3). APRs displayed as a range: APRs assume a $10,000 loan with one disbursement. The low APRs assume a 7-year term, and the Interest-Only Repayment option with payments beginning 30-60 days after the disbursement via auto pay (see footnote 2). The high APRs assume a 7-year term with the Fully Deferred Repayment option, a seven-month deferment period, and a six-month grace period before entering repayment.

2Autopay Discount: Earn a 0.25% interest rate reduction for making automatic payments from a bank account (“auto pay discount”) by completing the direct debit form accessible on the Servicer’s website. The auto pay discount is in addition to other discounts. The auto pay discount will be applied after the Servicer validates your bank account information. Automatic payments and the associated discount will be temporarily discontinued (1) if you elect to stop automatic deduction of payments and (2) during periods when you are not required to make payments. The discount will be permanently discontinued in the event three automatic deductions are returned by the financial institution for any reason.

3 In-school Default Protection: Interest Only or Flat Payment Repayment loans that reach at least 90 days delinquent during an in-school deferment period will automatically transition to the Full Deferment Repayment option. Under these circumstances, the interest rate on an original Interest Only loan will increase by one percentage point (1.00%) and the interest rate on an original Flat Payment Repayment loan will increase by one quarter of one percentage point (0.25%). Credit reporting prior to the transition of a loan to the Full Deferment Repayment option will remain on your record. Any unpaid accrued interest at the end of an in-school deferment period may be capitalized in accordance with the Credit Agreement.

4 Loan Amounts: The minimum loan amount is $1,000, except for (a) student applicants who are permanent residents of Iowa in which case the minimum loan amount is $1,001, and (b) student applicants or cosigners who are permanent residents of Massachusetts in which case the minimum loan amount is $6,001. The maximum loan amount to cover in-school expenses for each academic year is determined by the school’s cost of attendance, minus other financial aid, as certified by the school. The requested loan amount cannot cause an individual applicant’s aggregate education loan debt (which includes federal and private student loans) to exceed $300,000 per student applicant applying for an undergraduate loan, $350,000 per student applicant applying for a graduate, graduate certificate, Healthcare Professionals, Law or MBA loan, or $500,000 per student applicant applying for a Medical or Dental loan. The requested loan amount cannot cause the aggregate education loan debt of a cosigner, applying jointly for an Abe loan, to exceed $999,999.99.

5 Loan Terms: The 15- and 20- year term and Flat Payment Repayment option (paying $25 per month during in-school deferment) are only available for loan amounts of $5,000 or more. Making interest only or flat interest payments during deferment will not reduce the principal balance of the loan. Payment examples (all assume a 20-month deferment period, a six-month grace period before entering repayment, no auto pay discount, and the Interest Only Repayment option): 5-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with a 5-year repayment term (60 months) and a 7.51% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $200.43. 7-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with a 7-year repayment term (84 months) and a 7.63% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $154.03. 10-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with a 10-year repayment term (120 months) and a 7.71% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $119.80. 15-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with, a 15-year repayment term (180 months) and a 7.82% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $94.53. 20-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with, a 20-year repayment term (240 months) and a 7.92% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of 83.15.

6 The student borrower has meet certain credit and other criteria, and 12 consecutive monthly principal and interest payments or lump sum payments equal to 12 monthly principal and interest payments must have been received by the Servicer during any 12-month period. While a loan is in a reduced repayment plan or while a request for a reduced payment plan is pending, borrowers are not eligible to apply for cosigner release.

7 The grace period is six months. The grace period begins on the earlier of the date (a) the student borrower graduates, (b) the student borrower ceases to be enrolled, or (c) that is 60 months from the first disbursement date, but in no case, earlier than six months after the first disbursement date. The immediate repayment option does not have a grace period.

Abe is a registered trademark of Monogram LLC.

Monogram LLC is not an affiliate of DR Bank.

Earnest

2Available interest rates are subject to change. Interest rates as of 03/19/2026. Earnest’s Loan Cost Examples:

1.) These examples provide estimates based on principal and interest payments beginning immediately upon loan disbursement. Variable annual percentage rate (“APR”): A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $152.84) and a 16.85% interest rate without Auto Pay (16.85% APR) would result in a total estimated payment amount of $27,511.20. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $150.30) and a 16.49% interest rate without Auto Pay (16.49% APR) would result in a total estimated payment amount of $27,054.10.

2.) These examples provide estimates based on interest-only payments while in school. Variable interest rate: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $152.84) and a 16.85% interest rate without Auto Pay (16.85% APR) would result in a total estimated payment amount of $35,515.14. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available. The calculation assumes that the “in-school” period is 4 years (48 months) and includes our 9 month grace period, during which the monthly payment will be $140.42 for 57 months. Fixed interest rate: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $150.30) and a 16.49% interest rate without Auto Pay (16.49% APR) would result in a total estimated payment amount of $34,886.94. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available. The calculation assumes that the “in-school” period is 4 years (48 months) and includes our 9 month grace period, during which the monthly payment will be $137.42 for 57 months.

3.) These examples provide estimates based on fixed $25 payments while in school. Variable interest rate: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $253.39) and a 16.85% interest rate without Auto Pay (14.92% APR) would result in a total estimated payment amount of $47,035.20. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed interest rate: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $246.61) and a 16.49% interest rate without Auto Pay (14.65% APR) would result in a total estimated payment amount of $45,814.80. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available. The calculation assumes that the “in-school” period is 4 years (48 months) and includes our 9 month grace period, during which the monthly payment will be $25.00.

4.) These examples provide estimates based on deferred payments. Variable interest rate: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $275.17) and a 16.85% interest rate without Auto Pay (14.67% APR) would result in a total estimated payment amount of $49,530.60. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed interest rate: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $268.03) and a 16.49% interest rate without Auto Pay (14.39% APR) would result in a total estimated payment amount of $48,245.40. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available when the deferred repayment option has been selected and the loan is in the interim period. The calculation assumes that the “in-school” period is 4 years (48 months) and includes our 9 month grace period, during which the monthly payment will be $0.

3Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your financial profile. Fixed annual percentage rates (APR) range from 2.79% to 16.74% (2.29% – 16.24% with Auto Pay and Loyalty discounts). Variable annual percentage rates (APR) range from 5.24% to 17.1% (4.74% – 16.6% with Auto Pay and Loyalty discounts). Earnest variable interest rate student loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent plus a margin and will change on the 1st of each month. The rate will not increase more than once a month, but there is no limit on the amount that the rate could increase at one time. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified existing cosigned loan borrowers who receive the 0.25% Loyalty discount and requires selection of our shortest term offered, full principal and interest payment while in school, and enrollment in our 0.25% Auto Pay discount. Enrolling in Auto Pay is not required as a condition for approval. Interest rates are subject to change.

To be eligible for the Loyalty Discount, applicants must have previously obtained an Earnest Private Student Loan and apply using the same email address associated with that loan. Only one Loyalty Discount may be applied per eligible Earnest Private Student Loan. Not all applicants may qualify. This offer cannot be combined with Earnest’s Rate Match program. Earnest may modify or discontinue this offer at any time and without notice, however, once a Loyalty Discount is earned, it will not be taken away.

4You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment from a checking or savings account. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available when loan payments are deferred during the interim period as a result of selecting the deferred repayment option.

5Residents of Hawaii must request a loan of at least $1,501.

6Earnest does not charge fees for origination, late payments, returned check, or prepayments. Florida Stamp Tax: For Florida residents, Florida documentary stamp tax is required by law, calculated as $0.35 for each $100 (or portion thereof) of the principal loan amount, the amount of which is provided in the Final Disclosure. Lender will add the stamp tax to the principal loan amount. The full amount will be paid directly to the Florida Department of Revenue. Certificate of Registration No. 78-8016373916-1.

8Nine-month grace period is not available for borrowers who choose our Principal and Interest Repayment plan while in school.

** Earnest clients may skip a payment through a single, one-month forbearance during a 12 month period. Your first request to skip a pay can be made once you’ve made at least 6 months of consecutive on-time full principal and interest payments, and your loan is in good standing. The interest accrued during the skipped month will result in an increase in your remaining minimum payment. The final payoff date on your loan will be extended by the length of the skipped payment periods. Any unpaid accrued interest may capitalize (added to the principal balance) at the end of the forbearance period by adding unpaid accrued interest to the outstanding principal as permitted by law and the terms of the loan agreement. Please note that skipping a payment is not guaranteed and is at Earnest’s discretion. Your monthly payment and total loan cost may increase as a result of postponing your payment and extending your term.

Earnest Private Student Loans are made by FinWise Bank, Member FDIC. FinWise Bank, 756 East Winchester, Suite 100, Murray, UT 84107.

Earnest student loans and refinance loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 340, Oakland, CA 94612. NMLS #1204917, with support from Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (MOHELA) (NMLS# 1442770).

FinWise Bank and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries, including Earnest Operations LLC, are not sponsored by agencies of the United States of America.

Sallie Mae Student Loans

¹Rates displayed are for undergraduate and career training students:

Lowest rates shown include the auto debit discount: Additional information regarding the auto debit discount: Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. *These rates will be effective 7/2/2026.

Terms:

Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years.

² For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website may be subjected to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time.

Editor: Colin Graves

Reviewed by: Richelle Hawley

The post Best Student Loan Rates for July 7, 2026: Abe Leads At 2.39% appeared first on The College Investor.

Meta’s AI Data Center in Cheyenne Isn’t Even Open Yet. It Has Already Triggered a Wastewater Crackdown



The Wyoming city has stopped taking some data center wastewater after tracing a rare bacterium to a Meta-linked project.

List of Airline Alliances (updated July 7, 2026)



Quite a few airlines shuffled around since my last update. I also added a blurb to this frequently updated points with the benefits of airline alliances.

The post List of Airline Alliances (updated July 7, 2026) appeared first on Pointshogger.

Mortgage vendor sues former exec for poaching lender clients


A mortgage vendor is suing one of its former executives for starting a competing company while employed and soliciting some of its bigger-name customers.

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New Jersey-based Flatworld Mortgage Solutions sued Rajeev Kumar last week in a federal court, accusing its former executive vice president of breaching various employment agreements. Kumar, who claims he was a co-founder of FMS, is the co-founder and CEO of OwnGCC, an outsourcing firm founded earlier this year. 

Flatworld offers a variety of mortgage processing services for industry firms including lenders, title companies and appraisers. OwnGCC, which is not named as a defendant in the complaint, says it helps companies set up and manage global capability centers, or offshore hubs for operations.

The lawsuit claims Kumar, who was employed at FMS between 2021 and 2025, breached his nonsolicitation agreement by marketing his new company to Flatworld customers including Angel Oak Mortgage, eLend, Mutual of Omaha and The Lender. None of those lenders are named as defendants in the lawsuit. 

During his time at Flatworld, Kumar allegedly launched OwnGCC. While employed he allegedly entered into a secret side deal with another company to help it set up a captive call center, for Kumar’s benefit. The lawsuit names the company as “NAF”, although it does not state the company’s full name. 

According to a May cease-and-desist letter filed by Flatworld’s attorneys, Kumar solicited the company’s employees to join his company. He also allegedly shared Flatworld’s confidential business information with a separate, non-mortgage business. 

When contacted by National Mortgage News Tuesday, Kumar said he wasn’t aware of the lawsuit. Neither the attorney who filed the case, nor a representative for Flatworld responded to requests for comment. The company is seeking an injunction to prevent Kumar from soliciting more of its customers.

While lenders often file similar lawsuits against competitors and loan officers following bad breakups, industry vendors have increasingly become litigious. A smaller vendor sued Pennymac earlier this year for allegedly lifting its platform, while communication vendor Ringcentral sued Amerisave Mortgage earlier this year for nonpayment. Both of those cases remain pending.



Here’s Why Agios Pharmaceuticals Stock Soared Today (Hint: It’s FDA-Related)


Shares in Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO +15.62%) were higher by more than 14% as of 11 a.m this morning. The move comes after a very positive development from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its key drug, mitapivat.

Agios and mitapivat

The company already has mitapivat approved for adults with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency and for adults with alpha- or beta-thalassemia. However, it’s also seeking approval for sickle cell disease (SCD) based on a Phase 3 trial completed last year. The good news is the trial met its primary endpoint of “hemoglobin response and key secondary endpoints of change from baseline in hemoglobin concentration and indirect bilirubin.”

Agios Pharmaceuticals Stock Quote

Today’s Change

(15.62%) $5.84

Current Price

$43.23

However, it did not meet the primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in sickle cell pain crises (SCPCs). Sickle cells can build up in blood vessels, blocking blood flow and depriving organs of oxygen-rich blood, leading to acute pain.

What happened today

Despite failing to meet the SCPCs endpoint, Agios is seeking approval of mitapivat for SCD, and today the FDA announced it had accepted Agios’ supplemental New Drug Application (NDA) for mitapivat for SCD “with a Priority Review.” Moreover, it set a goal date for a decision by Nov.1.

A happy investor.

Image source: Getty Images.

What it means for Agios Pharmaceuticals

This is a positive development that implies the FDA is sufficiently impressed by the data the pharmaceutical company submitted that it’s willing to grant it a faster review, despite mitapivat missing the SCPCs-related endpoint.

To be clear, though, this is for an accelerated approval. A full traditional approval is contingent on the REIGNITE Phase 3 Confirmatory Trial, which Agios is conducting under the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway, and those results won’t be available until next year at the earliest. Still, today’s news is a net positive, and investors are correct to welcome it.

Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.