Department of Education Proposes Major Changes to Federal Student Loan Programs

The U.S. Department of Education has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Reimagining and Improving Student Education,” introducing potential changes to federal student loan programs. The proposal represents a significant shift in loan policy, with a focus on reducing tuition-related borrowing and simplifying repayment options for borrowers.  According to the department’s rulemaking announcement, the proposal centers on lowering costs, improving repayment clarity, and providing additional pathways for borrowers to maintain or regain good standing […]

Call Volume Is Easy to Count—and Easy to Get Wrong 

Sometimes I wonder where I’d be if I hadn’t taken my daughter to her first riding lesson. Retired early? Living on a beach? Eating ice cream for breakfast without judgment? What I do know is this—I definitely wouldn’t be on a small farm with four horses, one of whom believes he’s a stand-up comedian. One small decision quietly changed the direction of everything that followed.  Collections works the same way. Progress rarely comes from sheer volume. It comes from the right moments, […]

Businesses Race to Adopt Generative AI While Security Lags Behind 

As generative AI adoption accelerates, many organizations are moving faster on implementation than on the safeguards needed to protect consumer data. This growing disconnect is becoming increasingly visible across industries, particularly those handling sensitive financial and personal information.  According to data from Fuel iX, an enterprise AI platform, companies are expected to spend approximately $644 billion on generative AI in 2025. Of that total, just $2.6 billion — about 0.4% — is projected to be allocated to […]

Indiana Lawmakers Renew Focus on Medical Debt Protections 

Indiana legislators are again turning their attention to medical debt with the introduction of Senate Bill 85: Health Care Debt and Costs, a proposal aimed at limiting aggressive collection practices while expanding consumer protections. The bill would establish mandatory payment plans for qualifying patients, restrict certain wage garnishments, and prohibit medical debt-related liens on a consumer’s primary residence.  The bipartisan legislation was introduced for the 2026 Regular Session by State Sen. Ed […]

White House Signals Direction on National AI Policy, Details Still Limited 

A senior White House official offered only broad insights into the administration’s forthcoming recommendations for a national artificial intelligence policy during testimony before the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology on Jan. 14.  Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), outlined the administration’s high-level goals for artificial intelligence but provided few specifics on the legislative proposals Congress has been anticipating since President […]

CFPB Funding and Staffing Remain in Place Pending Court Review 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will continue operating through the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 following a Jan. 9, 2026, federal court order in NTEU v. Vought. In response to the ruling, the bureau submitted a request to the Federal Reserve for the funding necessary to carry out its statutory responsibilities.  The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia addressed the administration’s decision not to submit a quarterly funding request for the bureau. The court ruled that […]

CFPB Releases Seventh Biennial Review of the U.S. Credit Card Market 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has published its seventh biennial review of the consumer credit card market, as required under the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009. The report examines how credit cards are used, how issuers operate, and how the market has evolved, drawing on data through 2024.  Credit cards continue to play a significant role in the financial lives of approximately 208 million Americans. For many […]

FTC Sets New Date for Workshop on Employer Noncompete Agreements 

The Federal Trade Commission has announced a new date for its previously postponed workshop examining employer noncompete agreements. The event will take place on Jan. 27, 2026, from 1 to 5 p.m. CT. It had been scheduled for October 2025 but was delayed as a result of the government shutdown. The workshop, titled “Moving Forward: Protecting American Workers from Anticompetitive Noncompete Agreements,” is intended to address how noncompete provisions affect workers and labor markets, as well as […]

Don’t Startle the Skunk: A Surprisingly Accurate Collections Strategy 

Early in my career—fresh out of college and way too confident—I became a collector.  My mom was horrified.  “Why would you want to ask people for money all day?” she asked.  Spoiler: I never once asked for money. Because the predictable response would be, “I don’t have any.”  Collectors are part problem-solver, part therapist, part human shock absorber. We listen. We untangle chaos. We find workable solutions.  And one consumer taught me a lesson I’ll never forget.  She called every month with a […]

D.C. Circuit Rehears Case on Proposed CFPB Layoffs 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has agreed to rehear a case brought by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) challenging a plan by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Russell Vought to carry out large-scale layoffs at the agency.  As part of its decision, the court issued a stay on the proposed layoffs while it reviews the case. The action vacates an earlier ruling that […]