SLM Financial Services

06/26/2026

Major student loan changes are set to take effect July 1, bringing updates to borrowing limits, repayment options, and federal aid eligibility.
New rules will limit how much some students and parents can borrow. Parent PLUS loans will be capped at $20,000 per year and $65,000 total per student, while new caps will also apply to graduate and professional degree borrowing.
Repayment options are also changing. New federal loan borrowers will have fewer choices, with options narrowing to a tiered standard repayment structure or a new income-driven option called the Repayment Assistance Program.
Borrowers currently enrolled in SAVE may also need to choose a new repayment option, with loan servicers expected to send notices about next steps.
Pell Grant rules are changing as well, including expanded eligibility for some short-term workforce training programs.
For borrowers and students, the takeaway is simple: watch for communications from loan servicers, confirm contact information is current, and review available options before deadlines arrive.

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The changes will affect how much students and their parents can borrow, as well as their repayment options.

06/26/2026

Take the kids out for a screen break by visiting some of these family-friendly national parks. Challenge: Phones can only be used for directions and pictures! Are you up for it?

Most popular American National Parks to visit with kids. Best National Parks for families as recommended by family travelers + tips for your trip. Find out!

06/25/2026

Most parents think the last tuition check means game over for college. The data says it's halftime.

50 percent of parents with adult children still provide regular financial support, spending $1,474 a month to do so. That's more than twice what they're putting toward their own retirement.

Here's what "just helping out a little" actually looks like:

✅ 75 percent of parents aged 45+ are financially supporting at least one adult child, even though over half of those children can meet their own basic needs, according to a 2025 AARP survey.

✅ 42 percent of supporting parents report financial stress. 9 percent have retired early because of it.

✅ 47 percent say they've sacrificed their own financial position for the sake of their kids.

✅ 18 percent say the support could continue indefinitely. They don't see an end in sight.

This isn't about being less generous. It's about being intentional.

Whether your kid just graduated, graduated five years ago, or is still in school, the question is the same: Is your support happening by design or by default?

That's worth a conversation.

06/25/2026

Thinking about renting an RV and getting out of Dodge? Check out these tips for navigating the wild roads in the national parks RV style. Pro Tip: No night driving, you miss the view!

Our 11 Essential Tips for RV Camping in National Parks can save you a lot of time and money! For example, you will absolutely want to be sure you...

06/24/2026

NASA has shared new details about its long-term vision for building a base on the Moon.

The agency hopes to return humans to the lunar surface in 2028, with a broader goal of developing infrastructure that could eventually support longer-term activity there.

NASA says the effort will unfold in phases, starting with demonstrations of key technology, cargo delivery, landers, rovers, and surface research.

The challenge is significant. The Moon’s surface can reach extreme temperatures, lacks an atmosphere, and offers no natural protection from radiation, space weather, or meteorite impacts.

Early work is expected to focus on testing systems, studying survival needs, identifying potential landing areas, and preparing for future human activity.

It’s a reminder that space exploration often moves step by step—through engineering, testing, persistence, and the willingness to solve difficult problems far from home.


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NASA hopes to return humans to the lunar surface in 2028.

06/24/2026

Seeing a national park doesn’t need to start with a long road trip or a hike! Thanks to the National Parks website, you can visit one on your lunch break! Check out this link for a virtual tour!

Got a bit of downtime? Take a trip to a national park from wherever you are! Many national park sites across the country offer digital tours and…

06/23/2026

More home sellers are taking listings off the market as housing conditions continue to shift.

In April, 5.8% of home listings nationwide were pulled from the market, tying December for the highest share of delistings since March 2020. Delistings were also up 3.8% from March.

Several factors may be contributing to the trend, including elevated mortgage rates, higher household costs, and softer buyer demand.

Some sellers may be choosing to wait rather than accept lower offers or longer timelines. At the same time, buyers in certain markets may have more negotiating room than they did in recent years.

Inventory has also been rising in some areas, with more listings sitting on the market for longer.

Together, these shifts point to a housing market where expectations between buyers and sellers may take time to reset.


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Frustrated sellers are pulling their homes off the market at an increasingly high pace, as demand weakens and bidding wars wane.

06/23/2026

Need help planning your version of an “All-American road trip”? This travel blog is here to help! From which parks go to, to which vehicles to take, all your questions are sure to be answered after reading this.

North America Off the Grid How to Plan Your US National Parks Road Trip | USA A US National Parks trip is kind of a right of passage for anyone who loves the outdoors. Sleeping in barren deserts. Going off-trail to explore strange rock formations weathered over millions of years. Wading through knee...

06/22/2026

06/22/2026

Get out of the house and in touch with your adventurous side by taking a trip to the best national parks in the lower 48!

Discover the best national parks in the USA to visit in 2023. Take a road trip and discover Joshua Tree, Great Smokie cabin rentals and more.