Tax and Spending Bill Signed into Law

President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on July 4, 2025, after months of deliberation in the House and Senate. The legislation includes multiple tax provisions that will guide individuals, business owners, and investors in planning their finances for many years to come. It makes permanent most of the 2017 […]

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Surprises May Be in Store for Online Shoppers in the Tariff Era

On April 2, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order eliminating the de minimis exemption for low-value imports from China, which previously allowed U.S. consumers to buy goods worth up to $800 directly from online marketplaces based outside of the United States without paying duties. Since the order took effect on May 2, some U.S. shoppers have […]

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New Tax Legislation: What’s on the Table

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, narrowly passed the House of Representatives on May 22, 2025. The legislation is now being deliberated in the Senate, after the Senate Committee on Finance released its own version of proposed tax provisions on June 16, 2025. This legislation is being […]

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Interest Rates on Federal Student Loans Drop Slightly for 2025-2026

Every May, interest rates on federal student loans are reset for the upcoming school year. The rates are calculated by combining the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note with an additional fixed amount set by Congress. Based on this calculation, interest rates on federal student loans are set to decrease slightly for the 2025-2026 […]

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Moody’s Downgraded U.S. Debt: Does It Matter?

On Friday, May 16, 2025, Moody’s Ratings downgraded its rating on U.S. government long-term debt from its highest rating of Aaa to the next highest rating of Aa1. The move was particularly significant because Moody’s was the last of the Big Three credit rating agencies to maintain the triple-A rating for U.S. debt. S&P Global […]

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Infographic: The Cost of Building a New Home in the U.S.

This infographic breaks down the average cost of building a new single-family home in the United States in 2024 by stages of construction. The data is based on a survey of 4,000 U.S. home builders by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home construction breakdown: what costs the most? Building a new home is […]

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The Trust Company of Kansas is Hiring

We are excited to share a new career opportunity opening at The Trust Company of Kansas. Interested in joining our team? Qualified candidates may send a resume and letter to mlinsner@tckansas.com. Trust Administrator Job Summary: Assist one or more Account Officers with the day-to-day administration of trust clientrelationships and new business development. Must be interested […]

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Borrowers in Default on Federal Student Loans Face Imminent Collection Efforts

On April 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans starting May 5, 2025. The federal government hasn’t collected on defaulted loans since March 2020. Here is some background followed by answers to questions about the new policy. A history of payment pauses and court […]

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REAL ID Deadline Fast Approaching

After years of numerous delays, the REAL ID enforcement deadline is scheduled for May 7, 2025.1 What is a REAL ID? A REAL ID is a type of enhanced identification card that is signified by a star marking in the upper top portion of the card. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, […]

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