SoFi Blog

Online shopping has never been easier or more popular with consumers. The bargains are mind-boggling. The selection is vast. Shipping is often free and fast. And those dreaded returns are getting simpler all the time.

According to the 2017 Deloitte holiday retail survey , the Internet isn’t just for browsing anymore. In past surveys, Deloitte found consumers were going online to find deals and recommendations, but when it came time to actually making a purchase, shoppers still hit the stores.

Last year, survey respondents said they planned to spend 51% of their holiday gift-buying budget online, compared with 42% in-store. And the National Retail Federation reported a year over year increase in online “and other non-store” sales of 11.5% in 2017.

As student loan debt climbs to unheard-of heights ($1.5 trillion ), a study by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College shows that graduates with student debt are saving only half as much for retirement as students without debt.

On the other hand, companies can struggle to recruit and retain top talent—and that’s another big problem.

A private letter ruling from the IRS , though, has people all across the country—from consultants to lawyers to industry execs to government officials, all the way to Congress—buzzing about a solution with the potential to help solve both problems.

May and June may be known as graduation season, but this December some graduates will put on their caps and gowns and enter the job market before their other classmates. Amid the bustle of winter celebrations, however, many December grads are left wondering, “when do you have to pay back student loans?”

SoFi’s investment portfolios are built for the long-term. Founded on well-worn investment philosophies—diversified investments to help reduce risk, low-fee, tax-efficient funds to reduce unnecessary costs and more—we strive to ensure that our members are in the portfolio that closely aligns with their goals.

While we don’t try to time the market, we do believe that it’s important to monitor global events and understand how those events can affect your portfolio. Most of the time, these events are simply unavoidable speed-bumps on the investing highway and don’t require any adjustments to the portfolios.

Winter travel is something most of us begrudgingly undertake. We brave the cold, the snow, the sleet, and face down Jack Frost himself to get from point A to point B. Nearly 100 million Americans hit the roads or took to the skies to catch up with family over the 2017 holiday season.

But once the family obligations are done, travelers—including you—could be taking advantage of the colder weather to do something epic: Actually go on vacation. Here’s why winter travel really does reign supreme, a few tips on saving big, and just how you can afford to celebrate the holidays and go on your own vacation all at once.