雖然學生助學貸款債務經常被認為是主要影響年輕人財務狀況的問題,但一項最新報告稱,45歲及以上的美國人未償貸款金額遠高于應屆畢業生。
對Credit Karma公司會員信息的分析發現,在背負助學貸款債務的2,100萬人當中,有23%的人年齡超過45歲,平均未償還貸款金額為47,000美元。45至54歲的X世代背負的助學貸款負債最高,平均達到49,000美元。與此同時,應屆畢業生的平均未償還助學貸款負債金額約為28,950美元。
Credit Karma的消費金融倡導者和首席人力資源官科琳·麥克里里表示,之所以X世代的未償還助學貸款負債較高,是由于多個因素的影響。20世紀80年代和90年代初,聯邦助學貸款利率高于目前的利率水平,導致未償還貸款增長速度更快;有些借款人可能是為子女辦理貸款的家長;有人則是在后來重回校園;此外,工資的上漲速度根本無法跟上生活成本的上漲速度,導致借款人可以用于償還貸款的資金減少。
麥克里里說:“這種情況的影響是可能迫使人們推遲退休更長時間?!?/p>
麥克里里認為,這些未償還貸款和費用可能讓人們推遲退休,或者至少會增加人們的壓力。Credit Karma公司65歲以上仍然背負助學貸款債務的464,000名會員,平均未償還貸款金額為44,000美元。
麥克里里稱:“人們可能在想:‘我已經有自己的房子,為什么還要關心助學貸款負債?’事實上,如果你沒有按時還款,你的工資可能就會被扣押用于償還債務,你的社保福利可能被扣押,你的殘疾人福利也可能被扣押。這會令你的退休計劃面臨風險。”
學生債務可能很快給貸款人帶來更大壓力
隨著9月1日日益臨近,統計數據尤其令人感到擔憂。兩年半前新冠疫情爆發時,聯邦助學貸款曾經被暫停還款,但從9月1日開始將恢復還款。
到目前為止,暫停還款計劃每次期滿時都會延長。但對于借款人未來是否能夠繼續暫停償還每月賬單,美國總統喬·拜登一直保持沉默。
麥克里里表示,在通貨膨脹、房價上漲和裁員增加等情況的影響下,許多家庭可能很難恢復償還助學貸款。Credit Karma的數據顯示,該公司90%背負聯邦助學貸款的會員,在暫停還款期間一直沒有還款。
她說:“如果暫停還款計劃結束,除非他們已經有足夠還款的積蓄,否則我認為情況會變得非常危險。如果暫停還款計劃不再執行,情況不容樂觀?!?/p>
麥克里里建議借款人如果償還助學貸款面臨困難,就可以申請基于收入的還款計劃。該計劃能夠降低每個月的還款金額,有些月份的還款金額為零。此外,如果你是年長者,子女請求你擔保貸款,一定要認真考慮這筆額外負擔對你和你的退休計劃的影響。正如一條忠告所說的那樣:你可以借款上學,卻無法借款維持退休生活。(財富中文網)
譯者:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
雖然學生助學貸款債務經常被認為是主要影響年輕人財務狀況的問題,但一項最新報告稱,45歲及以上的美國人未償貸款金額遠高于應屆畢業生。
對Credit Karma公司會員信息的分析發現,在背負助學貸款債務的2,100萬人當中,有23%的人年齡超過45歲,平均未償還貸款金額為47,000美元。45至54歲的X世代背負的助學貸款負債最高,平均達到49,000美元。與此同時,應屆畢業生的平均未償還助學貸款負債金額約為28,950美元。
Credit Karma的消費金融倡導者和首席人力資源官科琳·麥克里里表示,之所以X世代的未償還助學貸款負債較高,是由于多個因素的影響。20世紀80年代和90年代初,聯邦助學貸款利率高于目前的利率水平,導致未償還貸款增長速度更快;有些借款人可能是為子女辦理貸款的家長;有人則是在后來重回校園;此外,工資的上漲速度根本無法跟上生活成本的上漲速度,導致借款人可以用于償還貸款的資金減少。
麥克里里說:“這種情況的影響是可能迫使人們推遲退休更長時間。”
麥克里里認為,這些未償還貸款和費用可能讓人們推遲退休,或者至少會增加人們的壓力。Credit Karma公司65歲以上仍然背負助學貸款債務的464,000名會員,平均未償還貸款金額為44,000美元。
麥克里里稱:“人們可能在想:‘我已經有自己的房子,為什么還要關心助學貸款負債?’事實上,如果你沒有按時還款,你的工資可能就會被扣押用于償還債務,你的社保福利可能被扣押,你的殘疾人福利也可能被扣押。這會令你的退休計劃面臨風險?!?/p>
學生債務可能很快給貸款人帶來更大壓力
隨著9月1日日益臨近,統計數據尤其令人感到擔憂。兩年半前新冠疫情爆發時,聯邦助學貸款曾經被暫停還款,但從9月1日開始將恢復還款。
到目前為止,暫停還款計劃每次期滿時都會延長。但對于借款人未來是否能夠繼續暫停償還每月賬單,美國總統喬·拜登一直保持沉默。
麥克里里表示,在通貨膨脹、房價上漲和裁員增加等情況的影響下,許多家庭可能很難恢復償還助學貸款。Credit Karma的數據顯示,該公司90%背負聯邦助學貸款的會員,在暫停還款期間一直沒有還款。
她說:“如果暫停還款計劃結束,除非他們已經有足夠還款的積蓄,否則我認為情況會變得非常危險。如果暫停還款計劃不再執行,情況不容樂觀。”
麥克里里建議借款人如果償還助學貸款面臨困難,就可以申請基于收入的還款計劃。該計劃能夠降低每個月的還款金額,有些月份的還款金額為零。此外,如果你是年長者,子女請求你擔保貸款,一定要認真考慮這筆額外負擔對你和你的退休計劃的影響。正如一條忠告所說的那樣:你可以借款上學,卻無法借款維持退休生活。(財富中文網)
譯者:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
Though student loan debt is often portrayed as an issue holding back primarily younger generations financially, Americans ages 45 and up hold significantly higher balances than new grads on average, according to a new report.
An analysis of Credit Karma member information finds that 23% of the 21 million people carrying student loan debt are over the age of 45, with an average outstanding balance of $47,000. The 45 to 54 age bracket, who are Gen Xers, carry the most student debt: an average of $49,000. At the same time, new grads with student loan debt carry average balances of around $28,950.
The balances are high because of a confluence of factors, says Colleen McCreary, Credit Karma’s consumer financial advocate and chief people officer. Federal student loans had higher interest rates in the ’80s and early ’90s than they do now, causing balances to grow faster; some borrowers may be parents who took loans out for their kids; others may have returned to school later in life; and wages have simply not kept up with the cost of living, giving borrowers less money to put toward their loans.
“All this is likely going to do is potentially delay retirement for people for a lot longer,” says McCreary.
These loan balances and payments can delay retirement, or at least make it more stressful, says McCreary. Of 464,000 Credit Karma members over the age of 65 with student loan debt, the average balance is $44,000.
“People might think, ‘I already own my house, so why do I care?’ In reality, your wages can be garnished, your Social Security benefits can be garnished, your disability can be garnished” if you’re not making payments on time, says McCreary. “That puts your potential retirement plans into jeopardy.”
Student debt might get more stressful very soon
The statistics are particularly worrisome the closer it gets to Sept. 1, when federal student loan payments—which were put on pause at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic two and a half years ago—will resume.
So far, the payment pause has been extended every time the expiration date has approached. But President Joe Biden has been mum on whether borrowers will continue to be able to forgo the monthly bill.
With inflation, rising housing prices, and layoffs increasing, McCreary says it will be difficult for many households to start making their student loan payments again. Credit Karma data shows 90% of members who have federal student loans have not been making payments during the pause.
“If forbearance ends, unless they’ve been saving all this money, I think we’re in a pretty precarious situation,” she says. “The picture starts to look really bleak if forbearance doesn’t continue.”
She advises those who will struggle to make their student loan payments to apply for an income-based repayment plan. This can lower the amount you owe each month, sometimes to $0. Additionally, if you’re older and your children ask you to cosign a loan, think hard about what that additional burden will mean for you and your retirement. As the advice goes: You can borrow to pay for school, you cannot borrow to fund your retirement.