Forbes Advisor Homepage: Personal Finance Roundup — Social Security, Student Loans, and Investing Highlights

Forbes Advisor's editorial hub covers a broad sweep of personal finance topics, with several notable developments standing out. The Social Security retirement trust fund is now projected to run dry by 2032 — a full quarter sooner than last year's estimate, according to the 2026 Social Security trustees report released June 9. While the headline is alarming, the depletion of the trust fund doesn't mean benefits disappear entirely; it signals a potential reduction in payouts unless Congress acts. The accelerated timeline adds urgency to retirement planning conversations across the country.

On the student loan front, a wave of changes is set to take effect July 1, and several are already being challenged in court and through proposed legislation. A Senate bill is in the works to roll back some of the changes, creating significant uncertainty for borrowers trying to plan around repayment terms, income-driven options, and forgiveness programs. The overlapping lawsuits and legislative pushback reflect the politically contested nature of federal student loan policy.

In investing, the homepage highlights two niche asset classes gaining attention: gold stocks and lithium stocks. Physical gold remains a recognized store of value, but the costs and logistics of ownership push investors toward gold equities as a more accessible proxy. Lithium, meanwhile, is framed as a multi-sector opportunity — spanning raw material mining to electric vehicle supply chains — with pure-play miners sitting alongside companies with only partial exposure to the metal. Nearly all EVs run on lithium-ion batteries, making the sector a indirect bet on EV adoption broadly.

On the consumer banking and credit side, the platform highlights online banks as strong candidates for high-yield savings, drawing from analysis of 60 institutions. Travel rewards credit cards get dedicated coverage for couples and Disney vacationers alike, with welcome bonuses and free hotel nights flagged as key levers for offsetting vacation costs. Live Oak Bank, one of the largest SBA lenders in the U.S., earns a mention for its competitive business savings APY and no minimum deposit requirement.