President Donald Trump and his administration will begin imposing new limits for federal student loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026.

Undergraduate borrowers will have the same current limit of up to $7,500 a year for dependent students, depending on their class year. But graduate and professional students will see new limits of up to $20,500 per year ($100,000 total) for graduate studies and $50,000 a year ($200,000 total) for professional programs.

Graduate PLUS loans, which previously allowed students to borrow up to their total cost of attendance, will be eliminated.

According to the proposed regulation, a professional degree “signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree.”

The Department of Education has named 11 degree fields that meet the requirements to be considered professional, and thus eligible for higher loan limits under the new rules:

1. Pharmacy (Pharm. D.)
2. Dentistry doctorate (D.D.S. or D.M.S.)
3. Veterinary medicine (D.V.M.)
4. Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.)
5. Law (L.L.B. or J.D.)
6. Medicine (M.D.)
7. Optometry (O.D.)
8. Osteopathic medicine (D.O.)
9. Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.)
10. Theology (M.Div., or M.H.L.)
11. Clinical psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.)

The addition of clinical psychology came out of the department’s recent negotiated rulemaking session where stakeholders debated the loan limit rule and how it should be applied.

The department also said programs in at least 44 other fields could qualify if they meet certain criteria, including giving students a “level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree,” generally resulting in a doctoral level degree and requiring professional licensure to begin practice. 

Potentially eligible programs include a number of other pharmacy degrees, clinical counseling and theological studies. Institutions are responsible for determining whether a program meets the requirements to be considered a professional degree or not, says Sarah Austin, a policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Some professional organizations have expressed concern over the list of degrees eligible for the $200,000 aggregate federal loan limit and the Department of Education’s definition of professional programs.

“Despite broad recognition of the complexity, rigor, and necessity of post-baccalaureate nursing education, the Department’s proposal defines professional programs so narrowly that nursing, the nation’s largest healthcare profession, remains excluded,” The American Association of Colleges of Nursing said in a press release on Nov. 7. “Should this proposal be finalized, the impact on our already-challenged nursing workforce would be devastating.”

“Declassifying the [Master of Social Work] and [Doctorate of Social Work] degrees will reduce access to affordable social work education, thereby increasing reliance on high-interest private loans,” the National Association of Social Workers’ Florida chapter said in a press release on Nov. 20.

In a fact sheet released on Nov. 24, the Department of Education said, “The definition of a ‘professional degree’ is an internal definition used by the Department to distinguish among programs that qualify for higher loan limits, not a value judgement about the importance of programs. It has no bearing on whether a program is professional in nature or not.”

The intention behind the loan limits is to discourage borrowers from taking on more debt than they will be able to handle and to encourage institutions to rein in tuition costs, the department said.

The loan limit regulation is not final, however. The Department of Education will publish the regulation in its current form in the federal register in the coming months where the public will have the opportunity to give feedback before it becomes final.

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Every relationship has its rough patches. But what really matters is how you and your partner interact on a regular basis.

As a Harvard-trained psychologist, I’ve found that the happiest couples don’t avoid conflict — they navigate it by speaking to each other with appreciation and respect. Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of marriages end due to poor communication and an unwillingness to change.

So if you use any of these phrases with your partner, your relationship is more successful than most others:

It’s tempting to become overly focused on things you don’t like about your partner, and to point them out at every chance you get.

But it’s important to highlight the good in their actions. Happy couples express gratitude for each other’s efforts. It’s a great way to make everyone feel valued.

Similar phrases: 

• “I appreciate that you work so hard to support our family.”
• “I’m grateful that you take the kids to school because it helps me get things done in the morning.”

The healthiest couples don’t just love each other, they like each other, too.

Loving someone is an intense feeling of affection; liking is about seeing them for who they are and acknowledging the attributes you enjoy about them.

Similar phrases:

• “I like that you are so passionate about staying healthy.”
• “I like how devoted you are to your hobbies.”

We all have different upbringings, vulnerabilities, values and beliefs that shape how we think relationships should work.

If your partner reacts to a situation in a way that you don’t understand, telling them that you want to know them better is key to resolving conflict and bonding at a deeper level.

Similar phrases: 

• “I don’t know why this is so upsetting to you. Please help me see your perspective.”
• “I want to work through this together, and I need to understand you better to do that.”

Disagreements are inevitable, but it’s important to still support each other through active listening.

You have to be willing to suspend your desire to be “right” or to get your point across — long enough to hear and empathize with your partner’s perspective.

Similar phrases: 

• “I’ll stop talking now and really try to listen to your point of view.”
• “I want to hear your side of things, even if we ultimately disagree.”

When things don’t go right or as planned, healthy couples know that both partners play a part in the situation.

Taking responsibility for our role in those conflicts — and genuinely apologizing — is critical to repairing rifts.

Similar phrases: 

• “I didn’t communicate my feelings in a respectful way to you, and I’m sorry for that.”
• “I didn’t like the way you acted last night, but I also need to apologize for lashing out.”

Forgiveness is hard. It requires being vulnerable, letting go of something that caused you pain, and changing your feelings towards your partner.

But studies have shown that couples who practice forgiveness are more likely to enjoy longer, more satisfying relationships. 

Similar phrases: 

• “I know we can’t change the past, so I’m actively trying to let it go and move forward.”
• “I made a mistake and I’m trying to forgive myself. I hope you can forgive me, too.”

Being in a relationship is a choice. Reassuring your partner that you’re still choosing to be with them and to work through challenges will help create a sense of safety and stability.

Similar phrases:

• “Even when times are tough, I still choose to be with you.”
• “I’m here and I want to make this work with you. We’re a team.”

If you can find humor (or playfully tease each other) during tense moments, your relationship might be stronger than you think.

The happiest couples are able to break tension and recalibrate the mood by finding room for an authentic smile, silly banter or a lighthearted joke.

Similar phrases: 

• “We should get some fresh air. Want to do something fun today?”
• “I know I’m a lot sometimes. Let’s take a breather from the tough topics and watch a comedy.”

This one is simple but always worth reminding. Verbally expressing your romantic love for one another keeps the relationship alive. And when you say it, make sure you truly mean it.

Dr. Cortney S. Warren, PhD, is a board-certified psychologist and author of “Letting Go of Your Ex.” She specializes in marriages, love addiction and breakups, and received her clinical training at Harvard Medical School. She has written almost 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and delivered more than 75 presentations on the psychology of relationships. Follow her on Twitter @DrCortneyWarren.

Don’t miss:

• An 85-year Harvard study found the No. 1 thing that makes us happy in life: It helps us ‘live longer’
• Here’s the No. 1 phrase used in successful relationships, say psychologists who studied 40,000 couples
• Harvard-trained psychologist: If you use any of these 8 toxic phrases, ‘your relationship is in trouble’

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Growing up, Zames Chew thought he wanted to work a white-collar role at a company like Google, but his career took a different turn. Today, the 26-year-old runs the Singapore-based handyman service Repair.sg, alongside his 24-year-old brother and co-founder, Amos Chew.

In 2024, their Singapore-based company Repair.sg brought in 1.7 million Singapore dollars (about $1.3 million), according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

“When I was younger, my dream was always to work in big tech,” said Chew. But one day in early 2016, he discovered a gap in the market.

“Our parents were looking for a service provider to fix something around the house,” said Chew. “I was just looking online, and … there [seemed] to be nowhere to find service providers [online] back in the day. So I was like … let me put together a website and see what happens from there.”

So, at age 16, Chew spent 30 Singapore dollars (about $23) to buy a website domain name, had his father help him register the business, and Repair.sg was born.

Almost a decade later, what started as a blue-collar side hustle by two brothers, now has over 20 employees and is on track to bring in about $2.3 million in 2025, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

As kids, the Chew brothers loved being hands-on.

“My brother and I would do everything together. That means building Legos, building PCs, taking things apart,” said Chew. ”[We] have always been building projects together, and it has [been] our dream to … work together when we became adults.”

The two were able to realize this dream during their teenage years after starting Repair.sg. The company gained momentum slowly until the last few years when its growth started to soar, said Chew.

For the first three years of the company, the brothers were still in school, so they had to squeeze in work for the business in between classes, or during their evenings.

“What a lot of people don’t know is that there’s a lot of education … [and] licensing behind some of the services that we do, and it goes beyond just taking a screwdriver and hammer [to] things,” he said. So they spent years acquiring the knowledge, skills and licenses necessary to run their business.

In addition, before the business scaled, they would take on most jobs themselves such as replacing lights, and fixing furniture. “For the first seven years, up until perhaps even early 2024, [the business] was basically at the brink of death most of the time,” said Chew. “We were young and weren’t very good business owners.”

Chew said that in the early days, he and his brother did anything and everything that people were willing to hire them for, and they would go as far as to set an alarm at 4 a.m. to make sure they could respond to early messages from potential customers.

Throughout this time, there were many hard lessons learned and some jobs they shouldn’t have taken, Chew said in hindsight.

″[Maybe] expectations were completely different, or perhaps they were just really cheap and it was a pain for us, or … they were not very nice people,” he said. “We just took whatever came our way because we kind of believed the societal belief that we were lower than the rest or not as respected, so we were kind of just grateful for whatever we got.”

It wasn’t until 2021 when both brothers decided turn Repair.sg from their hobby into a full-blown business that it began to grow and scale. The two also decided against attending university so they can focus on the business instead.

The Chew brothers are part of a wave of Gen Zers who are choosing blue-collar industries over white-collar ones, or over attending university, in some cases.

While the two enjoy their work, they’ve faced lots of pushback by their parents and strangers alike, said Chew. “Growing up, our parents always [told] us things like: ‘If you don’t study hard, you’re going to end up doing a manual labor job, and it’s going to be awful. Don’t you want to sit in an office with aircon?’” he said.

″[And] when we started speaking [with customers] … they would tell us to our face: ’You guys are kids. You guys should be studying in school and not doing this kind of work. This is for people that quote, unquote, don’t make it in life,” he said.

Due to the societal stigma around blue collar jobs, Chew says he and his brother tried to keep their business a secret for a while.

“We were always very insecure about what we did, because while we did enjoy it, the negativity did get to us. So we made it a point to not publicize that we were doing this,” he said.

However, he has now recognized that fundamentally, the work they provide creates great value for customers. Additionally, he enjoys the job, and loves that he gets to work with his brother — which was ultimately more important than how others view their vocation.

“I’m optimistic for the future of the space,” he said, adding that in the last few years, he’s seen an uptick in the amount of younger people entering blue-collar industries. In fact, Chew says some of his friends have left their white-collar jobs for blue-collar ones, and “a lot of them are happier than they ever were.”

“I’m happy that I didn’t listen to anyone else and [kept going], because if I were forced to sit in an air conditioned office five days a week, typing away at a computer, I don’t think I would experience the same amount of happiness, fulfillment, joy that I do running this business with my brother today,” said Chew.

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Dr. Simon Feldhaus has been a doctor for 30 years, and has studied longevity for about half that time. He’s the chief medical doctor of The Balance Rehab Clinic’s Swiss Hub, and a certified specialist in general medicine, functional medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

One of his passions, he says, is examining how vitamins can be used to cure or prevent health conditions and diseases, which is called orthomolecular medicine. Feldhaus also serves as the president of the Swiss Society for Anti Aging Medicine and Prevention.

In his practice, Feldhaus focuses on healthspan by finding ways to not only add years to his patients’ lives, but healthy, fulfilling ones. The daily habits that he encourages his patients to follow are also ones in his own routine.

“Surely, there are some days where I don’t follow these rules, but most of the days I do,” Feldhaus, 58, tells CNBC Make It.

Here’s how he structures his days for optimal health and wellness.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

CNBC Make It: What are some of the practices you do on a daily basis to keep your body healthy?

First of all, it’s nutrition. It’s a combination of being flexible, so I don’t follow a strict diet, but I have some basics. My idea of nutrition is that we have to reduce the carbohydrates in our food, especially the fast-acting carbohydrates. Plus, we should eat much more protein and fat, especially fatty acids like Omega-3s.

For me, nutrition, food and eating, it’s not a chemical, scientific-based thing, but emotional. What I’m doing is combining the idea of nutrition with the idea of emotions. I only eat what I’m supposed to eat, and I feel good when eating those foods. It’s not because science says I have to eat this fruit. Yes, it’s a little bit about science, but it also must be pleasurable for me to eat the fruit.

The second major thing is enjoying life. I think most people nowadays don’t enjoy life. And if you don’t do that, and you don’t live with compassion and love for others, you have a negative stress point. This idea doesn’t mean every day will be perfect.

I also think one of the major aspects of staying healthy is boosting my body’s ability to work and to repair. For that, the mitochondria, the power sources in every cell, are extremely important. I care for them by using specialized, individual supplements, not a multivitamin. I use therapeutic carbs, a sugar called galactose, which doesn’t use insulin. I get the energy because it’s a carbohydrate, but I don’t have any risk of an insulin spike.

And then, movement. A problem of my work is most of the time I’m sitting, talking with people, helping people. I’m sitting too much. That’s why I’m doing high-intensity interval training. I use something called a Power Plate machine, where you stand on it, do some exercises, and the machine vibrates. I do 10 to 12 minutes, three times a week. It’s not the same as jogging, but it’s muscle work. And I think muscles are one of the most important things.

These practices are what I try to follow in my life as rules. Surely, there are some days where I don’t follow these rules, but most of the days I do.

I see a lot about the importance of brain health. Is there anything that you do specifically to keep your brain healthy?

Absolutely. The number of cases of dementia is growing, and we have to start prioritizing brain health as early as possible, and not only waiting until issues arise.

The galactose sugar I mentioned is a specialized sugar which goes into the brain, and this provides energy for my brain cells. Also, fatty acids for brain health, especially the Omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, a specialized fatty acid called lecithin, which is found in egg yolks. I eat a huge amount of eggs.

Then you have to relax your brain. I’m not the one to practice meditation — not that meditation isn’t good, but I’m not a human being who can meditate. I use breathing techniques where I slow down a few times a day for three to four minutes to calm down my nervous system.

About 10 minutes per day, I’m doing whatever I would like to do. It’s just for me, from reading a book to whatever. It’s just my time to focus on happy things.

You mentioned lowering your stress and doing things that make you happy, and often that can be connected to community. What does social fitness look like for you?

Doing things by yourself is okay, but if you are not connected to other people, no chance. There are interesting studies about going to church for happiness. It’s not just about religion, but also what you’re doing together afterwards.

It’s about taking care of good friends, laughing together with others because the power of laughing is especially something. Laughing is very good medicine.

I don’t have the time for two hours a day, but connecting with others for perhaps 15 to 20 minutes a day is one of the best things you can do. Also, trying to protect yourself from consuming all negative news every day.

I also really like Asian medicine ideas, especially Tibetan medicine. And there’s a proverb, this idea of the secret of getting old. They say, “Eat half, walk double, laugh triple and love without measure.” And I do think that’s quite easy.

I see a lot of different things about diet, like “Eat this and not that.” Are there foods you make sure to eat once a week, or certain ones that you don’t really eat at all. And, do you find diet to be super important?

I hate diets. There’s too much discussion about diet. Who is able to say what qualifies as healthy food? How can I tell you what healthy food is for you? I can share what works for me and I will tell you that now, but it doesn’t mean that that food is healthy for everyone. I personally think there is no healthy diet.

The most important thing is what’s the source of the food. If I say beef or meat, it’s beef from a specialized location here in Switzerland. This kind of quality is what I try to get for every food I eat. The most important thing is the quality of food, not really what the food is.

Most of the time I’m eating proteins and fats, like Swiss cheese and milk products. I don’t drink milk, but products like yogurt. I also eat bread, but I only prefer wheat or dark breads because of the taste, not white bread. Then I eat meat, such as beef or something like that.

I only eat vegetables that are in season. Now, it’s autumn or nearly winter, and there are no strawberries growing, so why should I eat them? I can get strawberries at the market, but they are not growing here now.

I also really think that the way you cook the food makes much more of a difference. You should cook food with a good mind and when you are happy. It’s the complete opposite if I’m very stressed with negative thoughts. With these emotions if I cook, then the food will be poisoned, not really poisoned but metaphorically speaking. For me, the love of preparing the food you’re making is nearly the same as the quality of the food.

So that’s what I do, and it’s not a diet. It’s not something that must be the same every day. But these are my rules.

There’s something I always ask when I speak to longevity experts. What are you reading?

I don’t have much time to read a lot every day because I work so hard. So if I’m reading, it’s about completely different things than what I’m doing at work. I don’t read scientific-based things often outside of work because in my job, I have to read studies and stuff like that.

Outside of work, I just read things that enlighten my life, such as funny things like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

I also read interesting things about food nutrition, but not scientific-based, only emotional-based eating. If I’m reading something longer, it’s more philosophical. Like what have some great minds said in whatever place like somewhere in Asia? What did they do and what did they think?

I don’t always have to learn from what I read. I want to have an experience.

To summarize, these are the daily habits Dr. Feldhaus practices to stay in good physical and mental health:

• For his body: Prioritizing his nutrition, making his life as enjoyable as possible and engaging in movement.
• For brain health: Taking specialized supplements, incorporating relaxation into his routine and doing things he loves.
• For social fitness: Laughing often, spending quality time with others for at least 15 to 20 minutes a day and loving without measure.
• For his daily diet: Sourcing his food for optimal quality, centering protein in his meals and eating seasonal fruits and vegetables.
• For his media diet: Reading fun, interesting and enlightening books in his free time.

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The holidays are supposed to bring joy and connection. But for many of us, they bring stress and fraught family dynamics. 

As a couples therapist, I hear the same question every year: “What do I say when my relatives make critical or overstepping comments?” Conflict with extended family is one of the most common reasons couples can feel distant and resentful towards one another. When they come to me, they want to know how to set clear boundaries and not fall back into old patterns.

With their relatives, many people often mistake a request (e.g., “please stop doing that”) for a boundary (e.g., “here’s what I will or won’t do”). Remember that true boundaries are about intentionally protecting your peace.

Here are six phrases to set boundaries with your family this holiday season.

You can use this when a family member says something like you’re raising “soft” kids or, “That’s not how we did it and our kids turned out fine.” You will invite differences without inviting debate. 

You might offer a follow-up conversation, asking, “Would you be open to hearing more about the parenting research we’re following?” 

If your family member isn’t interested in hearing this, or continues to argue from their perspective, avoid engaging in conversation around your parenting choices.

Use this response if someone starts the game of compare and despair, with lines like “You’re spending more time with her side” or “But we always do Thanksgiving together.”

Many couples today are redefining the holidays and choosing rest, presence, and connections over obligation and duty.

Let go of the idea that there is a “right” way to spend the holidays. Make a decision from your values as a couple. 

Use this when a relative undermines your partner with comments like “You know how he is…” or “He’s never been great at that.” 

Comments that pit you against your partner are subtle but corrosive. They invite triangulation, where one person is pulled into taking sides. This ends up harming the couple’s bond. 

This boundary reaffirms unity: You and your partner are allies, not adversaries. It also teaches your in-laws that your marriage is its own family system and deserves respect.

This is a great blanket statement for dealing with hot-button subjects like politics, fertility, family planning, or body image.

For some family members, the only way they know how to create connections is by trying to get a rise out of you. This kind of communication tactic can lead to frustration or resentment.

But you don’t owe anyone an explanation. You’ve made life choices that make sense for you, and you are not on anyone else’s path or timeline.

Repeating your boundary with calm clarity can help you stay grounded and maintain a sense of agency. 

You can rely on this response when a relative enforces food rules to your kids like “You have to finish all of your dinner before you get dessert.”

Even in extended-family spaces, you remain your child’s parent. Assertive, respectful communication not only reinforces boundaries but models self-respect for your children. 

This is a way to teach them to trust themselves, and say “no,” in a kind, clear and firm manner.

Use this phrase when guilt appears in the form of lines like, “It’s too bad you couldn’t stay longer.”

You can be compassionate without taking on someone else’s disappointment. Guilt is often a way people express longing or loss. Acknowledge the feeling without absorbing it.

Many families are consistent and predictable: If they’ve done something before, they’ll likely do it again.

When you stop expecting them to suddenly change, you can focus on what you can control: your preparation, your boundaries, and your presence. 

Dr. Tracy Dalgleish is a clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and relationship expert. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes and Time, and her research has appeared in peer-reviewed academic journals. She is the host of the parenting podcast Dear Dr. Tracy and the author of ”You, Your Husband and His Mother″ and ”I Didn’t Sign Up for This.”

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