How Trump’s and Biden’s Policies Could Affect Your Wallet

Who lives in the East Wing usually has a lot of opinions about things that could affect your money. Here’s where President Trump and former VP Joe Biden stand.

If the Trump admin gets four more years…

• Taxes: Trump wants to extend some key parts of his 2017 tax code update. Reminder: some changes, like a higher standard deduction and bigger child tax credit, expire after 2025. He’s also promised deeper tax cuts for the middle class.

• Healthcare: Trump’s made it clear he’s anti Affordable Care Act. He’s pro lower drug prices and protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

• Student loans: Trump plans to say ‘bye’ to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and modify income-based repayment. Under his plan, undergrad borrowers would hand over a max of 12.5% of their discretionary income over 15 years (compared to the current 10% cap for 20). He's also proposed setting loan limits to help curb tuition costs for new undergrad and graduate students.

• Jobs: A Moody’s analysis says Trump’s policies could help create more than 11 million new jobs by 2024. He’s indicated that states should call the shots on minimum wage.

If the Biden admin takes over...

• Taxes: Biden says he won’t raise taxes for Americans earning less than $400K.

• Healthcare: Biden wants to expand the Affordable Care Act and give people a choice between public health insurance and employer-based plans. He’s into lower prescription costs and bringing back the Obama-era “individual mandate” penalty for not having health insurance.

• Student loans: Biden says he would forgive higher-education debt for undergrad borrowers who earn less than $125K and went to a public school. And cancel $10,000 for all federal borrowers ASAP. He also thinks it's a good idea to waive public college tuition costs for students from families that earn less than $125K.

• Jobs: Moody’s analysts predict a Biden presidency would lead to 18 million new jobs. He’s in favor of a $15/hour national minimum wage. (Psst: it’s been $7.25 since 2009.)

theSkimm: Americans are deciding who they want to run the country for the next four years. The winner could have a pretty big impact on things you care about – including your finances.

Skimm'd by: Ivana Pino, Stacy Rapacon, Elizabeth Smith, and Elyse Steinhaus