Auto loans are the fastest-growing problem area in American household debt. Balances hit a record $1.713 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, and the share of balances seriously behind on payments is now the highest in the last 23 years. New auto loans also hit a nominal all-time high of $211 billion in Q2 … Read more
Failed SaaS subscription payments have emerged as a critical challenge for software companies, directly influencing cash flow, customer retention, and long-term business health. Payment failures and involuntary churn account for as much as 40% of lost subscribers and significant annual revenue leakage. Understanding why recurring payments fail, and tracking their impact, is essential for any … Read more
Medical debt has become one of the most pervasive financial burdens facing American households, affecting more than one-third of all families nationwide. A new report by The Kaplan Group examines the national medical debt crisis through comprehensive state-level data, revealing significant geographic disparities and establishing connections between consumer medical debt, and serious payment delinquencies. Key … Read more
Tariffs are once again at the center of U.S. trade policy. Under President Trump’s current term, sweeping new tariffs have been announced, adding to the duties that remained from the last trade war. This roundup covers 50+ key statistics on U.S. tariffs and trade developments from 2023 to 2025—including what’s changed, who’s paying, and how … Read more
While Boomers and Gen X steadily built equity, Millennials and Gen Z are starting adulthood with crushing debt loads that delay or derail buying a home. An exclusive new study from The Kaplan Group reveals a strong negative correlation between student debt and homeownership rates, and when segmented by age group, the generational divide becomes … Read more
A new study by The Kaplan Group explores the relationship between generational spending patterns and geographical cost of living. It also examines how location-based cost of living impacts savings potential more significantly than raw income, with lower-cost states demonstrating higher savings scores despite lower median incomes. Key Takeaways Generational Savings Potential Generational spending patterns reveal … Read more
A new study by The Kaplan Group analyzing Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) wage data provides insights into the disparities in salaries across states and occupations within the United States. By examining mean annual salaries, the study identifies the highest-paying states, occupations, and metropolitan areas. Key Takeaways Highest Salary in Massachusetts According to the 2023 … Read more
Office loan defaults pose a high risk for major US financial districts, potentially signaling impending issues for large cities. A new study by The Kaplan Group analyzed office building data in key US financial districts to determine which are most at risk of a large number of loan defaults or even geo-centric office firesales. Districts … Read more
How did Covid-19 and the resulting economic downturn affect the collections industry? We may not know all the ramifications for a few years, but it’s clear that things have changed and will continue to do so. While delinquency levels did not spike, it is unclear how consumers will manage their obligations as the recession continues. … Read more
We’ve all been there. You miss a payment on a credit card or utility bill and find yourself paying not just the amount due, but the amount due, plus a late fee. In B2B relationships charging a late fee and/or, a finance charge, is also common practice. If you aren’t already charging your clients for … Read more
As we’re writing this, the longest ever U.S. Federal Government shutdown just ended, albeit perhaps only temporarily. Whatever your political views, there are clearly economic costs to both businesses and individuals. Some of those costs are far reaching. Even if none of your clients are federal employees or agencies, you may still feel the burn … Read more
For 20 years, the United States – China Exchange Council (USCEC) has hosted delegate exchanges between the U.S. and China for the purposes of education, commerce, and friendship. Because of his experience with multiple industries and his extensive knowledge of both U.S. and international commercial collections, Dean Kaplan was recently asked to speak to a … Read more
The Kaplan Group is very excited to announce that Rebecca Strasser is this year’s $1,000 scholarship winner! Rebecca is beginning her first year as an MBA candidate at Gonzaga University. Rebecca was one of over 100 scholarship applicants many of whom submitted excellent responses to our essay prompts. With such stiff competition, Rebecca should be … Read more
A lot of executives, especially entrepreneurs, think of themselves as independent, but the truth is very few businesses stand alone. The financial wellbeing of your company may be much more dependent on other companies, and random factors, than you like to admit. The most obvious connections are between you and your clients. If a client … Read more
The Kaplan Group is pleased to announce that Janelle Graves has won our 4th annual $1,000 Scholarship! Janelle is a Junior at Utah State University and is pursuing her degree in Accounting. We started our annual scholarship in 2014 in the hopes of encouraging today’s aspiring students to consider a career in the Credit Industry. … Read more
We are excited to announce that The Kaplan Group’s 3rd Annual $1,000 Scholarship has been awarded to Audriana Rodriguez, a senior at Florida International University! Three years ago, The Kaplan Group, a commercial collection agency, created the annual scholarship hoping to encourage young students of today to consider pursuit of a career in the … Read more
The Kaplan Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that the 2015 Kaplan Group Annual $1,000 Scholarship has been awarded to Pedro A. Rodriguez, a junior Business Management major at Miami Dade College. The scholarship was introduced in 2014 and was designed to promote career opportunities in commercial debt collections and credit management to young adults … Read more
The Kaplan Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Kaplan Group Annual Scholarship of $1,000 has been awarded to Stephen Lyons, a first year graduate student at the University of Georgia and a candidate for a Master of Accountancy. A main goal of the scholarship was to expose students to career opportunities in credit … Read more
My son graduates from UCSB in 20 days under a black cloud. He knew 2 of the six students killed by gunfire on Friday, and at least one of the hospitalized. What should be a joyous time for our son and family is now filled with enormous sadness as we think about those who lost … Read more
NCO Group, reputedly the largest collection agency in the world, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $3.2 million according to an announcement today from the Federal Trade Commission. The government’s press release says it is the largest penalty ever against a third party debt collector The FTC complaint alleged violations of the FDCPA … Read more