Financial Freedom Podcast with Dr. Christopher H. Loo, MD-PhD

✅ 2026 Student Loan Changes Explained | James Mwombela on Forgiveness & Repayment for Graduate & Professional Students

Oct 9, 2025

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✅ Student loan repayments and forgiveness for professional students is changing fast—and the new 2026 rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are set to reshape how repayment works for graduate-level borrowers across the U.S.

In this episode, financial expert James Mwombela from Student Loan Planner breaks down what the new law means for law students, pharmacy students, dental students, business school graduates, optometry students, physician assistants, nurses, medical students, chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals navigating student debt.

If you're in or entering a graduate or professional program, the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, new federal borrowing caps, and less generous income-driven repayment plans could directly affect your future—and your finances. This episode covers everything you need to know about the coming changes and how to prepare, strategize, and protect your financial future.

🎯 James Mwombela specializes in advising professionals with $100K+ in student debt. He offers tailored strategies to help borrowers minimize payments, maximize forgiveness, and avoid common traps—especially with the shift toward the new RAP plan and limitations around IBR, consolidation, and PSLF eligibility.

🔎 In this episode, you'll learn:

📉 What the 2026 federal loan cap means for professional school costs
🧾 How the end of Grad PLUS loans impacts tuition financing
🏛️ Who qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and who doesn’t
⚠️ The risks of private student loans and predatory lending
🧠 How to compare RAP vs. IBR and choose the right repayment plan
🧮 The best moves before July 2026 to lock in smarter repayment terms
🧰 Why consolidation could help—or hurt—you depending on timing

Whether you're pre-med, pre-law, starting dental school, applying to MBA programs, or in the thick of a DPT, NP, or pharmacy program—this episode is packed with strategies, timelines, and clarity to help you make the right loan decisions now and in the years ahead.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS (23:47 total)

00:00 – Intro: Who is James Mwombela & what’s this episode about?

01:10 – The new 2026 bill: How it changes student loan rules

03:45 – What med students and future residents must understand now

06:20 – $200k cap: What it means for your med school budget

08:00 – Private loans & risk of predatory lending

10:15 – Impact on med school tuition + school behavior

12:00 – What to watch out for in private lending contracts

13:30 – For residents: Should you pay off or go PSLF?

16:00 – Why RAP may be worse than IBR

18:00 – Consolidation risks post-2026

20:10 – Best strategies for attendings in private vs nonprofit hospitals

22:30 – Final thoughts + how to work with Student Loan Planner

🔖 HASHTAGS

#StudentLoanForgiveness #MedSchoolDebt #PSLF #DoctorsFinance #JamesMwombela #StudentLoanPlanner #FinancialFreedomForDoctors #DoctorDebtStrategy

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