Student Loan Planner

The AFT lawsuit settlement with the Department of Education is one of the biggest updates in months for borrowers on income-driven repayment. You'll learn how this settlement unfreezes stalled forgiveness applications, who's protected under the new rules, and the key deadlines you can't afford to miss. I also explain why the 2026 "tax bomb" is back and what you can do now to prepare for it. Key moments: (00:57) What the AFT lawsuit forced the Department of Ed to fix (02:43) How PAYE and IBR borrowers can finally get forgiveness processed (05:57) The 2026 tax bomb: what's coming and how to plan for it (07:02) The urgent deadline for Parent PLUS borrowers before July 2026 (13:27) Upcoming rule changes that could reshape repayment options   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Worried PSLF Buyback might vanish before you qualify? Let's dig into the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Buyback program — how it works, why it exists, whether it's likely to stick around, and how to position yourself if the rules change. You'll also hear my take on listener questions covering repayment plans SAVE vs. IBR, joint vs. separate taxes, and why sometimes "die with the debt" really can be a strategy.  Key moments: (00:44) How PSLF Buyback works, when you can apply, and why politics could shape its future (06:06) The growing backlog of applications and the risk of counting on Buyback approval (10:28) How to choose between SAVE, PAYE, and IBR repayment plans (14:22) When a "die with the debt" strategy makes sense in retirement (17:50) How to handle income recertification after a job change Resources mentioned:  Certify your PSLF employment Recertify or update income-driven repayment   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

When someone asks whether a certain degree is "worth it," there's finally some data to answer that. We analyzed debt-to-income ratios across dozens of professions from our survey of over 8,000 high-income professionals, and the results tell a pretty clear story about who's managing student debt well — and who's getting squeezed. I'll also share a few thoughts on what these numbers mean in real life, like how income, housing costs, and lifestyle choices play into long-term financial outcomes. Key moments: (01:56) Professions with the lowest debt-to-income ratios and why practicality beats prestige (05:37) The hidden stress gap between generalists and specialists in healthcare and dentistry (09:05)  Why certain degree programs may be setting students up to fail financially (13:06) Who's building the most wealth relative to income (14:47) Spending patterns that separate comfortable from stressed-out professionals   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Feeling anxious about where your career's headed? You're definitely not alone. We surveyed over 8,000 high-income professionals and asked what's keeping them up at night about their profession in 2025. The answers were eye-opening — but also pretty relatable. We're covering the top 10 fears that come up again and again. If you're a doctor, dentist, lawyer, or another high-earning professional, chances are you'll see yourself in at least a few of these concerns. Key moments: (01:26) Rising education costs and massive debt loads are crushing high-income professionals (09:15) Rural practice bring in more money due to high competition in urban areas (20:06) Compassion fatigue is burning out professionals at alarming rate (24:59) Clients may not value a professional's expertise when free AI seems "good enough"   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Ever wondered how your income and student debt stack up against others in your field? We're dropping the results from our biggest survey yet – over 8,000 high-income professionals spilled the tea on their finances, and some of these numbers are pretty eye-opening. Find out which careers are getting crushed by student loans and which ones are actually coming out ahead. Plus, we discuss the coming changes in student loan borrowing limits and what they mean for your career, your wallet, and even the future of professional education. Want to know where you stack up? Tune in.  Key moments: (02:24) Naturopathic doctors have the worst debt to income ratio of any profession that we surveyed (04:44) Dental specialists average $414K in income and $500K in student debt, a debt-to-income ratio of 1.2:1 (07:19) CRNAs and physicians have surprisingly similar average salaries according to our data (14:18) Schools can't magically replace lost tuition when borrowing limits block enrollment (19:10) Nonprofit hospitals may struggle to retain doctors under new student loan lending rules Resources mentioned:  Ron Lieber's book and course on college merit aid and discounting   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Join us for a special live recording from FinCon as we pull back the curtain on what's happening with student loans right now. We're talking about the current state of federal programs, what's working, what's not, and where things might be headed — especially for those of you dealing with big debt loads from professional and graduate programs. If you're a doctor, lawyer, or other high-earning professional trying to make sense of all the policy changes and figure out your best repayment strategy, this behind-the-scenes conversation will give you some clarity on what to expect and how to navigate your options moving forward.   Key moments:   (01:33) Payment counts will likely be wrong, requiring borrowers to self-advocate for corrections (03:53) Without SAVE, deciding when to repay student loans vs. going for forgiveness is more complex (11:52) Confusing times ahead as borrowers navigate between old grandfathered rules and new regulations to figure out which rule sets apply to them   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

The new 30-year Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) could be the only option for federal student loans after July 2026 — but even current borrowers aren't safe if they don't take action. Discover what moves to make to avoid getting stuck with decades of payments. Also, learn about new rules affecting Parent and Grad PLUS loans. If facing 30 years of student loan payments sounds brutal, this episode is for you. Key moments: (02:54) The new $200k loan cap means high earners will likely pay off loans before getting forgiveness (05:44) Education has become a defining fault line between the two political parties (14:55) Grad schools might start using undergrad-style aid talks for tuition and discounts. (18:08) A wave of confusion is on the horizon for borrowers, peaking in April 2026   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

A seismic shift in graduate education financing is on the horizon as strict loan caps are set to impact students starting in 2026. With limits on federal borrowing, many programs, particularly in fields like medicine and pharmacy, could face closure. The conversation dives into the economic consequences for schools and students alike, and what this means for future careers. Listeners will learn how to prepare for these upcoming changes and navigate their financial options amidst uncertainty.

The student loan refi ladder is a clever strategy that'll help you tackle your debt without wrecking your cash flow. We haven't talked about this much in recent years because of student loan payment and interest pauses, but with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act stripping protections from federal student loan borrowers, now is the time to decide between loan forgiveness and refinancing. This episode will help you decide if refinancing — and the refi ladder — is right for you, or if forgiveness is the better path. Key moments: (07:55) Who should consider refinancing (and who shouldn't) (15:14) If you're convinced that paying off your student loans is best, here's what to do first (17:27) Why the refi ladder strategy helps (25:42) Overly aggressive payments may hurt your chances for a mortgage or other big purchases   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Big changes in student loans are on the horizon starting July 2026. Unlimited loans will be replaced with caps, affecting grad school accessibility. While this sounds daunting, it could lead to higher salaries and job security for those who persevere. Some grad schools might even offer discounts to attract applicants. There’s a chance some institutions may close due to these financial strains, and competition for affordable programs will intensify. Stay informed to navigate these shifts effectively!