Student Loan Planner

You might have a pristine credit score, but still be drowning in debt. Or maybe you’re a new grad with six figures in student loans and no idea how those monthly payments are going to affect your shot at a mortgage, business loan or even a better credit card. Medical, dental, and veterinary professionals: this one is directly for you. We explore how student loans impact your FICO score and credit report, plus key actions you can take today to protect your credit and avoid thousands in unnecessary interest.Key moments:(02:21) Doctors with poor credit can pay $500k more in lifetime interest(12:45) Why that free Credit Karma score is not your real FICO(23:44) How utilization rate affects 165 points of your credit(28:29) Student loan late payments and the 90-day federal grace period(40:04) Hard inquiries, 45-day window, and rate shopping the smart wayResources mentioned: annualcreditreport.com (free yearly credit reports)myFICO.com (official FICO score pulls)Like the show? There are several ways you can help!Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon MusicLeave an honest review on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to the newsletterJoin SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member communityFeeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?Try our free student loan calculatorCheck out our refinancing bonuses we negotiatedBook your custom student loan planGet profession-specific financial planningDo you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!Mentioned in this episode:Want more? Check out our other podcastStarting to think beyond your student loans? Check out our other show, Financially Free Era. It's about what comes next, investing, building wealth, and designing a life you actually want. Find "Financially Free Era by SLP Wealth" in your podcast app.Tips I Can't Share PubliclyGetting our free newsletter? Upgrade your experience and discover student loan loopholes so good, they might get repealed if I talk about them publicly. Find out my very best thought leadership that I really just can't be open about anymore, unfortunately. If you want to get our very best tips, not just the ones that I can share for free. Go to studentloanplanner.com/insider to get a special discount for your year membership.

If you’ve recertified your student loans lately, odds are your inbox is flooded with confusing, maybe even contradictory, servicer messages. For physicians, dentists, veterinarians and anyone trying to get PSLF or keep payments low, these “weird” communications can cost you big — especially if you misread your repayment status or aren’t clear on PSLF buyback timelines. We’ll walk through what these new messages really mean, practical steps for navigating delayed PSLF Buyback approvals, and how your retirement savings choices can lower not just your taxes, but your student loan payments, too. You’ll learn how to read between the lines, advocate for yourself, and avoid mistakes that could cost you months or even years on the path to forgiveness.Key moments:(00:00) What “reduced payment period” notices mean for borrowers on IBR(04:08) How the 10-year standard repayment cap works for high earners on IBR(05:11) Confusing payment start dates from servicers like Mohela, and how to respond(08:35) How workplace retirement plans can lower student loan payments(12:58) PSLF buyback delays and the risks of submitting new employer certification formsResources mentioned: PSLF Buyback FAQMohela Contact UsLike the show? There are several ways you can help!Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon MusicLeave an honest review on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to the newsletterJoin SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member communityFeeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?Try our free student loan calculatorCheck out our refinancing bonuses we negotiatedBook your custom student loan planGet profession-specific financial planningDo you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!Mentioned in this episode:Free Student Loan newsletterIf you are not already getting our weekly newsletter every Thursday, you are missing out. We break down studio loan news, updates, money tips, all in one helpful newsletter. Sign up for free at https://studentloanplanner.com/newsletterThe SLP YouTube ChannelIf you're more of a visual learner or you like seeing charts, breakdowns, and exploring other topics, check out https://youtube.com/studentloanplanner

Millions of borrowers are leaving SAVE forbearance and facing crucial decisions about income documentation. Learn how recertification differs from recalculation, when tax returns or pay stubs may help, and how marriage, job loss, children, or missed deadlines can change payments. The discussion also explores family size, auto-recertification, and timing strategies for keeping repayment manageable.

Payments are back, SAVE is over, and one in five borrowers is already behind. If your payment is unaffordable, or you've been ignoring your loans and want to know what happens next, this episode is for you.We’ll walk through your options before you miss a payment, what deferment and forbearance actually cover now, and the real timeline from delinquency to default. You'll also learn why loan rehabilitation usually beats consolidation, and the new rule that lets you rehabilitate twice starting July 2027.Key moments:(03:17) The latest delinquency and default numbers, and who is already behind(07:36) Income-driven vs. fixed plans when your payment is unaffordable(13:26) Deferment and forbearance options, and how to get them approved faster(20:32) What to do in the first 90 days of missing a payment to protect your credit(27:12) Loan rehabilitation vs. consolidation for getting out of defaultLike the show? There are several ways you can help!Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon MusicLeave an honest review on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to the newsletterJoin SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member communityFeeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?Try our free student loan calculatorCheck out our refinancing bonuses we negotiatedBook your custom student loan planGet profession-specific financial planningDo you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!Mentioned in this episode:Free Student Loan newsletterIf you are not already getting our weekly newsletter every Thursday, you are missing out. We break down studio loan news, updates, money tips, all in one helpful newsletter. Sign up for free at https://studentloanplanner.com/newsletterThe SLP YouTube ChannelIf you're more of a visual learner or you like seeing charts, breakdowns, and exploring other topics, check out https://youtube.com/studentloanplanner

In a new survey of physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and others, two groups reported similar incomes and spent about the same on homes and cars. Yet one group grew its investments at least twice as fast. What set them apart? This episode walks through the data to compare how the two groups save, invest, and feel about reaching their goals. You'll learn where busy people tend to let things slip, how to judge whether a financial planner's fee pays for itself, and which small moves can shorten the path to your goals.Key moments:(03:01) How confidence in reaching money goals differs with ongoing financial planning(06:01) Why people with ongoing planning contribute to Roths and brokerage accounts more often(10:31) Why similar median incomes still led to very different wealth growth(24:06) Why behavioral slip-ups, not intelligence, erode progress for busy professionals(33:01) The real value of ongoing planning over one-off hourly adviceResources mentioned:Hello NectarineLike the show? There are several ways you can help!Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon MusicLeave an honest review on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to the newsletterJoin SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member communityFeeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?Try our free student loan calculatorCheck out our refinancing bonuses we negotiatedBook your custom student loan planGet profession-specific financial planningDo you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Federal student loans are shifting closer to private debt, with major consequences for future graduate, medical, dental, and law students. The discussion covers shrinking borrowing caps, stricter nine-month forbearance limits, fewer repayment choices, and changes affecting PAYE, SAVE, and public service forgiveness. Political shifts and upcoming elections could also reshape the rules.

For long-time federal borrowers nearing income-driven repayment forgiveness, a massive tax bill may be waiting. Explore how to estimate the forgiveness timeline, plan and invest for the liability, and navigate special Parent PLUS rules. The discussion also covers insolvency exclusions, 1099-C forms, IRS payment plans, offers in compromise, and when collections may be paused.

Should you invest extra cash or attack your student loans? This discussion explores how rising interest rates, tax brackets, and market uncertainty have changed the old low-rate debt playbook. It also weighs retirement contributions against brokerage investing, plus the value of keeping money liquid for entrepreneurship, career shifts, and other major life moves.

Listener questions cover choosing affordable colleges, correcting inaccurate PSLF counts, and managing large engineering and dental school debts. The discussion then examines why forgiveness counts are being revised, whether previously granted forgiveness can really be reversed, and what borrowers should expect as repayment plans transition from SAVE.

Jana McKay, student loan expert who helps borrowers with income-driven plans and tax strategies. She breaks down why many payments jumped massively after forbearance and SAVE. Short sentences explain using pre-tax accounts to lower AGI. The conversation covers marriage and filing tactics, community property quirks, timing recertification, and the looming PAYE sunset and tax treatment of forgiveness.