Student Loan Planner

The Department of Education dropped a bombshell announcement that would've killed a loophole strategy many of you use to keep your student loan payments manageable, only for the agency to quickly walk it back after public outcry. What actually happened? Was this ED deliberately trying to break the law and eliminate the married filing separate option, or was it just an honest mistake? You’ll hear the latest on how advocacy, lawsuits, and a fair bit of confusion among government officials have shaped repayment, and what it means for your student loan strategy (spoiler: the loophole lives... for now).   Key moments:   (01:58) The income-based repayment (IBR) married filing separate rule is actually written into federal law (05:08) Department of Ed issued a corrective statement claiming the announcement was a mistake (07:15) Recertification dates extended, creating confusion around timeline requirements (09:57) Despite complications, there are positive developments worth highlighting for borrowers (10:58) House GOP advances budget reconciliation bill that could impact student loan programs     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!

Last week, the market went on a wild ride, and it all started with steep tariff hikes — especially on imports from China. The market’s reaction was fast and furious, with sharp drops and an even quicker rebound. So, what’s the deal with tariffs, and why do they send markets into a frenzy? Learn the basics of tariffs, why uncertainty can send investors into a panic, and how fear, headlines, and knee-jerk reactions fuel market chaos. But it’s not all doom and gloom. We also explore practical strategies for keeping your cool, sticking to your long-term plan, and even turning market dips into opportunities. Listen in for the tools to confidently ride out market storms, make smart decisions, and protect your financial future. Key moments: (01:48) What are tariffs and how did they change last week? (06:07) The impact of tariffs on your investments and what it means for your portfolio (11:20) Don’t let a down market scare you — think of it as a sale if you're investing regularly (13:56) Three common ways people react to market dips and why they matter (20:51) We can’t control the market, but we can control how we protect ourselves from it. 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 Department of Education just dropped a negotiated rulemaking announcement, and while it might sound like dry policy talk, this one’s worth your attention — especially if you’re pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), on Pay As You Earn (PAYE), or using Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). Learn what negotiated rulemaking actually means, why it matters, and what kinds of changes could be on the horizon for federal student loan repayment. We’ll also walk through the strategy behind these proposed updates, what the timeline might look like, and the political and legal dynamics that could affect how this all plays out. Key moments: (03:20) My initial take: borrowers don’t need to panic just yet — and here’s why (05:35) What these changes could actually mean for PSLF borrowers (06:59) PAYE and ICR might be affected, but IBR is protected by statute  (10:49) The GOP proposal targets nonprofit hospitals, but I don’t think it’ll go anywhere (12:34) With 2026 elections in sight, student loan overhauls will probably stay pretty modest 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!  

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) don’t always get the spotlight, but they should. They’re one of the most flexible and tax-friendly tools out there — and we’re digging into why. We’re joined by Kathleen Boyd, CFP®, for a practical conversation about how HSAs work. Learn how much you can contribute based on your health plan, how things change once Medicare enters the picture, and how to use an HSA as a long-term savings strategy (not just a place to park cash for doctor’s visits). You’ll walk away with real-world tips and a clearer idea of how to actually use your HSA. Key moments: (03:41) Who can contribute to an HSA? Individual vs. family contributions (10:20) HSA catch-up contributions once you reach a certain age (13:46) Overlooked strategies for funding HSAs (24:16) Life circumstances and changes dictate how much you can contribute to your HSA (39:08) Why you might want to move pretax money from an IRA to an HSA 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 Trump administration recently pushed out income-driven repayment (IDR) recertification dates — some all the way to 2027. (I'm not even kidding.) But can you actually count on these extensions? We’re breaking down who should trust these announcements and who might want to proceed with caution. We'll also talk about the bizarre game of musical chairs happening between government departments. One minute it's the Department of Education handling things, then suddenly it's the Small Business Administration, and now the Treasury Department's involved? It's like watching a bureaucratic shell game in real time. Listen in as we try to make sense of what’s going on, what you can trust, and what steps you should take to protect yourself. Key moments: (00:51) President plans to move student loans to Small Business Administration despite questionable legality and no operational details (04:05) Trump White House surprisingly ordered an extension of borrower recertification dates to no sooner than February 2026 (07:14) Court decisions that finally put an end to the SAVE plan could force millions of borrowers into disruptive repayment plan changes (15:05) Maintain your peace of mind by focusing on what you can control in your financial life   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!  

Retirement isn’t just about stepping away from your job — it’s about building a life you actually enjoy and knowing how your finances will hold up when the paychecks stop. A lot of people think they’re ready… until they realize they’re not. We’re walking through five warning signs that could throw your retirement off track. From skipping over withdrawal strategies to carrying debt into retirement — and maybe the biggest one? Not having a plan for what your days will look like once work is off the table.   We’ll break each one down with real examples, why it matters, and offer practical ways to course-correct — so you can head into retirement with confidence, not guesswork.   Key moments:   (02:13) Most retirees underestimate their early retirement spending — and it adds up fast (06:55) Without an inflation plan, retiring today at 60 could cut your purchasing power nearly in half by 80 (8:57) A smart withdrawal plan accounts for taxes, market downturns, and required minimum distributions (15:42) Carrying debt into retirement means high fixed costs that drag down your freedom (19:11) Retirement’s not a finish line, it’s a new chapter — think about how you’ll spend your time   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!  

Student loans are a mess. They've been a mess for as long as we’ve been doing this, but right now? It’s like someone took that mess, threw it in a blender, and hit "puree." We’re answering a whole heap of listener questions. This episode is dropping on April Fool’s Day, but no jokes or pranks here — just straight-up answers. Let’s face it: the real joke is how convoluted this whole system has become. But we’re tackling the questions head-on. And if you're one of the folks who sent in questions, thanks for trusting us with your financial headaches. We've got your back. Key moments: (04:34) The trap that will mean big trouble for borrowers if ICR gets repealed (12:06) No “processing shortcuts” exist — everyone’s in the same slow-moving line (21:20) Inexperienced customer service representatives giving you the wrong answers (34:06) Why you might want to file a tax extension to see how student loan policies might shift (45:24) Financial windfall? Where to direct your cash for maximum impact Links mentioned: StudentAid.gov IDR plan request Certify employment for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) 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!  

Have you ever thought, "wait, is that actually true?" while scrolling financial TikToks at 1 a.m.? We’ve been there, too, and the advice can be hit or miss. We've spent hours sorting through viral money videos to find six trends that actually contain real wealth-building potential — when you know how to apply them correctly. Learn what these popular money concepts really mean, which parts are legit, and most importantly, how to use these concepts to build wealth in your own life. Key moments: (01:31) Trend 1: Automate investing and use tax-advantaged accounts instead of basic savings (04:41) Trend 2: Buy back your time — paying others can actually make you more money (10:28) Trend 3: Stop wasting money on depreciating assets (14:10) Trend 4: The daily mindset practice to stay focused on financial growth (16:22) Trend 5: Protect your money with the right insurance coverage and estate planning (19:38) Trend 6: Never stop learning — budget for books, courses, and coaching   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 IDR recertification deadline has been pushed back again — this time, to no sooner than February 2026. And while that might sound like good news on the surface, we know it brings up a ton of questions. That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in this episode.   If you’re on an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan or even thinking about it, tune in as we answer listener questions about what the new extension actually means for your monthly payments, whether it makes sense to start paying again now or keep riding the pause, and how this might (or might not) affect forgiveness programs down the road. Get insights and practical strategies to stay on top of your plan without going into a tailspin.   Key moments:   (00:31) Why it’s important to be extra careful filing taxes this year (02:57) Paper vs. online IDR applications and why some are mailing backups (11:24) If you’re in the Sweet v. Cardona group, is IBR worth it? (13:15) PSLF questions around buyback, forbearance, and filing a tax extension (19:35) What we know about the ongoing IDR application processing delays   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!  

Tax season is back, and while it’s no one’s favorite time of year, getting ahead of it can save you a ton of stress (and money). We’re breaking down tax planning tips, retirement contributions, and the sneaky mistakes that could cost you. Plus, some unexpected tax trivia — turns out, pro athletes and farmers have some wild tax rules. And because we can’t talk numbers all the time, we’re debating the ultimate question: bar soap or body wash? Grab a coffee, get comfy, and let’s tackle this tax season together. Key moments: (03:33) A midyear tax check helps avoid surprise bills from bonuses, side gigs, or investments (15:07) Roth IRA mistakes happen when you ignore next year’s tax situation — think ahead (21:37) Smart estate planning keeps more wealth with your heirs or charities, not the IRS (26:02) Home office deductions have strict rules — don’t push your luck with the IRS (34:24) Maxing out retirement accounts is great for taxes and asset protection, especially for physicians (34:57) Tax loss harvesting can lower your bill, so don’t miss market downturn opportunities (42:24) A tax extension can help student loan borrowers keep flexibility for income recertification 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!