Student Loan Planner

“Senate parliamentarian” isn’t exactly a household name, but her latest ruling is huge news for anyone with student debt. Learn what her surprise decision means for the Big Beautiful Bill Act and how it could shape repayment plans and forgiveness programs. You’ll find the specifics of what this means if you’re a Parent PLUS borrower, in dental and medical school, or just worried about how these policy shifts could affect your financial future. We’ll take you beyond the political noise and cut through the confusion to give you actionable info you can use.   Key moments: (02:32) The current bill would essentially kick a lot of people who need to borrow after July 2026 onto the RAP plan (05:21) Future students deserve clear repayment rules upfront, not changes mid-degree like the Senate is proposing (08:45) Anybody who's ever had a parent plus loan needs to apply for the ICR plan (11:20) PAYE borrowers must be prepared to get switched to the old IBR or possibly the RAP plan (15:48) Different borrowers should take different approaches while legislation is pending   Resource mentioned:  IDR Plan Request at Studentaid.gov   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!  

If you're married, there’s a lot to consider in the latest student loan reform proposals. Discover what the changes being debated in Congress could mean for married borrowers, including the potential loss of “married filing separately” as a repayment strategy and how the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) might affect your monthly payments. If you’re single or engaged, this still matters — we’ll cover what you need to know before tying the knot, plus smart moves you can make now to avoid future headaches.   Key moments:   (03:07) New rules could make marriage costly for borrowers with high student debt (10:54) RAP plan offers fewer deductions than IBR, especially for families with multiple children (16:36) Capping federal loan limits could push students toward private lenders with strict requirements (25:02) Borrowers with high debt-to-income ratios may benefit from sticking with forgiveness, despite uncertainty 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 Senate just dropped its version of the student loan reform bill, and let’s just say… it’s not great. In fact, it’s worse than expected, especially if you have six-figure student debt, Parent PLUS loans, or are a future student. Learn what’s at stake, how it could completely reshape repayment options, and who (besides private lenders) might come out ahead. More importantly, you’ll learn what you can do now to protect yourself if the bill moves forward. If student debt is part of your financial life, don’t miss this one.   Key moments:   (00:52) SAVE and new IBR borrowers could be forced into old IBR under the Senate bill (02:18) New rules could turn marriage into a major cost for student loan borrowers (02:48) Parent PLUS borrowers face the harshest penalties under this proposed legislation (07:14) Future borrowers need a plan before taking loans after July 2026 under the new rules (09:18) There's still a whole lot that you can do if you're an existing borrower   Links mentioned:   StudentAid.gov - The official federal site for consolidating student loans   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!  

If the GOP reform bill moves forward, lowering your adjusted gross income (AGI) won’t just be helpful, it’ll be more important than ever for student loan borrowers. We explore what could change, who’s most at risk, and what steps you can take to protect your paycheck. From maxing out pre-tax retirement contributions and HSAs to leveraging self-employment and smarter tax planning, we’ll walk you through practical ways to lower your AGI — and why it might be the biggest factor in your student loan repayment. Key moments: (04:18) Business owners may gain an edge with deductions if the GOP bill becomes law (07:53) Many haven’t felt the full weight of student loan payments in a while — that may soon change (13:55) If this bill passes, 1099 or self-employed work might offer major financial advantages (16:05) Expect to lose 50–60% of your income to loans and taxes unless you lower your AGI 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!  

Get real answers to real questions student loan borrowers are asking about PSLF processing delays, confusing buyback calculations, switching repayment plans, and trying to understand how recent legislation might affect their loans. You’ll get the latest updates on what’s happening behind the scenes and what those changes could mean for you. We also cover practical, actionable steps, like how to time your income recertification, what to consider if you’ve had a long forbearance period, and a lesser-known deferment option for borrowers undergoing cancer treatment. Key moments: (02:58) PSLF buyback uses the lower payment: before or after forbearance, whichever is smaller (13:30) Forgiveness is likely best when student debt is double your income or more (19:59) SAVE plan delays create confusion; should you switch IDR plans or wait it out? (31:29) Moving abroad may lower your AGI and help secure smaller payments toward forgiveness (35:45) FMLA and income recertification: what to know before submitting updated income documentation Links mentioned:  Apply for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans 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 loan reform just cleared the House in what’s officially called the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill.” If it becomes law, it could overhaul repayment into just two plans: the Old IBR plan and a new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) that scales payments between 1% and 10% of income over 30 years. But nothing is final. The next step is the Senate, where the path forward is less certain. We explore what the House bill includes, what changes could mean for current and future borrowers, and the broader implications for repayment, forgiveness, and access to education. Learn about key policy details, potential legal challenges, and what you should watch as the conversation continues in the weeks ahead. Key moments: (05:41) If courts strike down SAVE, it could force a rewrite of the student loan section of the bill (07:55) Changing voter turnout patterns could reshape midterm election outcomes in unexpected ways (11:35) Future students may lose PSLF eligibility for residency programs (14:44) Proposed changes could hit universities hard, leading to major job losses across higher education (17:16)  Estimate your RAP payment to see what’s affordable and compare your 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!

Unpack the intricacies of the Repayment Assistance Plan and why it could reshape student loan repayment. Dive into the uncertainties surrounding its implementation and the political backdrop influencing the movement. Consider the potential inequality in graduate professions as affluent students might dominate if changes occur. Also, explore the proposed tax on endowments and how it may alter the landscape of educational borrowing and financial aid. This conversation is packed with insights that could impact borrowers profoundly.

The proposed Republican student loan bill is shaking up repayment strategies. While undergraduates may benefit, graduate borrowers face potential devastation. Key changes could include eliminating PSLF and imposing strict loan limits that might hinder first-generation students pursuing advanced degrees. The intricate legislative process could see this bill reaching the President soon. Detailed insights into these shifts and practical foresight for borrowers are discussed, making it essential listening for anyone with student loans.

Exciting changes are on the horizon! The show is evolving into a new podcast focused on advanced financial planning. Listeners will discover how to optimize savings and tackle new financial goals after managing their student loans. This transition marks the beginning of a fresh chapter in financial freedom, making it easier to navigate the next steps in personal finance.

Can saving too much actually be detrimental? Discover how financial planners may push clients to invest instead of enjoying their bonuses. Dive into the hidden conflicts of interest in financial advising that compromise personal goals for profit. The discussion reveals that many overspend on things they don’t truly value. Learn about the vital importance of tailored advice and ethical guidance, ensuring that financial decisions genuinely prioritize your well-being rather than merely serving someone else's interests.