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Student Loan Planner

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Apr 4, 2023 • 29min

How Congress Could End the Student Loan Pause and Cancellation

In this episode, I’m diving into some PSLF regulations that specifically affect physicians in California and Texas. Many of them work for for-profit companies that serve nonprofit hospitals, and the new rules coming out in July 2023 could have a big impact on PSLF eligibility. Next up is another listener's situation regarding consolidating Parent Plus Loans with graduate school debt. We'll also be covering some Parent Plus strategies that can be beneficial for parents. I’ll also be jumping into the exciting world of Congress and their possible plan to repeal the student loan pause and cancellation. Don't worry, I'll break down what this means for borrowers and what happens when President Biden blocks it. Plus, we'll explore the Congressional Review Act and some juicy details of the ongoing student loan lawsuits. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The new PSLF regulations that come out in July 2023 that could change student loan repayment strategies for physicians in California and Texas When you should consolidate Parent Plus Loans with graduate loans and when to keep them separate Who the Parent Plus Loan strategy works the best for How Congress might end the student loan pause and student loan cancellation Why some senators might vote against the cancellation and IDR programs  The chances that President Biden could veto the bill to end the programs An update on the Supreme Court's ruling on the student loan cancellation plan When I think they’ll really end the student loan payment pause Why student loan borrowers can still benefit, despite the uncertainty Links mentioned:  Consolidate your federal student loans
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Mar 28, 2023 • 18min

How is the PSLF waiver going?

Join me in this episode as we delve into the PSLF waiver report card. While I'm thrilled to see a growing number of individuals in our community receive forgiveness through the PSLF waiver, the low 20% success rate highlights the confusion borrowers face in determining where to apply and which loans to consolidate. I'll then draw a comparison between the PSLF waiver and the student loan forgiveness initiative, which boasted a much higher 60% take-up rate and a simplified application process.  Finally, we'll assess the successes and disappointments of the Biden administration's student loan relief initiatives to date. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The confusion among borrowers that led to the low success rate of the PSLF waiver Why student loan debt cancellation faced legal challenges, but the PSLF waiver did not How the PSLF waiver widened the racial wealth gap The difference between PSLF and IDR waiver The biggest determining factor on the success of the IDR adjustment Why the student loan cancelation plan is entirely political The importance of the 12/36 rule What it takes to get transformational savings on your student loans How modifying an existing income-based repayment plan can be dangerous   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   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 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!  
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Mar 21, 2023 • 24min

How the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Impacts Student Loans

Hold onto your hats folks, because we're diving headfirst into the Silicon Valley Bank failure. I will explain why the government intervened when they did and what they did to combat the rising panic in the banking industry. I’ll also explore the potential implications of this failure on interest rates for mortgages and student loans, and why it’s important for you to stay informed. Additionally, I will share my analysis of the government's potential strategy on student loan forgiveness, and the reasons behind the denial of some Parent PLUS consolidation applications. So sit back, relax, and join me as we dive in. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What is the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and why is it important Why SVB failed What a “bank run” is and why it’s bad What can cause a bank to fail What the government can do to help a failing bank Why the government stepped in when it did during the SVB failing How SVB failing can affect you as a consumer  How the failure of SVB can lead to changes in interest rates and affect loans and mortgages Why the federal government may put a longer pause on student loan repayments Why Parent PLUS consolidation applications may be getting denied more often What the Parent PLUS consolidation loophole is   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   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 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!  
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Mar 14, 2023 • 22min

Sofi Sues To End The Student Loan Pause

On Friday, March 3rd 2023, private student loan company SoFi filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education, hoping to overturn the most recent payment pause extension. SoFi, a private student loan company known for its partnership with the LA Rams stadium, has seen a drastic 90% drop in revenue due to the COVID pause, and they’ve decided to take action against it now. What does this mean for you? Check out this episode as I discuss this controversial topic and what you can do now to prepare for the upcoming weeks. In today’s episode, you'll find out: A disclosure statement about SoFi and MOHELA Why SoFi is suing now over the Heroes Act SoFi’s recent quarterly results A possible reason for the actions of the Heroes Act legal team  How this lawsuit will affect you Will this affect the new student loan repayment plan  SoFi’s motivation and one way the Biden administration could respond Why we need the IDR Waiver FAQ now How to prepare for the next six weeks   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   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 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!  
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Mar 7, 2023 • 28min

Avoid the Siren Songs of Student Loans

Student loans are a huge source of anxiety for many borrowers. Wondering how you’ll pay them off can feel like a weight that you have to carry around, which has led to lots of folks making unsound or unnecessary financial decisions. It’s what I call the “siren songs of student loans.” When you think back to Greek mythology, there were sirens that lured sailors to their death with their beautiful songs. Student loans can also have “siren songs” that can lure us into making big mistakes that impact our future wealth growth. In this week’s episode, I’m talking about how you can avoid the seven most common siren songs of the student loan world and why student loans shouldn't stop you from living your best life. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why focusing on the interest rate above all else is a mistake How to avoid only seeking out PSLF-eligible jobs You don’t need to fixate on student loan repayment assistance How to take on additional debt for school – the right way Why NOT to pay for school with cash The “false idol” of debt-free hustle culture Why you should consider leaving a job you hate, even if you still have loans Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   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 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!  
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Mar 2, 2023 • 24min

Emergency Pod on the Supreme Court Case

Breaking news on the Supreme Court Case
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Feb 28, 2023 • 46min

What Comes After the Student Loan Cancellation Lawsuit

Listen in as Meagan McGuire, CSLP®, and Dan Rooker, CFP®, CSLP®, share the results of the Supreme Court case on cancellation… just kidding. While we'd love to dive into how the case plays out, we recorded this episode prior to the verdict. But don't worry, we've got plenty of other valuable insights to share.  We’re taking a closer look at the new Revised Pay As You Earn plan, commonly referred to as the "new REPAYE," and assessing whether it's a good fit for you. Plus, over the past few years, student loan freezes have influenced how people file taxes. How does the situation you’re in now impact how you should file for 2022? Things will continue to change with the results of the most recent Supreme Court case coming out, but there are still plenty of ways to plan how you’re going to file for this year.  Then, we’ll discuss some of the nuances that are affecting student loan borrowers right now, loan consolidation, and as always, we'll be sharing some intriguing stories from our email inbox. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The results of the Supreme Court case on cancellation…jk jk If new REPAYE is a good plan for you 1098-E tax form nuances with consolidations Whether married couples should file 2022 taxes together or separately Impacts of filing separately for income-driven repayment The tax deduction for federal student loan interest during the freeze  Delays on loan forgiveness with the PSLF waiver Information on consolidating your loans How address changes impact your double consolidation paperwork Consolidation with respect to the LDR waiver Email inbox storytime Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   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 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!
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Feb 21, 2023 • 41min

Intentional Budgeting: Spend Sustainably Without Sacrificing Your Dream Life

Student loans payments will likely kick back in sometime in 2023, so now is the time to reevaluate your spending and saving habits. Are you truly living the life you want to live? How do YOU define your own success? Today, Meagan McGuire, CSLP®, and Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, discuss how to change your budget so that it’s working for you. And no, they aren’t going to tell you to quit eating at restaurants or supporting your local coffee shop! This episode is all about how you can adjust your life right now to spend your money on the things that actually matter and bring you joy. No matter what your goals are, it’s always the right time to invest in you. So let’s dive in! In today’s episode, you'll find out: Intentional spending and budgeting How to align your spending with your values How to prioritize your spending How to say “no” to things that aren’t aligned with your goals The importance of supporting small businesses Different ways to support small business owners The differences in how you feel when you use credit or debit cards, or cash How to invest in a socially responsible way    How to donate your time or money to important causes without sacrificing your needs Questions to ask yourself before making a budget   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   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 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!  
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Feb 14, 2023 • 45min

Free College for Everyone with New IDR

Keeping up with how student debt is changing in this country can be a headache. That’s why I want to help you figure out how to use the existing system to your benefit right now in ways that could be life-changing. Today, I’m answering quite a few listener questions — lots of our listeners had Parent PLUS Loans on their minds, and maybe you do, too. Then, I dive into the Biden Plan for “free public college,” which may not be exactly what it sounds like, but you could still massively benefit if you set up a plan that uses your current situation to your benefit.  In today’s episode, you'll find out: What is the double consolidation loophole   Advice on Parent PLUS Loans for parents Does the advice apply to private student loans If you should continue with the loophole method  How to navigate student loan repayment as things continue to change Whether you should file your taxes separately or joint-file How much the new tax plan could cost Biden’s plan for “free public college” and how to use it to your advantage How to provide an inheritance to your kids How to pay back your student loans Links mentioned:    Got a student loan question? Leave me a voicemail Parent PLUS Loan double consolidation loophole  Get a student loan plan StudentAid.gov   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   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 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!  
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Feb 7, 2023 • 44min

Grab Bag Q&A: Navigating the Student Loan Repayment Maze

Join student loan consultants Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, and Meagan McGuire, CSLP®, as they answer questions from clients about student loans. Learn about the revamped REPAYE plan, forgiveness timeline for undergraduate and graduate loans, and discretionary income guidelines for repayment. They also dive into the tax implications of loan forgiveness, the difference between FFEL and Direct Loans, when the long-term benefits of federally held loans outweigh the advantages of refinancing, and more. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Questions about the new repayment plan The forgiveness timeline of the new REPAYE plan When to save up for the tax liability to get ahead of the game How the option of married-filing-separately could be impacted Why you don’t need to have a tax return to calculate your payment What you need to know if you feel like you're the only one making student loan payments How to get help with student debt Why you may need a student loan consultation even if you think you don't How do you go about the double consolidation on timing When can you start preparing for the double consolidation What to do if you’ve been laid off How to get your money back if you’ve been making student loan payments during the payment pause Link mentioned:  StudentAid.gov   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn   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 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!

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