We’re getting honest about how we can unknowingly sabotage our financial success. We’ll break down common behavioral traps like holding onto investments because we’ve already put money into them (hello, sunk cost fallacy), making decisions based on recent trends (that’s recency bias), and following the crowd just because everyone else is (herd mentality). When we can recognize these behaviors, we can stop being the problem and start making better choices with our money. In today’s episode: 11:31 A super-easy way to track financial progress 16:42 Our money story and how we grew up shapes how we manage money 21:25 Recency bias affects investment decisions, cyclic trends 37:08 Sunk cost fallacy, herd mentality, and dollar-cost averaging   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!  

Tackling the real issues you’re facing and answering a lot of listener questions that have come in about student loans. We’ll chat about the impact of possible political changes on loan forgiveness programs, share tips on managing your loans during servicer transitions, and give advice on everything from autopay issues to whether you should buy property in Hawaii. In today’s episode: 00:38 Parent PLUS loan consolidation, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), marriage and student loans 17:40 Advice for new graduates, administrative forbearance, early income recertification, PSLF buyback 30:19 Interest accruing during forbearance, PSLF credit for past payments, timing PSLF 41:32 Forgiveness timelines when there’s a gap between undergrad and grad loans, interest capitalization 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!  

Balancing student loans and other financial goals can feel overwhelming, but it’s absolutely achievable. We’ll guide you through prioritizing your financial goals, from paying off debt to creating a solid foundation with brokerage accounts, retirement planning, and tax strategies for long-term success.   In today’s episode:   04:40 Start by building an emergency fund (step 1), making the most of your employer benefits (step 2), and paying off high-interest debt (step 3) 10:48 Next, invest in a brokerage account (step 4), increase your emergency savings (step 5), and secure disability insurance (step 6) 21:53 Max out your health savings or flexible spending accounts (step 7), contribute the maximum to your 401(k), 403(b), or 457 (step 8), and ensure you have life insurance (step 9) 39:56 Finally, contribute the maximum to your Roth IRA, or consider a backdoor Roth IRA if you don’t qualify (step 10), grow your brokerage account (step 11), and plan for long-term goals (step 12)   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!  

Payment caps aren’t something most borrowers think about, but they can have a huge impact on anyone using an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. With ongoing court battles that could reshape repayment options, it's more important than ever to understand what payment caps are, how they work, and why they could mean massive shifts in how borrowers handle their payments and pursue forgiveness.    In today’s episode:   01:03 How payment caps work under Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), Income-Based repayment (IBR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) 06:44 What happens if you can’t get on the income-based repayment plan? 11:51 Did the Biden administration’s handling of SAVE create more challenges for borrowers? 13:53 The final outcome hinges on Trump or Harris administration decisions   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!  

Just like physical fitness, financial fitness is key to a healthy life. Discover how personalized financial goals, like a tailored workout plan, can help you build a strong foundation with smart cash flow management, debt control, and a solid emergency savings strategy. In today’s episode: 07:41 Cash flow planning makes it easier to balance your income and expenses 16:58 A larger emergency fund allows for a higher deductible, which can lower your insurance premiums 28:30 As life changes, so do your goals, and your savings plan should evolve to keep pace 38:11 Financial planning is most effective when personalized since everyone’s situation is so different   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 forgiveness has been a political hot potato for years, and recent moves by the Biden administration have reignited fierce debates. I’m breaking down the political chess game behind these battles and where things might go from here. In today’s episode: 09:24 Regulations unintentionally increased debt balances for borrowers 18:46 The COVID student loan repayment pause triggered a ripple effect 24:48 Transitioning to executive action after not getting support in Congress 31:10 Provoked by benefits, costs, and generous terms, Republicans decided to sue   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!  

Find out where you stand financially and if you're on track to become a millionaire.   Financial experts Meagan McGuire and Sim Terwilliger explain how to evaluate savings strategies, balance debt with investments, and avoid overspending. You’ll also learn how understanding opportunity costs can help shape smarter financial decisions.   In today’s episode:   06:16 Calculate your current standard of living to estimate retirement expenses 16:03 Front-load retirement savings early in your career  21:45 Compare interest rates to prioritize debt repayment or investing 32:36 Use Investor.gov’s calculator to see where you’re at on your savings journey   Link mentioned:   Compound Interest Calculator   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 about changes to your student loan payments? It could happen if the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan is repealed. Student loan experts Megan McGuire and Sim Terwilliger share how they’re advising clients to rethink their repayment approach. In today’s episode: 05:24 Parent PLUS loan borrowers need a plan B and plan C 13:44 Fill out a forbearance application to postpone or reduce student loan payments 24:07 Monthly income-driven repayments (IDR) can spike if you don’t update your income 31:49 PSLF buyback can give you credit for months that didn’t qualify before   Link mentioned:  SAVE Plan Court Actions: Impact on Borrowers   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!  

Learn how to lower your taxable income and reduce student loan payments by optimizing pretax benefits like 401(k)s, IRAs, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and more. Financial experts Meagan McGuire and Connor Pierce guide you through these valuable strategies.   In today’s episode:   09:18 Strategies for maximizing retirement savings as a sole proprietor 16:49 How to reimburse medical expenses from previous years tax-free 26:07 Why a Roth IRA may be a smart choice for a lower-income tax strategy 34:05 The benefits of filing a tax extension to keep your student loan payment low     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!

With recertification deadlines for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans being pushed back repeatedly, there's a growing concern that borrowers may be hit with unexpectedly high payments once these delays finally end. This situation is creating what I call  the “IDR recertification time bomb.” In today’s episode: 03:37 Payments could skyrocket to 10 or even 20 times their current amount 07:03 IDR recertification could lead to chaos if the courts nix the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan 13:57 Resources for student loan borrowers to prepare themselves 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!