

Student Loan Planner
Travis Hornsby
Travis helps you navigate the insane world of student loans, especially if you owe $20,000 to $1 million. If you've ever spent too much time on the phone with your loan servicer, this is the show for you. Every week we share tips on loan forgiveness, investing, crushing debt, and how to get to financial freedom when you owe more than most people's mortgage.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 19, 2022 • 36min
Busting Common PSLF Waiver Misconceptions, New Updates on Interest Capitalization, and an SLP Pricing Announcement
Pretty much everything regarding student loan debt is in flux right now, so it’s a perfect time to get the facts straight and bust some misconceptions. Hopefully, this will ease your mind a bit and empower you to get the assistance you need to go after the debt relief you deserve. Join me in this episode as I break down some popular misconceptions about the PSLF Waiver and IDR Waiver programs, as well as a few other pertinent issues and updates around student loan debt relief, interest capitalization, and more. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The major benefits of joining an occupation-specific PSLF Facebook group (check out the links below to join one!) How much student debt could be forgiven for teachers, nurses, social workers, etc through the PSLF Waiver Whether the PSLF Waiver is creating more or less inequality in student loan debt The truth about the most common misconception: You can only benefit from PSLF if you have 120 months (10 years) of credit. The specifics about the Department of Education’s IDR Waiver and what it means for you What is Biden’s newest proposal to change interest capitalization, when it’ll go into effect, and how it will affect loan borrowers What you need to know about our pricing changes that go into effect September 1 Links mentioned: Request an IDR and PSLF waiver webinar for your organization Join a PSLF Facebook Group by Occupation Join the PSLF-Eligible Physicians Facebook Group Use our free student loan calculator Manage your student loans at 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

Jul 12, 2022 • 37min
Biden’s Student Loan Changes & What They Mean for Your Student Loan Debt
Biden’s Student Loan Changes & What They Mean for Your Student Loan Debt The Biden Administration recently came out with a variety of sweeping proposals which are going to impact your student loans in a BIG way. These changes aren’t slated to go into effect until July 2023, but they might start even earlier than that. Join me as I break down the new changes to student loans that the Biden Administration proposed and what other changes we can expect from the Department of Education in the near future. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How interest capitalization may impact your student loans New changes the Biden Administration made to the PSLF rules How to join our occupation-specific PSLF Facebook group for more support Borrower defense settlement applications, potential benefits and dangers What to do if you feel like your degree gave you no value How the Supreme Court might handle the Borrower Defense settlement Potential updates and impacts of student loan cancellation, payment restart, and more What new information there is about the upcoming IDR Plan Whether these recent changes to student loans will increase the inequality in student loan debt (spoiler: We think so…) If the student loan pause will be extended past August 31st, 2022 Links mentioned: Borrower Defense application Request an IDR and PSLF waiver webinar for your organization 17 Best Physician Home Mortgage Loans in 2022 Use our free student loan calculator Manage Your Student Loans at 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

Jul 5, 2022 • 40min
Answering Your Sweet v. Cardona Questions, Waiver Updates and More!
Washington may be headed into summer vacation doldrums, but for student loan borrowers now – more than ever – is a time to stay alert and informed! I’ll start with a deep dive into a proposed settlement in the Borrower Defense to Repayment lawsuit (known as Sweet v. Cardona), outlining the origins of the class action and who stands to receive forgiveness from for-profit schools that marketed through fraudulent means. I’ll also give you the latest updates on where PSLF and IDR waivers stand, and why a big announcement related to the student debt pause will likely occur in the next month. Then, I’ll wrap up with announcements about Student Loan Planner's exciting new webinar initiative and program changes coming this fall. In today’s episode, we’re covering: What’s it all about? A little background on Sweet v. Cardona What it means that it’s a “proposed” settlement (and not yet finalized) The major issue at hand: Should those who were defrauded by scam for-profit universities be forgiven their government loans? What to do if you’ve already applied for Borrower Defense and what to do if you haven’t Updates to the PSLF waiver even though a final decision hasn’t yet been made pending determination of executive authority Why I anticipate a big loan announcement in late July/early August Why people are missing out on $50 billion or more available for forgiveness How to get in on our newest initiative of free online info sessions to any groups or associations interested Changes in pricing our pricing structure starting September 1st A recap of refinancing and where it stands right now for borrowers 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

Jun 28, 2022 • 42min
Answering Your Questions About IDR Waivers, Disability Insurance & Reducing Student Loan Repayments
Join me in this episode where I answer many of your most popular questions about Income-Driven Repayment waivers, grace periods, reducing your loan repayment amounts, disability and term life insurance, our NEW Student Loan Planner Insurance, and so much more! It’s an info-packed episode you won’t want to miss, especially if you’re a medical professional! In today’s episode, you'll find out: Will relief come for spousal joint consolidation loans How PSLFs are changing after the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) waiver announcement. How to know if you’re eligible for loan forgiveness on a Standard Tenure Plan Potential problems with loan repayment grace periods after you graduate How to exclude spouse’s income to reduce student loan repayments What it’s like to go through an adversarial preceding (recommended attorneys & getting relief from a school that closed) How to avoid the June 30th disability insurance sales tactic What important medical professionals need in their disability insurance policy How to know if you need term life insurance Links mentioned: Get Your Own-Occupation Disability Insurance Quote Get and Compare Term Life Insurance Quotes Book a 1 hour consult with us 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

Jun 21, 2022 • 44min
Updates on the Limited PSLF Waiver and the MOHELA Transfer
Senior Student Loan Advisor Meagan Landress, CSLP®, and one of our newest Student Loan Advisors, Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, discuss a number of relevant topics to student loan borrowers today. Listen as they answer listener questions from the inbox, technicalities about loan repayment (particularly around recertifying for your existing income-based repayment plan) and info about the Limited PSLF Waiver and consolidating your loans for PSLF. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How Aidvantage is asking borrowers to recertify for income-based repayment Know when you’ll actually need to recertify (not before March 2023!) How recertifying too soon can impact your income-driven repayment amount When we think student loan payments will resuem How to figure out your interest rates on federal student loans What FedLoan Servicing’s transfer to MOHELA means for borrowers Where your data is stored (hint… it isn’t just your servicer account) What to expect when consolidating your loans for PSLF or the IDR waiver How teachers can avail of PSLF and teacher loan forgiveness at the same time 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

Jun 14, 2022 • 40min
Five Tools You Need to Create a Winning Financial Plan
I’m offering a sneak peek into “Dreams Not Debt,” our brand-new ultimate guide to creating your very own financial plan. Listen is as I break down the five key crucial elements to keep in mind when putting together your plan (cashflow, taxes, insurance and asset protection, life milestone planning and goals-based investing) — and share actionable tips on how to optimize each one to help you achieve your unique goals! If you’ve always wanted to get financial plan but felt like the price was out of reach, or you feel like financial planning doesn’t take into account your student loans, this is the course for you — and our podcast listeners can get it for 70% off through Thursday. Check it out at studentloanplanner.com/plan In today’s episode, you'll find out: How to calculate your true net worth as a student loan borrower When it might be a good idea to hire an accountant to do your taxes for you The 5 key elements you need: Cashflow, taxes, insurance and asset protection, life milestone planning and goals-based investing About the different types of insurance to consider as part of your financial plan How to navigate the complexities of protecting your assets How to categorize your goals and focus on the right investments to achieve them Links mentioned: Dreams, Not Debt — Build a Financial Plan for Your Best Life 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

Jun 7, 2022 • 36min
The Lies You’re Told About Financial Planning
Society tells us that we can only retire in our 60s. If that’s your plan, I think it’s great! But you need to know there are more options available than you have ever dreamed possible, and it all comes down to having the right financial planning strategy in place. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Listen in as I break down what’s wrong with the standard approach to financial planning, and what you can do to chart a course towards your ideal life in as little as a year. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why financial planning isn’t only for rich people What’s wrong with the standard approach to financial planning The real purpose of financial planning How to use financial planning to live your ideal life in a year Why financial planning is different than financial tools About different roles of financial planners and how the profession has evolved over time Why increasing your income alone doesn’t guarantee financial success How to use financial planning tools to your advantage as a student loan borrower 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

May 31, 2022 • 44min
How to Create Inspiring Goals that Empower You to Pay Off Your Student Loans
Too often, we set goals and we never reach them. Why is that? It’s most likely because our goals aren’t inspiring enough! If your goals haven’t inspired you enough to pour your heart and soul into reaching them, let’s fix that. Join us, Rob Bertman, CFA, CFP®, and Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, as we talk about how to set inspired financial goals so you can become debt-free and live the abundant life you want to live. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How to turn boring, ineffective goals into inspiring, effective goals The power of thinking of possibilities instead of clinging to the “what ifs” How smart, inspired goals positively impact your spending habits Creating the path towards success and goal-setting for your biggest aspirations Why don’t I ever reach my goals? How can I become a serial goal-achiever? The importance of focusing on the process over the outcome How to create financial goals that will help you become debt-free The 5 C’s of inspired goal-setting Why you need to write down your goals and say them out loud The crucial role of habits in reaching your goals Goals we’re currently working towards: Flexible travel options and Lauryn’s financial retreat Links mentioned: Sign up for Lauryn’s Financial Retreat Growth Day app Atomic Habits by James Clear 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

May 24, 2022 • 39min
More Student Loan Companies Are Going Out of Business
The Federal Reserve realized they messed up: Inflation wasn’t only a temporary setback brought about by the pandemic. Monetary policy was left too loose for too long, and now it’s led to the worst inflation in 40 years. This is painful for businesses of all types, big and small—including student loan companies. Many of them have no choice but to pivot or phase out certain products, and some of them go out of business completely. Join me as I talk about the student loan servicers that have been forced to shut down and what all of this means for borrowers. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why the Fed messed up and what they’re doing about it How inflation measures up in today’s economy The pain student loan companies are facing How the changes are impacting borrowers going for forgiveness What to know about the Nelnet-Great Lakes merger What the multiple student loan pause extensions mean for companies What borrowers need to do to prepare for servicer changes How servicers could fight back against Congress Whether more student loan refinancing companies will shut down What I think about the student loan pause continuing About our latest updates on the IDR waiver and cancellation by Executive Order 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

May 17, 2022 • 39min
The Racial Wealth Divide
Senior student loan advisor Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, sits down with one of SLP’s newest student loan advisors, James Mwombela, CFP®, to discuss the racial wealth divide and how it has impacted Black Americans’ ability to create wealth. The basis for today’s conversation is a Wall Street Journal article written in August 2021 titled “College Was Supposed to Close the Wealth Gap for Black Americans. The Opposite Happened.” In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why Black college graduates have a lower net worth in the 2020s than in the 1990s What is net worth and why does it matter Slow income growth and other causes of low net worth for Black households How student loan debt is affecting college graduates now versus 30 years ago How this phenomenon has impacted the lives of young Black graduates today About the history of the racial wealth gap Why homeownership is significantly lower for Black graduates The role of homeownership in wealth building How the lack of financial literacy stops net worth in its tracks 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