Student Loan Planner

If you’ve ever been told the average student loan debt for your program or degree, this episode is for you. Join me for a Q&A followed by a discussion on why focusing on median and average student loan debt statistics is a waste of time, and why those statistics cause all kinds of problems when it comes to higher education policy.   In today’s episode, you'll find out: Listener questions about recent student loan volatility How part-time hours can qualify you for PSLF How to use strategic refinancing to repay your student loans How to get your student loan questions answered by Travis Why you probably shouldn’t expect student debt cancellation during the Biden administration Possible changes to the PSLF program in the next few years Why the average and median student loan statistic is extremely flawed How to calculate the true cost of attendance for your program of choice Why schools never disclose tuition inflation, loan fees, or interest fees Why statistics aren’t reliable Why you shouldn’t focus on student loan debt and what to focus on instead   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

Senior Consultant Rob Bertman, CFA, CFP®, joins me in this episode as we take a deep dive into the current state of the housing market. With so many people on the fence about buying a new home this year, Rob and I tackle the most important things to consider before making that all-important decision. Listen in as we discuss how to navigate unpredictable supply chains and fluctuating material costs when renovating your house, questions to ask yourself in the process of deciding whether to buy a house, and why homeownership is not the key to financial freedom — and what you should aim for instead. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why the housing market is so volatile Why current homeowners might be feeling lucky How to manage house hunting in today’s market Considerations around renovating your home Why a lower interest rate results in a cheaper mortgage Whether a market crash is inevitable Common budget-related issues prospective homebuyers run into Why homeownership is overrated when it comes to boosting your financial well-being   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

Many people feel like they need to make a higher income or invest more to advance to the next level of the economic ladder… but do you? Is it worth striving to become an upper middle class American? Join me as I discuss the various things you need to do at each income level (lower class through upper middle class) to break through to the next level and achieve financial security and wealth. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Quick tips to adjust your spending and monitor your income The impact of the White House’s failure to extend the eviction moratorium How to reach financial security if you’re a working class American Money-saving tactics to stretch your income The most common reason people go bankrupt or lose money Insurance and healthcare benefits hacks for low income individuals What to do if your debt is too big to handle Why you should go back to school and get another degree, even if you have student loan debt Top tips and advice for increasing your income and saving for retirement What to expect in future episodes of the Student Loan Planner podcast
 Links mentioned:  Mint.com Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley   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

More important than what kind of student loan plan you have is knowing how to invest. Listen in as I talk to you about investing in this current economy amid red-hot inflation and a booming housing market. I’ll also explain that, while 2021 continues to hold a lot of opportunities, it's also a dangerous time to be investing now that everyone is in the game. Plus, get a discount code for our Six-Figure Debt to Six-Figure Net Worth investing course. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why investing is so important The definition of “harmonic mean” and why it matters in investing How to use tax-loss harvesting to boost your portfolio Risks to consider if you decide to invest today My thoughts on crypto in the current market All about SLP’s course, Six-Figure Debt to Six-Figure Net Worth, and how to take advantage of our limited-time discount   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

In this episode, I’m joined by Josh Mitchell, a Wall Street Journal reporter and the author of the book The Debt Trap: How Student Loans Became a National Catastrophe to reflect on his observations in the higher education space and how the student crisis came to be. Listen in as Josh explains why the process of taking out a loan is more “opaque” than that of every other credit product and the disruptions that need to take place in order for the current system to change for the better — as well as the repercussions of these disruptions to the wider economy. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How Josh was drawn to the student loan debt crisis Why student loans are unlike any other credit product Which is the bigger risk to the economy: the undergrad debt problem or the graduate school debt problem? What needs to change to mitigate the student debt crisis—and the consequences of these disruptions to the wider economy The future of lobbying for policy change in higher education Student loan reforms that would minimize or even eradicate inequality   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

Moving is really stressful. I’d know, having just moved my family and me across the country! Now that the economy is starting to reopen, new opportunities mean that more people are moving to different states. In today’s episode, I discuss the factors that student loan borrowers should consider when making the decision to move states, whether for a job or to buy a house. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What to do if the IRS is slow to process your tax return The EDRP program and when it makes sense Why you shouldn’t stick with a job just for PSLF How solopreneurs can stay profitable while paying off their student loan The impact of community property states on student loans How moving to or from a community property state affects your student loan How to move to a new state if your goal is to buy a house Why moving to a new state can save you money on student 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

Jesse Mecham is the founder of YNAB (You Need a Budget). Referring to the business as “an education company that masquerades as a software company,” Jesse created YNAB as a guide to money and an accountability tool that helps its users improve their spending habits, eliminate debt, and save more money. Listen in as Jesse shares his path to success and lessons learned as an entrepreneur. We’ll also talk about his advice on financial planning and buying a house in 2021, saving and building your wealth as parents, and becoming more confident in your spending overall. In today’s episode, you'll find out: YNAB’s mission and how its software helps improve your spending The most common questions and concerns people have around budgeting and cash flow in a post-pandemic world How to navigate the housing market as prices continue to rise YNAB’s Four-Rule Method that transforms how you view and manage money How and when to give yourself permission to splurge on a big purchase, free of guilt Considerations around childcare costs   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

FedLoan, one of the government's biggest servicers, is ending its contract with the Department of Education in December 2021. What does this mean for you? Travis gives practical advice to get ahead of the problem. We encourage you to send in your questions so we can answer them on the show: https://studentloanplanner.com/voicemail

As investing becomes increasingly popular and accessible, especially with cryptocurrency and NFTs, young adults and students are becoming more interested in making a passive income. But should you really be investing while in school? If so, what are the best ways to invest as a student? Join Rob Bertman, CFA, CFP®, and Molly Laughter, MBA CFA, CFP®, to discuss whether or not investing while in college is a good idea, and how to approach investing, saving, and budgeting the right way.   In today’s episode, you'll find out: How to lower your student loans in medical school Benefits of investing early in life  Pros and cons of investing as a college student What you need to know about compounding interest and your “time horizon” Easy and efficient ways to invest and the best investing platforms and apps  How roboadvisors work – Should you use a roboadvisor? Why investing and stock trading could decrease your productivity and performance in school Tips for budgeting, saving, and leveraging credit as a student Why you shouldn’t use your student loans to fund investments Should you invest in a Roth IRA or stocks while in college? Our candid thoughts on Acorns and similar money-saving apps How to select the best types of investments that suit your goals and lifestyle Links mentioned:  Fidelity Reviewed Which Investors Did Best and What They Found Hilarious   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  

Side hustles. Why are they getting more popular by the day? Is it worth the extra time, effort, and even money outside your primary job or business to get a side hustle? What’s the best way to start one as the economy opens back up? And how can the right side hustle serve as a great vehicle toward paying down your student loan? Listen in as consultants Molly Laughter, MBA CFA, CFP®, and Dan Rooker, CFP®, CSLP®, answer these questions and more. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What exactly is a “side hustle” and the “gig economy”? The side hustles Molly and Dan have tried and are still doing Different business structures (ex. sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.) and determining the most appropriate one for your side gig The pros and cons of doing real estate as a side hustle How your student loan will be impacted if you do decide to get a side hustle How to know if starting a side hustle is right for you   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