Student Loan Planner

We’ve all heard the term “new normal” being used to describe life as we move toward life after the pandemic. But what exactly does that mean for you? How ready are you to seize upcoming opportunities to thrive personally and professionally once the world reopens? Listen in as consultants Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, and Dan Rooker, CFP®, CSLP®, do a deep dive into measuring your new financial normal, setting goals, and managing your relationships in a post-pandemic world. In today’s episode, you'll find out... Why you should measure your new financial normal The free and paid tools to measure your finances Why Lauryn and Dan like YNAB (You Need a Budget) How to get the support of your friends and family How to fund a new small business The best way to measure your small business expenses The importance of setting career goals in the new normal How to accomplish goals while working from home Why now is a great time to explore new careers Why student loans don’t have to dictate your career decisions How to travel during the pandemic Steps to unplug from your workplace when taking a vacation Ways to manage relationships today and post-pandemic   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

It’s been quite a week for student loans. Navient and FedLoan, two of the biggest student loan servicers have thrown up their hands and said, “We’re out.” Listen in as I explain what’s happening with student loans right now. I’ll also talk about the timeline for the servicer transitions and what it might mean for you. I’m excited about what some of these changes can mean for our clients, but I’m also cautious. So, buckle up and let’s get started. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why I’m worried even though the changes could be good Why TEPSLF created more problems than it solved The role of the CFPB in servicer accountability My theory about why Navient quit federal student loans Why I’m concerned about Maximus servicing student loans The awesome changes to PSLF the Biden administration is proposing How you might get PSLF even if you don’t have qualifying loans Why a process called negotiating rulemaking is a big deal How short- and long-term fixes can benefit you What to expect in the coming months and over the next few years with student loans Links mentioned: National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)   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

No one should be forced to keep a job where burnout, stress, and overwork have become the norm. Jessica Medina is a lawyer and Accredited Financial Counselor who helps her clients “build the money habits they need to actually build wealth.” Listen in as Jessica shares her own experience leaving a series of prestigious roles in Big Law that she felt trapped in, and her journey to becoming an advocate for other professionals looking to do the same. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why Jessica was drawn to law and how it turned into a career path Jessica’s experience working long hours in Big Law while being the mother of two small kids How the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement changed everything How Jessica helps others with FIRE principles into her current work as a counselor Where Jessica’s career trajectory would have gone if she had access to PSLF Why Jessica decided to become a financial counselor instead of a financial planner Jessica’s advice to risk-averse people (like herself at one point) who want to take the necessary risks to retire early   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

Student loan loopholes aren’t always a good thing. While many loopholes can benefit borrowers by helping them pay less on their student loans, some can end up doing more harm than good. Listen in as I dismantle eight loopholes that actually aren’t loopholes, from rolling your student loan into a mortgage or practice loan to borrowing from your parents to relying on your spouse’s ability to pay for your tuition and living expenses while at school. In today’s episode, you'll find out why these loopholes don’t work: How to get your student loan questions answered on the podcast Turn your non-deductible student loan interest into deductible mortgage interest Roll your student loan into your practice loan to get a tax deduction Borrow from your parents or other family members to pay down your student loan Borrow from the Department of Health and Human Services, i.e. Loans for Disadvantaged Students Pay off your student loan with a credit card Use your spouse’s money for tuition and living expenses while you’re at school Go to a Caribbean medical or vet school instead of waiting for another acceptance Work while you’re still in school 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’s consultant takeover, Molly Laughter, MBA CFA, CFP®, and Meagan Landress, CSLP®, dive deep into the student loan repayment loopholes that are available for borrowers — depending on certain factors such as family situation and where they live. Molly and Meagan also discuss tax implications, including those for individuals or families who live in a community property state versus those who don’t, as well as for those who live abroad and earn foreign income. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The ins-and-outs of the Double Debt Loophole Defining Community Property States Taking advantage of the Breadwinner Loophole How the Reverse Breadwinner Loophole can help borrowers Why a competent tax professional is crucial for student loan repayment Understanding the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for those living abroad How the REPAYE Interest Subsidy works What to know about the Double Consolidation Loophole for Parent PLUS 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

There’s a lot of talk around the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. In the last several months, we saw new developments unfold, and there’s no doubt we’ll see more changes in the years to come. I’m diving in and giving my thoughts on the current state of PSLF and what we could expect come election season in 2024 and beyond. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why very few borrowers qualified in the beginning of the program Why most people who apply for PSLF are denied Why graduates after 2014 shouldn’t worry about qualifying for PSLF Why is it for the best to make the approval process difficult Who benefits from the temporary expanded PSLF program My thoughts on two diverging paths that PSLF could take in 2024 Other potential developments for the PSLF program in the near future   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

Was your decision to take out a student loan the right decision? In this episode, I make the case that student debt isn’t only the right decision, but a fantastic one. It can feel like a burden, but it’s also a massive opportunity to gain access to high-income skills that you can use to maximize your potential and leave a lasting impact. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why I think student loan debt is a good thing Why you shouldn’t wait to apply for PSLF, despite FedLoan leaving Whether cash back credit cards are worth it How disability discharge can forgive student loans How student loans can give you the security of high income and job security The true percentage of income you’ll pay for income-driven repayment plans The few states that will potentially tax student loan forgiveness in the near future Why you should think of your student debt as a “smart income tax” How to be optimistic in a time of chaos and uncertainty 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

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