
Student Loan Planner
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.
Latest episodes

Nov 24, 2020 • 44min
Declining Reimbursement Rates, plus What Trump's Finances Show About Student Loans
If you’re facing a potential salary decrease due to decreasing insurance reimbursement rates, you can start to worry about paying your student loans. In this episode, I talk about steps to take to mitigate the impact and what you can do if you’re in this situation. I also cover lessons you can learn about managing your student loans from Trump’s finances. Find out how to lower your tax liability and save money on your student loans using lessons from Trump’s tax records. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How Medicare reimbursement decreases can impact salaries in healthcare The ripple effect of reimbursement cuts on student loan payments How to deal with salary cuts when you have student loan debt Why I think the tax bomb won’t be a problem because it won’t be collectible How healthcare business owners might be impacted by reimbursement decreases Lessons from Trump’s finances as reported by the New York Times How to reduce your tax liability when the tax bomb comes due Why real estate is a great strategy to lower your tax liability How to get out of paying taxes on the forgiven balance of your student loans The benefits of tax-loss harvesting How to use retirement contributions to lower your tax bill Strategies business-owners can use to decrease their tax liability Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/104 Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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

Nov 17, 2020 • 53min
What President Biden Might Do to Student Loans
Each state is working to certify the official election results, but we have an apparent winner in President-Elect Joe Biden. Given the history of Obama-Biden student loan policies, it’s likely that we’ll see some progressive changes that could affect the future of student loans. Here are seven things that a Biden administration may try to achieve, and my thoughts on how that could affect the treatment of student loan debt going forward. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What a Biden administration could mean for the future student loans Why Biden might make applying for bankruptcy for student loans easier, and why it doesn’t matter What forgiveness might look like under Biden’s plan for borrowers What a compromised forgiveness expansion might look like Why reducing IDR payments could be bad for everybody How the REPAYE program was born and what that could mean for student loan reform How increasing Pell Grants could be a big win for working class or lower-income families Why eliminating the tax bomb likely won’t happen in the next 4 years How making college free would cause the cost of tuition to skyrocket Why I think Biden’s team grossly underestimated the cost of their student loan plan Will Trump extend the student loan interest and payment freeze When you should refinance your federal loans Whether you should refinance even if your interest is 0% Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/103 Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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

Nov 10, 2020 • 39min
Why Your Retirement Accounts Don't Matter Nearly As Much As You Think
People love retirement accounts. If I had a dollar for every time someone got excited about contributing to their backdoor Roth IRA, I would probably be a millionaire. While it’s great energy to have, it’s not that important to your long-term financial future. In this episode, I share my thoughts on why your retirement accounts don’t matter nearly as much as you think. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Reader question: Are student loan repayment grants worth it? Reader question: Two key differences in employer student loan programs Reader question: Can you prepay or make lump sum payments for PSLF? Why backdoor Roth IRAs aren’t as great as you think My shocking confession about backdoor Roth IRAs When retirement accounts actually DO matter Why age 50 is a key milestone in your retirement plans Why retirement accounts can’t help you if you want (or need) to retire early How to use a brokerage account as a financial safety net What to do if you want to be financially independent How low-income individuals can reach early retirement Why you shouldn’t optimize every financial decision Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/102 Links mentioned: StudentAid.gov PSLF guidelines Physician on Fire guide to backdoor Roth IRAs
Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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

Nov 3, 2020 • 37min
5 Biggest Risks To Your Finances Post-Election
With the election looming, we’re all anxious about what might happen. And with that, a public service announcement: If you haven’t voted, please go vote! Regardless of who wins, there are risks to your finances post-election. I’m sharing the five biggest risks that you should pay attention to - and how to overcome them - once the election season is over. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How candidate policy changes could impact your finances Why you shouldn’t worry about finishing your education How going back to school can help you financially How professional credentials can boost your career Why getting more education is key to financial success Why inflation might not be a bad thing How to know if now is a good time to buy a house How to use low inflation to your advantage as a renter What might be coming down the pipe for student loan reform Why I think the tax bomb will go away in the next four years When to refinance no matter what happens with the election Why financial setbacks won’t matter that much in 2021 How to make better decisions to minimize the financial impact of political leaders Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/101 Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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

Oct 27, 2020 • 41min
What Will Happen to Student Loans After the Election?
For this milestone 100th episode, I’m joined by all four consultants. Because we’re just one week away from the election, I’m talking with them about the election and what we expect could happen to your student loans regardless of who wins the 2020 presidential election. In this episode, you'll find out: A recap of Travis’ paternity leave Travis’ preferred brand of diapers for his new baby The difference between a “trip” and “vacation” when you’re a parent The probability of there being a “blue sweep” How the Biden plan could impact student loans going forward Bipartisan support that we’ve seen during stimulus discussions How long we think the payment and interest freeze can last Will the consultants get a COVID vaccine when it’s released The impact of inflation of your financial life and spending plans The role of gambling and trading cards in the pandemic Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/100 Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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

Oct 20, 2020 • 38min
Back to Basics: What You Need to Know About IDR Plans
Justin Harvey, CFP®, and Rob Bertman, CFA, CFP®, explore income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, how each can affect your financial future, and strategies to help you maximize your student loan repayment and keep more money in your pocket. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What the IDR payment cap is and what plans have one Which IDR plans are best for physicians and other high-earning professionals How the Standard Repayment Plan can factor into your IDR plan Which plan is best if you expect a big jump in income The two main strategies you need to pay off student loans When it makes sense to refinance When it’s okay for your student loan balance to grow over time When you should - and shouldn’t - pay extra on your loans What percentage of income each IDR plan uses for their monthly payment How long taxable forgiveness takes The impact of spousal income on student loan payments Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/99 Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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

Oct 13, 2020 • 40min
Scary Student Loan Stories
Is there anything scarier than student loans? With Halloween just around the corner, student loan experts Lauryn Williams and Meagan Landress share scary updates from 2020 and terrifying student loan stories. In today’s episode, you'll find out: An update on student loan changes so far this year If student loan payments will be suspended after December 31 Should you recertify your income-driven plan before the end of the year Why recertifying your income now could be a smart strategy What to do if your mortgage broker won’t qualify you for a mortgage How to handle student loans if you think bankruptcy is your only choice What happens if you pass away with a student loan balance Can disabled veterans have student debt discharged What to do if you have FFEL loans and want to qualify for PSLF How to figure out how long you’ve been in an income-driven plan Full show notes at http://studentloanplanner.com/98 Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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

Oct 6, 2020 • 42min
Your Student Loan Questions Answered
We have seen a lot of changes to the student loan system over the last few months. The Student Loan Planner team of consultants - Meagan Landress, Lauryn Williams, Justin Harvey, and Rob Bertman - are following the changes to keep you up to date. In this episode, they’re answering your questions to give you the low-down on student loans. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How your payments are calculated if your income goes up How a partial financial hardship factors into your payments Can your servicer kick you off an income-driven repayment plan Pros and cons of employer student loan benefit packages Whether student loans can be discharged in bankruptcy How to take advantage of student loan relief Should you consolidate your FFEL loans How to lower your student loan payments if you’re struggling to pay Will schools lower tuition because of virtual classes Full show notes at http://studentloanplanner.com/97 Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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

Sep 29, 2020 • 56min
Best Tips for Financial Planning: How to Balance Saving, Investing, and Paying off Debt with Student Loans
Student Loan Planner consultants Rob Bertman and Meagan Landress share their best tips to find balance with budgeting, saving, investing, and paying off debt without sacrificing your quality of life. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The right balance between paying off debt and saving for the future The one thing you need to set yourself up for financial independence Why Landress thinks zero-based budgeting is exhausting and what she does instead Bertman’s 3-step process to setting up the perfect budget Strategies to realistically reduce how much you spend each month Why experimenting with budgeting methods can help you long-term How to find balance with your finances as a couple Should you take savings out of the bank to pay off your credit card debt How to prioritize your private student loans with income-driven repayment options Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/96 Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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

Sep 22, 2020 • 42min
Unique Student Loan Considerations for Physicians
Physicians often ignore their student loan debt because so much of their brain space and emotional energy is dedicated to their vocation of medicine. In this episode, Student Loan Planner consultants Lauryn Williams and Justin Harvey explore unique student loan considerations and strategies for physicians. In today’s episode, you'll find out: An inside look at Justin and Lauryn’s personal lives How Justin and Lauryn each met their spouses Mental health challenges and compartmentalization physicians face Why it’s bad advice to ignore student loan debt during residency Specific strategies to get in front of student loan debt during residency How a student loan consult during residency saved one physician $80k Considerations anesthesiologists must face when choosing employment When working at a hospital might not qualify an anesthesiologist for PSLF Why it might make sense to refinance your physician student loans Why mental health matters in your student loan repayment plan The importance of “following the money” for financial advice Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/95 Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Subscribe 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