Student Loan Planner

Why do so many financial advisers give lousy student loan advice? In this episode, the Student Loan Planner consultants — Travis Hornsby, Justin Harvey, Rob Bertman and Lauryn Williams — discuss what to look for in a financial adviser, what leads to this bad advice and why an experienced financial adviser is key. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What to look for in a good financial adviser Why financial advisers need to disclose all conflicts of interest Why Student Loan Planner isn’t a fiduciary investment adviser How Student Loan Planner can provide the best cash-back bonuses Why most financial advisers aren’t expert on niche topics What could lead a financial adviser to give poor advice Why paying a hefty fee for an adviser isn’t always a bad thing How good information lets you make sound financial decisions Why you need to interview potential financial advisers How not having enough experience leads to bad advice Why student loan strategies are foreign for many advisers Why finding an experienced financial adviser is key Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/44

Trent and Somer are the first couple in history to both get tax-free student loan forgiveness through the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) program. Learn about how they qualified, their journey to forgiveness and their advice for those looking to do the same. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How much student loan debt Somer and Trent graduated with How they managed to get Direct Loans What it was like for Trent to consolidate his loans in the late-2000s. How Trent ended up with five years not counting toward TEPSLF How Somer was signed up for the wrong repayment plan When their loans went to FedLoan Servicing How changing your name can cause student loan problems Why Trent’s TEPSLF was a little harder to process Trent’s reaction to finding out his student loans were forgiven Somer’s emotions when she saw her loans had also been forgiven Somer’s thoughts on why loan forgiveness isn’t just free money The steps to qualify for TEPSLF Trent and Somer’s advice for those going for TEPSLF Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/43

Using the refinancing ladder strategy can help student loan borrowers get out of debt much faster. In this episode, learn how the refinancing ladder works for refinancing student loans — and how to decide if refinancing is right for you. In today’s episode, you'll find out: • What is the refinancing ladder strategy? • When is refinancing a good decision? • Why you shouldn’t refinance federal loans too soon • What, exactly, is student loan refinancing? • How student loan refinancing differs from other refinancing • How Student Loan Planner’s cash-back bonuses work • The differences between short-term and long-term refinancing • How to calculate your payment with various loan terms • How many times do people generally refinance? • How to use the refinancing ladder strategy • Should you go with a variable or fixed rate? • How historic refinancing rates compare to the rates of today • How variable rates are calculated • Why don’t more people refinance their student loans? • Why putting off your financial health is unwise • How lenders profit from borrowers who don’t know to refinance • Who should and shouldn’t refinance their student loans • Benefits of using the refinancing ladder with cash-back bonuses
 Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/42

Do you wonder why our student loan plan consult form has you give so much information? Hear the Student Loan Planner consultants — Travis Hornsby, Justin Harvey, Rob Bertman and Lauryn Williams — break down all 26 questions and explain how your plan is unique. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How the consultants react to learning someone’s occupation Why the consultants want to know what metro area you’re How community property states affect student loans How your choice of school might influence your loans The consultants’ thinking on different loan balances Why knowing the different kinds of loans you have is crucial How your income affects possibly refinancing Why your payoff plan involves your projected income How interest works with student loans What your retirement savings lets the consultants know How savings illustrates your financial mindset Why the date you took out your loans matters How the consultants make a plan based on your information What your spending level indicates How both empathy and being realistic plays into your plan Why savings versus debt matters How family size factors in How Parent PLUS Loans and PSLF factor into the consult Why filling out the entire consult form is critical Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/41

Most people are committing financial sins of omission — not doing things because they’re too complicated. In this episode, see how anything from bad website designs to having too many options can cause financial inertia — and how setting up automatic plans can help.   In today’s episode, you'll find out:   How is Vanguard’s website design costing people money Why people use robo-advisers instead of companies like Vanguard Why developing the habit of investing is important How a “nudge” works in finances How student loans could be more simple to deal with What financial sins of omission might you be committing right now How the economy shifting pushed people to start investing Why automatic financial plans are so important How to avoid having complexity cost you money How schools convince people to borrow so much money Examples of people unable to handle so many financial options Is taking time off from Public Service Loan Forgiveness OK? How alternative documentation of income works Why it’s important to not let student loans dictate your life Refinancing rates are lower than they’ve been in a long time Why you should book a student loan consultation now Why you should apply for the Student Loan Planner scholarship   Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/40

In today's exciting episode, hear questions directly from the Student Loan Planner audience, covering topics ranging from financing a car to preparing for a massive student loan bill, with each question answered by Travis. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Is financing a car ever a good idea? How to best prepare for the tax bomb on an income-driven plan How student loans can affect buying a home Should you pay down student loans before buying a house? Should you wait until after your grace period to refinance? Is it better to go for a physician or traditional mortgage? How to prepare for a large student loan bill after graduation Is refinancing a mortgage worth it, despite closing costs? Why it’s often good for dentists to buy their own practice Why getting a custom plan from us could be life-changing Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/39 

Jake wants to attend dental school while Carissa has enrolled in an occupational therapy program. See how they plan to finance their educations and why going for student loan forgiveness is a better option than Carissa’s parents paying for grad school. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How Jake and Carissa decided on their specific programs How their choice of schools affects their future student debt Their plan for future work post-graduation Carissa’s plan for financing her degree Why parents helping pay for grad school can be a bad idea Why PSLF is a good gamble Possible scenarios if Carissa chose to work in the private sector Why trading PSLF away isn’t a good deal Why Travis recommends Jake and Carissa borrow the max amount The possible future of tax bombs — and why it’s political The low downside risk of PSLF and tax bombs Should you pay interest or investigate forgiveness while in school? Why don’t we hear more about student loan forgiveness? When refinancing can also be a valuable option Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/38

We can sweat the small stuff — like Netflix subscriptions or gym memberships or daily lattes. But sweating the big stuff — like housing and car purchases — is most important for your financial health. See how these big-ticket items can affect your finances — and what to do about it. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How buying too much house leads to financial train wrecks Why having too many cars isn’t a good financial decision Why buying a latte every day doesn’t have much of an impact How not budgeting for compounded expenses leads to problems How much to set aside for housing expenses How price-to-rent ratio works Price-to-rent ratios in major U.S. cities How life changes affect whether to rent or buy a house How reducing high-expense items alleviates financial stress Possible ways to reduce big child-care expenses How family support expenses can get out of control Other big-ticket items to examine How to approach big-ticket purchases Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/37

Most people don’t seem to like their student loan servicer — and for good reason. Here are the 10 most common student loan servicer mess-ups and why they happen. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The 10 most common student loan servicer mess-ups Why servicers urge switching to Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) How switching to REPAYE can hurt some borrowers Why inaccurate payment counts for loan forgiveness happen How to get your payment count fixed Why inaccurately reporting your spouse’s income is a bad idea How to find out the repayment plan you’re actually on Why you shouldn’t wait on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Why you should use your tax returns to report your income How “paid ahead” status happens Why servicers will sometimes put you in forbearance or deferment Why servicers will avoid answering questions Why servicers don't always tell you about your loan options How did loan servicing get this bad? Congress’ role in bad student loan servicing Why the government won’t spend on better loan servicing What incentives might improve student loan servicing Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/36

Do you have a good savings rate? What is a good savings rate anyway? In this episode, learn why a high savings rate is so critical — and how to secure one for yourself.   In today’s episode, you'll find out:   How do you define a savings rate? The history of savings rates in the U.S. How advertisements might have affected savings rates Where the current average national savings rate has settled How having six figures of student loan debt should affect your savings rate The saving statistics of the Student Loan Planner audience Our recommended savings rate How savings rates affect taking risks or changing your situation What a savings rate can get you in terms of retirement Five ways to fix a bad savings rate Why a savings rate is more important than a student loan strategy How to start saving with a better rate Why avoiding money paralysis is imperative Why considering a fee-only fiduciary financial planner is wise   Full show notes at: http://studentloanplanner.com/35