Student Loan Planner

The AFT lawsuit settlement with the Department of Education is one of the biggest updates in months for borrowers on income-driven repayment. You'll learn how this settlement unfreezes stalled forgiveness applications, who's protected under the new rules, and the key deadlines you can't afford to miss. I also explain why the 2026 "tax bomb" is back and what you can do now to prepare for it. Key mo...

Worried PSLF Buyback might vanish before you qualify? Let's dig into the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Buyback program — how it works, why it exists, whether it's likely to stick around, and how to position yourself if the rules change. You'll also hear my take on listener questions covering repayment plans SAVE vs. IBR, joint vs. separate taxes, and why sometimes "die with the debt" real...

When someone asks whether a certain degree is "worth it," there's finally some data to answer that. We analyzed debt-to-income ratios across dozens of professions from our survey of over 8,000 high-income professionals, and the results tell a pretty clear story about who's managing student debt well — and who's getting squeezed. I'll also share a few thoughts on what these numbers mean in real lif...

Feeling anxious about where your career's headed? You're definitely not alone. We surveyed over 8,000 high-income professionals and asked what's keeping them up at night about their profession in 2025. The answers were eye-opening — but also pretty relatable. We're covering the top 10 fears that come up again and again. If you're a doctor, dentist, lawyer, or another high-earning professional, cha...

Ever wondered how your income and student debt stack up against others in your field? We're dropping the results from our biggest survey yet – over 8,000 high-income professionals spilled the tea on their finances, and some of these numbers are pretty eye-opening. Find out which careers are getting crushed by student loans and which ones are actually coming out ahead. Plus, we discuss the coming c...

Join us for a special live recording from FinCon as we pull back the curtain on what's happening with student loans right now. We're talking about the current state of federal programs, what's working, what's not, and where things might be headed — especially for those of you dealing with big debt loads from professional and graduate programs. If you're a doctor, lawyer, or other high-earning prof...

The new 30-year Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) could be the only option for federal student loans after July 2026 — but even current borrowers aren't safe if they don't take action. Discover what moves to make to avoid getting stuck with decades of payments. Also, learn about new rules affecting Parent and Grad PLUS loans. If facing 30 years of student loan payments sounds brutal, this episode is...

There's a controversial and urgent topic we have to talk about: the massive upheaval headed for graduate and professional education financing starting in the fall of 2026. With the recent passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," federal borrowing for graduate programs will be drastically limited — meaning schools and students are about to face a world of change. Learn what these new federal bo...

The student loan refi ladder is a clever strategy that'll help you tackle your debt without wrecking your cash flow. We haven't talked about this much in recent years because of student loan payment and interest pauses, but with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act stripping protections from federal student loan borrowers, now is the time to decide between loan forgiveness and refinancing. This episode...

Big shifts are coming to student loans starting July 2026. If you're carrying six figures of debt or even thinking about grad school, you'll definitely want to hear this one. Unlimited loans are out, so pricey grad programs might not be as easy to join. Sounds scary, right? But this shift could actually work in your favor. Fewer students funneled into certain careers could mean bigger salaries and...

Ever stop and think about how much that new car, kitchen remodel, or shiny toy really costs you — not just in dollars, but in hours, days, or even months of your life? We're digging into what big-ticket spending looks like when you're on an income-driven repayment plan that's already taking 10–15% of your paycheck. We'll show you how to reframe those purchases, so instead of just seeing the sticke...

Over the past few weeks, we've been collecting your questions, and wow… you did not hold back. We're answering as many as we can fit in one episode, covering topics like forgiveness deadlines, confusing recertification rules, and loan servicers who seem to speak in riddles. You'll hear from people on the brink of PSLF forgiveness, parents in the middle of tricky Parent PLUS double consolidations,...

After months of student loan chaos, there's clarity: If you're already borrowing, you'll probably be okay, though keep an eye out for some plan changes. But for anyone planning to borrow after July 2026, the picture gets a lot murkier. Higher payments, tighter loan limits, and longer repayment terms could reshape graduate and professional education in ways we haven't seen before. Learn why most cu...

The SAVE plan's payment forbearance is supposed to stick around through 2028, but that's looking unlikely. Here's why we think the clock's ticking on SAVE, what the latest lawsuit could mean for the plan's future, and how new legislation is tightening the rules on forbearance across the board. You'll find out what this shift means if you're currently on SAVE, what counts (and what doesn't) during...

Student loan lawyer Stanley Tate joins us to tackle the big question we're all asking: what's actually happening with student loans right now? We're exploring the latest legislative changes, what they mean for your repayment strategy, and why Parent PLUS borrowers are especially freaking out. We talk through everything from the COVID payment chaos we all lived through to the potential collapse of...

If you've been riding the SAVE Plan forbearance wave, a big shift is headed your way. The Department of Education announced that the SAVE forbearance will officially end on August 1, 2025. That means interest starts ticking again, and borrowers will be pushed to switch repayment plans. Most will be steered toward the old Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan, especially with the One Big Beautiful Bill...

Some parts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are pretty rough for borrowers, but believe it or not, it could've been way worse — you can thank the Senate parliamentarian for blocking the worst of it. We'll walk you through what's changing, what's staying the same, and what you need to start planning for now. This is your clear, practical guide to understanding how the bill will affect your wallet...

"Senate parliamentarian" isn't exactly a household name, but her latest ruling is huge news for anyone with student debt. Learn what her surprise decision means for the Big Beautiful Bill Act and how it could shape repayment plans and forgiveness programs. You'll find the specifics of what this means if you're a Parent PLUS borrower, in dental and medical school, or just worried about how these po...

If you're married, there's a lot to consider in the latest student loan reform proposals. Discover what the changes being debated in Congress could mean for married borrowers, including the potential loss of "married filing separately" as a repayment strategy and how the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) might affect your monthly payments. If you're single or engaged, this still matters — we'll...

The Senate just dropped its version of the student loan reform bill, and let's just say… it's not great. In fact, it's worse than expected, especially if you have six-figure student debt, Parent PLUS loans, or are a future student. Learn what's at stake, how it could completely reshape repayment options, and who (besides private lenders) might come out ahead. More importantly, you'll learn what yo...

If the GOP reform bill moves forward, lowering your adjusted gross income (AGI) won't just be helpful, it'll be more important than ever for student loan borrowers. We explore what could change, who's most at risk, and what steps you can take to protect your paycheck. From maxing out pre-tax retirement contributions and HSAs to leveraging self-employment and smarter tax planning, we'll walk you th...

Get real answers to real questions student loan borrowers are asking about PSLF processing delays, confusing buyback calculations, switching repayment plans, and trying to understand how recent legislation might affect their loans. You'll get the latest updates on what's happening behind the scenes and what those changes could mean for you. We also cover practical, actionable steps, like how to ti...

Student loan reform just cleared the House in what's officially called the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill." If it becomes law, it could overhaul repayment into just two plans: the Old IBR plan and a new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) that scales payments between 1% and 10% of income over 30 years. But nothing is final. The next step is the Senate, where the path forward is less certain. We explore wha...

The Repayment Assistance Plan, aka RAP, is another student loan overhaul, and people have a lot of questions. Learn what this plan actually is, why it matters right now, and the real chances of it becoming law. If you're wondering when or if you could switch to this plan, we've got you covered. The RAP might completely change how student loan repayment works. We're unpacking all the details and wh...

The Republican student loan bill is gaining steam and could seriously impact your repayment strategy. Let me break it down for you: undergrads might actually see some benefits here, but if you've got grad school debt? You might want to sit down for this one. Current borrowers won't get hit as hard as future ones, but painful changes could be on the horizon. Get insights into the legislative proces...