Student Loan Planner

In this monumental 50th episode, I'm taking you back in time on my journey of starting this thing called Student Loan Planner. Here's the story of why I feel deeply called to helping you and others like you make sense of your finances and what I've learned over the past 3 years of working full-time in the world of student loans. In today's episode, you'll find out: Why some school are honest and o...

Leif is well-known in the personal finance space as the Physician on FIRE. He runs a website by the same name to inspire physicians and their patients to live a life of financial independence and early retirement. In this episode, I talk with Leif about his strategy of becoming financially independent and getting the most out of your money. In today's episode, you'll find out: The trick physicians...

Student loan refinancing can be a big help to your financial goals. But some refi strategies can make it so you can't buy a house or start a business. In this episode, I'll talk about when a refi makes sense for you and discuss how the economy, a recession, and changing interest rates factor into your decision. In today's episode, you'll find out: What is a refi ladder and can it work for you How...

Robert Berger, Deputy Editor at Forbes and author of Retire Before Mom and Dad, is passionate about helping others build financial independence. In this episode, I talk with Robert about how to plan for retirement and the seven levels you need to reach financial freedom. In today's episode, you'll find out: What "retirement" can look like for you The seven levels of financial independence Is the 4...

There are many reasons you should start a business. Business owners tend to make more money than associates. A business owner could pay less taxes than an associate, too. Overhead is often 45% to 60% depending on the practice, which means profit would be 40% to 55% instead of 28% to 33% as an associate. I spell out all the benefits of owning a business. In today's episode, you'll find out: Why you...

Reese Harper, a Certified Financial Planner and founder of Dentist Advisor, specializes in financial planning for dentists. In this episode, learn his thoughts on the financial planning industry, how to be successful running a dental business and whether now is the best time in history to be a dentist. In today's episode, you'll find out: How Reese got started with his firm His thoughts on the fin...

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...

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 t...

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...

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...

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 co...

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 hom...

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 stude...

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 c...

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...

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 ha...

Are private student loans worth it in comparison to federal loans? In this episode, learn how your degree path and future plans affect whether private loans should be on your radar, whether they're a good idea for parents and grad students, and situations where they're the worst option. In today's episode, you'll find out: How credit risk impacts your private student loan interest rate How your de...

Jordan Lee is the CEO and co-founder of CollegeBacker, a startup that helps people start 529 college savings plans. In this episode, learn what a 529 plan is, why it's so important and how to get started. In today's episode, you'll find out: What led Jordan to co-founding CollegeBacker How a 529 plan works The impact of saving when your child is young What counts as a qualified expense for a 529 T...

Dr. Zachary Kingsberg is a dentist who, after graduating from the very expensive Nova Southeastern University, is now running his own dental practice startup in Dallas alongside his wife. In this episode, see how Zach began his startup journey, how he handled his student loans and the advice he'd give for an up-and-coming dentists on starting your own practice. In today's episode, you'll find out:...

Chad Carson is real estate entrepreneur who has worked in real estate investing for 16 years. In this episode, learn how he got started on his entrepreneurial journey, how real estate investing really works, and whether it's a good idea for your situation. In today's episode, you'll find out: • Chad's background a college football player • How he got started in real estate investing • What Chad's...

Many student loan borrowers are worried about the risks of relying on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). In the episode, find out why these risks are vastly overestimated as well as the histories of PSLF repeal attempts and taxable loan forgiveness. Also learn what you need to do in the extremely unlikely case that forgiveness programs are eliminated. In today's episode, you'll find out: Othe...

The Student Loan Planner consultants — Travis Hornsby, Justin Harvey, Rob Bertman and Lauryn Williams — discuss cases they've had, with amazing success stories as well as financial catastrophes. In today's episode, you'll find out: ▪ Fun background stories from each of the Student Loan Planner consultants ▪ Cases from each of the consultants — success stories and ones where they were too late to s...

Dr. Mark Ard is a resident psychiatrist who finished medical school with roughly $330,000 of debt. Learn how he's working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, how refinancing his loans has helped him and what his tips are for optimizing loan forgiveness. In today's episode, you'll find out: Mark's background and education journey as a resident psychiatrist His family situation and how it's affe...

Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor, a site that's helped people with their student loans for 10 years and counting. He worked as an executive at Target before making his way into the personal finance blogosphere following a horrible experience with FedLoan Servicing. Learn about Robert's thoughts regarding Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), the student loan crisis and hi...

Are you familiar with shady student loan practices versus legit ones that actually help student loan borrowers? In this episode, the Student Loan Planner consultants — Travis Hornsby, Justin Harvey, Rob Bertman and Lauryn Williams — discuss what type of strategies to steer clear of and which ones could potentially save borrowers both money and stress. In today's episode, you'll find out: Whether a...