Student Loan Planner

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...

Guess what? We are moving this Friday episode over to the new Financially Free Era podcast! It is the next step to your financial planning journey after your student loan plan has been tackled with us here at Student Loan Planner. We hope this new show will answer your questions of: What else do I need to do? What else can I do to optimize my savings? How can I start saving for that goal that I ha...

Can "save more" be bad advice? We're pulling back the curtain on something financial advisors rarely discuss: how saving too much can harm your quality of life. We'll unpack the uncomfortable truth about how all professions, including my own, handle potential conflicts of interest. This isn't about vilifying financial planning — it's about making sure the help you get is truly in your best interes...

Want to keep more money in the family? Hiring family members in your business can translate into some big tax savings — and set your kids up to get ahead with their own savings. Fresh off tax season, we explore the ins and outs of putting kids and spouses on the payroll, weighing the pros and cons, and sharing actionable tips for business owners looking to leverage this strategy. You'll also learn...

House GOP has proposed a new bill that would radically reshape student loans for years to come. But it would also impact existing borrowers too if were to pass.

Got student loan questions weighing on you? You're definitely not alone. This week, we're opening up the Student Loan Planner mailbag to tackle some of the most pressing issues borrowers are facing. Should you switch IDR plans? Is Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) buyback the right move? We also address the very real frustrations with federal loan servicers — the long hold times, the inconsis...

Tax season might be in the rearview mirror, but if you're self-employed or earn income outside of a regular paycheck, quarterly estimated taxes are still very much on your radar. We're showing you how it all fits together — what they are, who needs to pay them, and how to calculate what you owe. Learn key dates to remember, simple ways to estimate your payments, how to use the IRS's "safe harbor"...

The Department of Education dropped a bombshell announcement that would've killed a loophole strategy many of you use to keep your student loan payments manageable, only for the agency to quickly walk it back after public outcry. What actually happened? Was this ED deliberately trying to break the law and eliminate the married filing separate option, or was it just an honest mistake? You'll hear t...

Last week, the market went on a wild ride, and it all started with steep tariff hikes — especially on imports from China. The market's reaction was fast and furious, with sharp drops and an even quicker rebound. So, what's the deal with tariffs, and why do they send markets into a frenzy? Learn the basics of tariffs, why uncertainty can send investors into a panic, and how fear, headlines, and kne...

The Department of Education just dropped a negotiated rulemaking announcement, and while it might sound like dry policy talk, this one's worth your attention — especially if you're pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), on Pay As You Earn (PAYE), or using Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). Learn what negotiated rulemaking actually means, why it matters, and what kinds of changes could be...

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) don't always get the spotlight, but they should. They're one of the most flexible and tax-friendly tools out there — and we're digging into why. We're joined by Kathleen Boyd, CFP®, for a practical conversation about how HSAs work. Learn how much you can contribute based on your health plan, how things change once Medicare enters the picture, and how to use an HSA as...

The Trump administration recently pushed out income-driven repayment (IDR) recertification dates — some all the way to 2027. (I'm not even kidding.) But can you actually count on these extensions? We're breaking down who should trust these announcements and who might want to proceed with caution. We'll also talk about the bizarre game of musical chairs happening between government departments. One...

Retirement isn't just about stepping away from your job — it's about building a life you actually enjoy and knowing how your finances will hold up when the paychecks stop. A lot of people think they're ready… until they realize they're not. We're walking through five warning signs that could throw your retirement off track. From skipping over withdrawal strategies to carrying debt into retirement...

Student loans are a mess. They've been a mess for as long as we've been doing this, but right now? It's like someone took that mess, threw it in a blender, and hit "puree." We're answering a whole heap of listener questions. This episode is dropping on April Fool's Day, but no jokes or pranks here — just straight-up answers. Let's face it: the real joke is how convoluted this whole system has beco...