Student Loan Planner

A deep look at looming changes to federal loan rules and what new borrowing caps could mean for grad and professional students. Discussion of whether forgiveness programs will survive political shifts and processing backlogs. Practical scenarios on recertifying income during residency and how married filing choices can alter repayment under IDR.

Jana McKay, a student loan consultant who helps borrowers navigate IDR and forgiveness, joins to unpack recertification chaos. She outlines recert timing, recalculation vs switching plans, and how forbearance affects forgiveness. They cover servicing glitches, massive application backlogs, confusing denial letters, and the Parent PLUS misflag — plus practical steps to fix problems and stay on track.

New federal borrowing limits and a repayment assistance plan could make public service loan forgiveness vanish for many future professionals. The $50K yearly cap reshapes the math for medical training and pushes students away from nonprofit roles. Smaller limits hit NPs, PAs, teachers, and lawyers. There is a crucial Parent PLUS consolidation deadline that could affect retirement plans.

Glenn Sanger-Hodson, a CFP and certified student loan professional who helps early-career physicians with repayment, explains timing tricks with tax filings. He discusses using tax extensions, recertification windows, and filing strategies for married couples or irregular income. Practical scenarios show when to file now or wait to potentially lower income-driven payments and aim for forgiveness.

They unpack missing PSLF payment records and how to file complaints when histories disappear. They explain the June 30, 2026 consolidation deadline and how waiting could add years to forgiveness. They highlight Parent PLUS changes after double consolidation ended and tax-return timing that can affect IDR payments. They walk through processing delays, recertification pitfalls, and practical actions to protect your plan.

Sim Terwilliger, Director of Tax at SLP Wealth and CFP®/CSLP® who specializes in taxes tied to student loans, breaks down tax filing moves that affect income-driven payments. She explains when filing separately can cut payments, how extensions can be strategic, and common backdoor Roth and reporting pitfalls. Practical filing traps, SALT cap shifts, and timing tactics also get clear, actionable attention.

A deep dive into looming Fall 2026 changes to federal student borrowing limits and repayment plan access. How taking any federal loan after July 2026 could lock borrowers into restricted repayment options. Special focus on the risks for Parent PLUS borrowers and professional students weighing grandfathering, private loans, or risky long-term strategies.

An early breakdown of the January 2026 student loan regulations and why they were rushed. A focus on Parent PLUS families facing tight deadlines and confusing federal guidance. Coverage of who qualifies as a professional student and which programs may lose favorable loan treatment. Discussion of consolidation credit rules, the new RAP plan mechanics, and how schools and private lenders might respond.

If you feel like student loan policy is stuck in limbo right now, you're not wrong. In this episode, I walk through the mountain of regulations the Department of Education still has to publish very soon if the new repayment system is going to function by July 1. We talk about why schools are scrambling, why borrowers are stuck waiting and how political timing is making everything messier. If you're trying to plan your finances while the rules are still being written, this episode explains what's missing and what's coming. Key moments: (03:06) Degree borrowing limits are creating chaos for schools and students (05:26) Democratic senators demand answers from the Department of Education (12:34) A lot of rules still don't exist for implementing the plan changes (14:01) Why students, schools, and policymakers are all "gambling" right now Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to the newsletter Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community 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 Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Parent PLUS loans are about to get a lot more complicated, and most families have no idea what's coming. In this episode, senior student loan advisor Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, AFC®, sits down with student loan expert Janna McKay, AFC®, CSLP®, to break down the biggest changes affecting Parent PLUS borrowers. You'll learn about the end of double consolidation, new repayment access rules, and what the July 2026 deadline really means for forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). If you're a parent helping kids through college, this episode could save you from a costly mistake. Key moments: (06:38) Why double consolidation is officially dead (and what replaces it) (08:10) Quick clarification for borrowers who don't have Parent PLUS loans (13:38) Real client cases where consolidation mistakes caused major problems (22:43) Why borrowing after July 2026 could permanently block PSLF for parent borrowers (33:18) Legacy provisions for borrowing before July 1, 2026 vs. borrowing after Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to the newsletter Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community 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 Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!