Student Loan Planner

Most financial goals sound reasonable, but "socially acceptable" goals are often too polite, and they can quietly sabotage the life you actually want. We dig into how to uncover honest, motivating goals, why Coast FIRE sneaks up on more people than they realize, and how student loans don't have to delay living a meaningful life. If your goals feel safe but uninspiring, this one's for you. Key moments: (03:53) The hidden signs you might already be at Coast FIRE (07:57) What you'd really change if money stress disappeared tomorrow (08:44) Identifying coping habits that block the life you actually want (14:06) Replacing safe goals with honest ones 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!

Is working until 65 actually bad for your health? In this episode, we dig into what the research really says about the link between retirement age and mortality. I share my journey from being obsessed with early retirement to recognizing the deeper value of time freedom, purpose, and creativity in financial planning. We explore how most professionals are actually on track to be wealthier than they realize, how you can use flexible financial strategies to live better now, and how to stop optimizing for being the richest person in the cemetery. Key moments: (02:40) What the NIH research actually says about retirement and mortality (06:01) What people really want isn't early retirement — it's control over their time (10:15) Most professionals are already on track to have "too much" money (25:06) Why chasing passive income is often solving the wrong problem 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!

2026 may be the most confusing year for student loans yet. Find out what's actually changing with repayment plans, forgiveness, and Parent PLUS loans — and learn what you should be paying attention to right now. We'll also hear real listener questions about PSLF during a government shutdown, IDR recertification delays, getting out of SAVE forbearance, and whether PSLF buyback is worth counting on. If you're feeling anxious heading into 2026, this episode can help you make smart decisions without overreacting. Key moments: (00:44) Does government shutdown time count for PSLF? (08:26) Moving out of the SAVE forbearance, PSLF buyback and family size rules (20:10) Considerations for filing taxes jointly vs. separately (29:30) Warning for Parent PLUS borrowers who are still borrowing or who haven't yet consolidated (35:31) RAP plan rollout and what borrowers should expect next 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!

Filing taxes married filing separately can be one of the most powerful tools for lowering income-driven student loan payments. But it's also one of the easiest ways to make costly mistakes if you're not careful. Meagan McGuire, CFP®, ChFC®, CSLP®, walks through what borrowers need to double-check before tax season hits. You'll learn when filing separately actually saves money, when it backfires, and how community property states completely change the math. Key moments: (05:32) Why married filing separately can dramatically lower IDR payments (09:58) Real numbers: comparing tax cost vs. student loan savings (17:28) The Roth IRA trap many married borrowers miss (23:37) Why community property states often create extra student loan savings 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!

The holidays can stir up a lot of stress, especially when student loans are still hanging over your head. In this episode, I want to slow things down and offer some perspective. We talk about why extreme frugality isn't required to build wealth, why "rich enough" beats "obscenely rich," and how your education and earning power already put you in a strong position. This is a reminder that student loans don't get to steal your peace or your joy. Key moments: (01:57) The difference between being rich and being rich enough (05:32) The real spending decisions that actually delay retirement (09:42) Why balance, gratitude, and time matter more than net worth 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!

The SAVE plan is officially dead. Learn what the SAVE lawsuit settlement actually says (not the rumors), who really needs to pay attention right now, and what you should do next. We walk through why millions of people are still stuck in SAVE forbearance, what repayment plans are actually available going forward, and how upcoming rulemaking could reshape income-driven repayment yet again. If you're waiting things out, this is your nudge to get proactive before the Department of Education decides for you. Key moments: (01:07) The lawsuit that officially ended the SAVE plan (05:01) Why borrowers should get off the SAVE plan asap (09:03) Borrowers are also losing access to PAYE (13:22) Why I don't think the RAP plan will be around for the next 30 years (18:25) Act early to avoid being defaulted into the wrong plan 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!

Income-Based Repayment has turned into a maze for a lot of borrowers, from unexpected forbearances to confusing "partial financial hardship" determinations that don't add up. Learn why so many borrowers are stuck in SAVE forbearance, what's really going on with IBR denials, and what the Department of Education says it's going to fix by early 2026. We'll also talk about new proposed borrowing limits, how they could reshape entire professions, and what that might mean for your salary, PSLF strategy, and long-term plan. Key moments: (02:17) What "partial financial hardship" actually means — and when it shouldn't block IBR (05:29) The out-of-cycle rulemaking session and why 2026 could bring sweeping IDR changes (06:36) Why proposed borrowing caps could upend grad and professional programs (11:31) The ripple effects on earnings, PSLF planning, and long-term loan strategy (14:02) What might trigger Congress to rewrite the rules again before 2028 Resource mentioned: Apply for or recertify income-driven repayment 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!

We've been working on something big behind the scenes, and today I finally get to share it. We launched the SLP Insiders app, a dedicated community built for borrowers who want clarity, connection, and a calm place to ask questions without getting pulled into the noise of social media. Learn why we built it, who it's for, and how it can help you stay on track through the constant waves of servicer issues, PSLF updates, and IDR rule changes. If you've ever wished you had "your people" to talk loans with, this is the moment. Key moments: (01:54) The flood of borrower emails and how a community fills the gap (04:41) Profession-specific channels for physicians, dentists, lawyers, and more (10:10) RAP plan timing, huge interest subsidies, and why flexibility matters early on Resource mentioned: The Student Loan Planner app 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 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!

Explore the nuances of tax-free loan forgiveness strategies before the 2026 deadline. Discover how timing can save you money, and learn about clever tax bomb planning. Listeners share stories of PSLF challenges, marriage-related filing dilemmas, and the pros and cons of refinancing high earners. You’ll also find insights on navigating servicer disputes and avoiding risky tax maneuvers. This episode emphasizes making life choices over loan strategies, urging borrowers to prioritize their futures.

In this engaging discussion, Stanley Tate, a consumer bankruptcy attorney and student loan expert, dives into the complexities of student loan repayment. He unpacks the latest Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) changes and why borrowers shouldn't panic. Notably, Tate highlights the confusion around SAVE forbearance and the tricky Parent PLUS loans. The conversation also covers the implications of new loan caps and what they mean for future borrowers, ensuring listeners are well-informed on how to navigate their options effectively.