Student Loan Planner
Travis helps you navigate the insane world of student loans, especially if you owe $20,000 to $1 million. If you've ever spent too much time on the phone with your loan servicer, this is the show for you. Every week we share tips on loan forgiveness, investing, crushing debt, and how to get to financial freedom when you owe more than most people's mortgage.
FICO Scores, Student Loans, and the $500K Cost of Bad Credit
You might have a pristine credit score, but still be drowning in debt. Or maybe you’re a new grad with six figures in student loans and no idea how those monthly payments are going to affect your shot at a mortgage, business loan or even a better credit card. Medical, dental, and veterinary professionals: this one is directly for you.
We explore how student loans impact your FICO score and credit report, plus key actions you can take today to protect your credit and avoid thousands in unnecessary interest.
Key moments:
(02:21) Doctors wi...
Weird Student Loan Notices, IBR Payment Caps, and PSLF Buyback Delays
If you’ve recertified your student loans lately, odds are your inbox is flooded with confusing, maybe even contradictory, servicer messages. For physicians, dentists, veterinarians and anyone trying to get PSLF or keep payments low, these “weird” communications can cost you big — especially if you misread your repayment status or aren’t clear on PSLF buyback timelines.
We’ll walk through what these new messages really mean, practical steps for navigating delayed PSLF Buyback approvals, and how your retirement savings choices can lower not just your taxes, but your student loan payments, too. You’ll learn how to read betwee...
Recertification vs. Recalculation for Student Loan Borrowers
Millions of student loan borrowers are coming off SAVE forbearance, and many haven't updated their income information in years. If you're a physician, dentist, or other professional with federal student loans, your next steps could have a big impact on your monthly payment. Learn the differences between income recertification and recalculation, when to use alternative income documentation, and how life changes like marriage, job loss, or a growing family can affect your payments.
We cover what to watch for, how to avoid costly mistakes, and what you can do to keep your payments manageable.
Key...
What To Do If You Can’t Pay Your Student Loans
Payments are back, SAVE is over, and one in five borrowers is already behind. If your payment is unaffordable, or you've been ignoring your loans and want to know what happens next, this episode is for you.
We’ll walk through your options before you miss a payment, what deferment and forbearance actually cover now, and the real timeline from delinquency to default. You'll also learn why loan rehabilitation usually beats consolidation, and the new rule that lets you rehabilitate twice starting July 2027.
Key moments:
(03:17) The latest delinquency and default numbers, and who is...
The Wealth Gap We Found in Our Survey
In a new survey of physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and others, two groups reported similar incomes and spent about the same on homes and cars. Yet one group grew its investments at least twice as fast. What set them apart?
This episode walks through the data to compare how the two groups save, invest, and feel about reaching their goals. You'll learn where busy people tend to let things slip, how to judge whether a financial planner's fee pays for itself, and which small moves can shorten the path to your goals.
Key moments:
(03:01...
How Federal Loans Are Becoming More Like Private Loans
Federal student loans are about to feel a lot more like private debt, especially for anyone starting a master’s, dental, medical, or law degree after July 2027. Shrinking federal loan caps, fewer repayment options, and tighter limits on forbearance could mean relying more on private loans or managing higher payments.
Learn how these changes affect your future borrowing, repayment options, and public service forgiveness, and how to avoid costly missteps if grad school is in your future.
Key moments:
(05:35) The old forbearance limits versus the new 9-month rule
(07:17) Why a...
Student Loan Tax Bomb: What Forgiveness in 2026 Really Means for You
If you started repaying federal student loans around 2001-2006 and have been on a 20, 25, or 30-year income-driven repayment plan, you’re right on the doorstep of forgiveness. Here’s the catch: the forgiven balance triggers a potentially staggering tax bill — what we call the “tax bomb.” Learn who’s at risk, how big the tax bill could be, missteps to avoid, and the exact steps to prepare.
Key moments:
(08:54) Estimate your forgiveness date without an official payment count tracker
(18:02) What to save and invest for the tax bill
(24:17) Parent PLUS restric...
The “Pay Down Debt vs. Invest” Math Has Shifted
Should you prioritize paying off your student loans or is it smarter to focus on investing? With interest rates changing dramatically since the days of ultra-low 3% loans, we break down how the math (and the mindset) has shifted.
You’ll learn how rising interest rates affect that balance, how your tax bracket factors in, and why it might be smarter to shift extra money toward debt rather than your brokerage account, at least for now.
Key moments:
(03:53) How loan interest rates relate to your tax bracket and what that really costs
(07:02) De...
Why You Shouldn’t Panic About Forgiveness Counts Being Rolled Back
This is a two-for-one episode. We’ll start by digging into the mailbag and answering questions you sent in. Then we’ll get to the topic filling my inbox with panicked emails: whether the Department of Education can take back forgiveness counts that were already granted. If you followed the rules, you shouldn’t be worried, and I’ll explain what I think is actually going on with these count corrections.
Key moments:
(00:00) Choosing the right college and degree in the new era of borrowing limits
(06:04) What to do when your loan servicer gets you...
Student Loan Payments Are Going Up
You’re coming off years of low or no student loan payments, only to face 10-20x jumps seemingly overnight. We get into why payments are up so sharply, what to do (and not do) if your budget’s getting squeezed, and how to use tax and filing strategies to lower your monthly student loan bill.
We also share how to navigate marriage, family size, and community property rules when recertifying, so you can keep more options (and cash) in your hands.
Key moments:
(00:00) Payment shock: increases up to 20x after years of forb...
The Student Loan Borrower Tax Rate Is Too Dang High
If you’re on an income-driven repayment plan, you might be paying a marginal tax rate that rivals (or exceeds) those in high-tax countries. We walk through exactly how that number gets built, showing how many borrowers effectively lose close to half of every additional dollar earned.
We get practical about how this impacts your investment strategy, spending habits, and even decisions like working less. I also break down why pre-tax savings accounts (and careful house/car choices) can buy you back weeks of life — and sanity.
Key moments:
(00:00) Why an income-driven borrower's tax...
Why You Should Get an Old Person Hobby as a Student Loan Borrow
Summer’s winding down and, let’s be real, if you’ve got kids, you’re counting the minutes until school starts. But whether you’re squeezing in that last vacation or piecing together a back-to-school checklist, we make the case that you should also start collecting something else: so-called “old person hobbies.”
We share why diving into activities like sourdough baking, tree planting, or astronomy could save your sanity (and maybe even your wallet)—even when juggling six-figure student loans and a hectic career. We talk practical ways to get started, how low-cost hobbies can help you invest in yo...
Are you on track to retire? Why that’s the wrong question
Most people who care about money — especially those with big student loans — eventually end up worrying, "Am I on track to retire?" But that’s not the right question. Today, I break down why obsessing over retirement misses the point, and explain how shifting your focus to what you actually want in the next year can have a much bigger impact.
Plus, I get real about what happened when I chased early retirement myself — and what really mattered in the end.
Key moments:
(02:36) What financially interested people get wrong and why planners aren’t just for...
New Grad Student Loan Hacks
If you're coming out of professional school this fall, here's the quirk in your favor: you almost certainly didn't borrow after July 2026, which means you still have access to every repayment plan that existed before that cutoff. Some of these new-grad moves have been around for years, but the arrival of the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) changes the math, and we walk through the hacks that let high-debt full-payoff borrowers start $10 payments and get their interest wiped to roughly 0% for the first year.
Then we zoom out: why you shouldn't rewire your portfolio over AI-bubble jitters, and...
The Post July 1 World of Student Loans
Servicers started sending official 90-day notices on July 1, and roughly 6 million borrowers are still sitting on SAVE trying to figure out what comes next. Learn what that notice actually means for your timeline, why the new 1% autopay interest reduction is more of a distraction than a deal for most people, and why consolidating right now could cost new grads a decade of extra payments.
Plus, the PSLF final rule that had borrowers panicking about their employers just got vacated in court, and we explain what that means for anyone chasing forgiveness.
Key moments:
(01:05...
What Would An AI Bubble Mean for Student Loan Borrowers?
AI hype is everywhere — and it’s about more than AI taking over your job. It also affects the stock market, your investments, and even your student loan paydown strategy. Find out if we’re living through another tech bubble moment, why student loan borrowers should pay attention, and how you might want to rethink where your extra cash goes in uncertain times.
Key moments:
(03:46) Deciding between paying extra on student loans vs. dollar-cost averaging into stocks
(07:00) Using the 4% and 3% rules to calculate how much you need for financial independence
(09:08) Regret-minimization (not ju...
RAP Strategies 2.0
The new RAP plan has gotten plenty of criticism, but it might not be all bad news for every borrower. Learn where RAP could help, where it could hurt, and why the right strategy depends so much on your income, forgiveness goals, and long-term financial picture.
Key moments:
(03:10) Who the RAP plan might actually help
(06:37) RAP affects forgiveness timelines and PSLF strategy
(08:20) Forecasting future income before choosing RAP
(10:51) Married filing separately and lowering AGI under RAP
(22:03) Extra payments and last-minute plan switching may backfire
Like...
Student Loans Post-July 1
We just got back from the NASFAA conference in Washington, D.C., and there's a lot to unpack. From the launch of the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and what it means for forgiveness strategies, to new federal loan limits and whether private loans can fill the funding gap for future grad and professional students, we're breaking down what these shifts mean for current borrowers, schools, and anyone about to finance an advanced degree.
Key moments:
(03:59) Evaluating student loan options
(09:08) Financial aid challenges for “stopped out,” current and repeat students
(15:38) Concerns about stud...
Why "AUM Fees are Bad" is a Marketing Ploy
Scroll through any financial feed, and you'll eventually hit the same pitch: AUM (assets under management) fees are a ripoff, and only foolish high earners pay them. We think that framing bends the math to sell you something, so we’re breaking down why AUM fees have become the villain in personal finance marketing and giving you a real test for judging whether any advisor is worth the cost.
Key moments:
(03:56) Fees should be judged against service value
(14:43) Separating bad service from bad fee models
(17:23) Flat-fee comparisons can exaggerate AUM costs
...Are you a "SHENRY"?
You've heard of HENRYs, high earners who are not rich yet. But what if you're a high earner with six figures in student loan debt on top of it? That's a SHENRY, and the path to wealth looks different when a 401(k), a 457, an HSA, and a $300,000 loan balance are all competing for the same paycheck.
We walk through the five moves SHENRYs can make to accelerate wealth growth, from maximizing tax-advantaged accounts to using income-driven repayment as a cash flow tool to getting more out of the degree you already paid for.
Key moments:<...
Repayment Assistance Plan
A brand new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan is coming, and the rules are stricter than anything borrowers have dealt with before. We break down what we know about the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP): who qualifies, how payments are calculated, and the deadlines you may need to beat before older plans like Pay As You Earn (PAYE) close their doors.
If you have federal loans and want to make the right move during this transition window, this is where to start.
Key moments:
(03:57) Checking your loan types and RAP eligibility
(06:38) How RAP...
New Rules, Forgiveness Updates, and PSLF Lawsuit Watch
Since the One Big Beautiful Bill, the final student loan regulations have started landing, and we're seeing the real-world fallout in consultations every single day. We bring you what that looks like from the front lines: the latest ATF update on IDR backlogs, PSLF buyback wait times, and forgiveness eligibility checks, plus a few other things worth watching.
We also cover the consolidation trap new grads need to avoid, Parent PLUS loans showing up on files where they don't belong, and what the July 1 deadline really means if you're still stuck on SAVE.
Key moments:<...
Changes to Grad Plus Coming This Year in 2026
Grad PLUS loans are going away, and the phase-out is going to create one of the strangest stretches in the history of student loan financing. If you're enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program, about to start one, or know someone who is, the new borrowing limits taking effect July 1, 2026, will reshape how you pay for school and how you'll repay later.
Learn about the new borrowing caps, the orphaned group of borrowers caught in between, why taking a leave of absence could cost you everything, and what the coming wave of private lending chaos means...
"What Now?" Listener Questions Answered
The new federal student loan regulations are about to throw a wrench into grad and professional borrowers’ repayment options, and we’re tackling some of the most pressing questions borrowers are calling in with. We break down why one loan disbursed after July 2026 can flip somebody from a clear forgiveness path to being stuck in a repayment plan that costs you double (or more). You’ll also learn strategies for handling PSLF account issues, navigating income certification if your income drops, and the mental health toll all these changes might take.
Key moments:
(01:23) Why a single...
Will AI Kill Student Loan Advising?
Everyone's wondering whether AI is coming for their job (or wallet), so it's fair to ask how close AI tools are to replacing a real human student loan advisor or even your future career. We get into why some professions may weather the AI storm better than others, what the superstar effect means for your career (and your loans), and how upcoming policy changes like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will shake up borrowing limits, the decision between federal versus private loans, and long-term strategy.
We also share where human advice will always matter, and what...
Predicting the Future of the Tax Bomb
What happens when forgiven student debt becomes taxable income again? That’s the “tax bomb” we’re breaking down this week — why it’s coming back, who could get caught by surprise and what you can actually do about it (even if Congress keeps punting the ball down the road). We’ll get into 20- and 25-year forgiveness for private-sector folks, insolvency exclusions and why the whole mess falls hardest on servicers and borrowers.
We also talk about the real-world impact of recent rule changes, state-level quirks and my predictions for what might (and might not) change after 2026.
Top Student Loan Issues Borrowers Are Facing Right Now
A candid look at what our student loan experts are seeing in real-time consultations. The throughline: borrowers need to pull their heads out of the sand because too many are sitting on consolidation deadlines, surprise recertifications, and PSLF misconceptions that could cost them years of credit. The conversation moves from urgent Parent PLUS deadlines to PSLF edge cases, then to disability planning and ABLE accounts — every topic drawn from patterns the team is seeing across recent consults.
Key moments:
(03:47) Parent PLUS borrowers must consolidate before July 1 to preserve IDR access
(08:09) Servicers are pulling ta...
How Much You Should Borrow for Grad School is Totally Different Now
Graduate and professional school just got a lot trickier to finance. With the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act slashing federal loan limits in 2026, figuring out how much you should borrow and whether private loans make sense is a whole different ballgame.
We examine old vs. new borrowing math, which degrees might justify taking out private loans, where the ROI completely falls apart, and how the profession you choose could make or break your financial future.
Key moments:
(01:13) Why borrowing used to function like a 10% “income tax”
(04:50) Who benefits from the old...
Borrower Defense, PSLF Buyback, and IDR Recertification Chaos
We're bringing you a grab-bag of student loan updates you need to know about. Borrower defense letters are finally going out, long-term forgiveness is being processed (sometimes for borrowers who technically shouldn't qualify yet), and the Department of Education is quietly breaking its own IDR recertification timelines. We walk through what's actually happening, what to do if you're affected, and how to stay in control of your payment when the system isn't cooperating.
Key moments:
(03:16) PSLF buyback and why SAVE calculations are off the table
(06:02) Long-term forgiveness is processing, including some surprising cases...
Domino Effect From SAVE Settlement
The SAVE plan lawsuit settlement just kicked off a seismic shift in federal student loan repayment, and it's not just about picking a new plan. Find out exactly how the forbearance clock is running out for millions, what you need to know about the new RAP repayment plan, and why 2024 and 2025 tax returns are going to hit especially hard for anyone recertifying with higher income.
We also look at strategies to avoid payment shock, the latest on Parent PLUS consolidation, and ripple effects for people banking on loan forgiveness or stuck in limbo with borrower defense claims.<...
How to Pay Student Loans During the Next Recession
The next recession isn't a question of "if," it's a question of "when." Whether you're holding federal loans, private refinanced debt, or a mix of both, your strategy needs to account for what happens when the economy turns. We break down how credit markets actually affect your ability to refinance, why your required payment matters more than your interest rate, and the moves you can make right now to protect yourself before it's too late.
Key moments:
(01:40) Why slowing down payments in a recession can be a smart move
(03:27) The problem with private...
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Dead?
Figuring out how to pay for grad school is about to get a lot trickier—and the fate of student loan forgiveness hangs in the balance. We break down what the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act means for new grads, why programs like PSLF and SAVE are under the microscope, and how upcoming changes will shift federal loan limits and forgiveness options. We tackle real listener questions on recertifying your income during a dental residency, PSLF processing times, loan capitalization, and married filing strategies.
Key moments:
(02:29) The new rules after July 2026: federal loan limits an...
IDR Recertification Backlogs, Glitches, and Scary Letters
If you've been coasting since COVID without recertifying your income-driven repayment plan, that grace period is officially over. We break down what recertification actually looks like right now and talk about recalculation, payment caps, the kinds of forbearances that help (or hurt) your progress toward forgiveness, and a weird glitch flagging people as Parent PLUS borrowers when they're not. You'll learn where to find your recert date, what to do when your loan servicer fumbles your file, and how to avoid common mistakes in a system that seems designed to trip you up, all while staying on track for...
Why PSLF Could Die By the Mid-2030s
The One Big Beautiful Bill didn't kill PSLF outright, but once you run the numbers on the new borrowing limits and the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), the financial incentive for Public Service Loan Forgiveness essentially evaporates for future borrowers. I walk through exactly how this plays out for physicians, PAs, NPs, teachers, lawyers, and other professions — and why existing borrowers are grandfathered in but should still pay attention.
I also break down what the new math means for private universities, which degrees still pencil out financially, and a critical deadline for Parent PLUS borrowers that could affect yo...
Tax Extensions Can Lower Your Student Loan Payments
Timing your tax filing can mean serious savings on your monthly payments, especially if you're on an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan and aiming for forgiveness. We break down scenarios for when it makes sense to file right away, when to wait, and how married couples or borrowers with irregular income can play their cards for the biggest advantage.
If you've ever wondered how your AGI or recertification date could influence your student loan bills, this episode gives you straightforward strategies you can use right now.
Key moments:
(07:48) Why when you file your tax...
PSLF Chaos, Consolidation Deadlines, and Parent PLUS Landmines
Things are not "calm and predictable" in student loan land right now. Hear real stories from recent consultations and learn what actions matter most before the June 30th, 2026, consolidation deadline.
We dig into what's happening with PSLF case reviews, consolidation risks, tax season strategies, and what Parent PLUS borrowers need to know now that double consolidation is gone. Even if you feel lost or overwhelmed, you'll finish this episode with a checklist of things to act on now to protect your strategy before small mistakes turn into expensive ones.
Key moments:
(02:22) Why PSLF...
Tax Season Student Loan Tips & Big Mistakes We See
If your student loan payment is tied to your income, your tax return isn't just paperwork — it's part of your repayment strategy. Listen to a live tax webinar we did with Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, Director of Tax at SLP Wealth, as we share the biggest mistakes we're seeing this season, especially around married filing separately, community property states, and backdoor Roth IRAs — plus when filing an extension can legitimately save you real money on income-driven repayment. If you're navigating forgiveness, IDR, or just trying not to overpay Uncle Sam, this one's for you.
Key moments:
(02...
What Will Students and Parents Do This Fall?
Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a financial aid cliff. If you're a grad student, parent of a college student, or a current professional school attendee, the shifts in borrowing limits, repayment plans, and the fate of Grad PLUS loans could seriously affect your finances and your future. Listen in as I answer listener questions and then pivot to the big question: what happens if you (or your kid) take out even one new federal loan after July 2026?
Key moments:
(00:42) PSLF Buyback: Which tax years might determine your payment?
(05:48) The tax-extension strategy to...
First Look at "Beautiful Bill" Regulations
We're taking an early look at the new student loan rules released in January 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Find out why borrowers, especially Parent PLUS families, need to pay close attention. We'll explain which degrees are most affected, how professional and graduate programs are changing for loan purposes, how the RAP plan will impact repayment, and whether private lenders can keep up with demand.
Key moments:
(02:18) Why these regulations were rushed and what's coming next
(04:40) Parent PLUS borrowers face confusing deadlines and inconsistent official guidance
(11:57) Who counts as...
All the Regs That Need to Happen Very Soon
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...
