Log in

goodpods headphones icon

To access all our features

Open the Goodpods app
Close icon
headphones
Student Loan Planner

Student Loan Planner

Travis Hornsby

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.

1 Listener

bookmark
Share icon

All episodes

Best episodes

Top 10 Student Loan Planner Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Student Loan Planner episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Student Loan Planner for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Student Loan Planner episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Student Loan Planner - Why Pre-COVID Student Loan Rules Are Back (For Now)
play

08/06/24 • 13 min

The labyrinth of pre-COVID student loan rules are making a dramatic return. I’ll explore the Biden administration's key regulations impacting Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, the legal battles putting these changes on ice, and what it means for borrowers caught in the middle.

In today’s episode:

  • 01:50 Revival of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plans
  • 04:45 PSLF borrowers have less to worry about, plus the “buyback provision”
  • 08:03 Borrowers going for 20 and 25 year forgiveness could switch plans
  • 12:46 The silver lining of choosing to do nothing

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

1 Listener

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Student Loan Planner - Traps to Avoid as Payments Resume
play

10/03/23 • 21 min

As student loan payments restart after a three-and-a-half-year break, borrowers are facing challenges. Most of the traps revolve around applying for SAVE, linking your IRS data to the Department of Education, and reaching out to your student loan servicer. When navigating these pitfalls, it’s crucial to consider your unique situation instead of blindly following the Department of Education's one-size-fits-all solution. Listen in to learn common mistakes to avoid and what to do when your servicer messes up.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

  • How to avoid payment traps and servicer mistakes as payments start
  • When to set up autopay, and when to turn it off
  • What to consider before applying for the SAVE plan
  • Why you shouldn’t link your IRS data with the Department of Ed
  • Problems with income recertification
  • When alternative documentation for income is best for borrowers
  • Downsides of calling your servicer with student loan questions
  • How to be strategic to find solutions for servicer issues
  • What to do when your servicer messes up
  • Actions to take to resolve servicer mistakes
  • How to get support to navigate servicer issues

Links mentioned:

StudentAid.gov SAVE Repayment Plan Student loan servicers

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

1 Listener

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Student Loan Planner - PSLF on Pause

PSLF on Pause

Student Loan Planner

play

07/09/24 • 21 min

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) has been on pause since May while servicing transitions away from MOHELA, causing waves. Student Loan Advisors Sim Terwilliger and Sam Silberstein dissect what these shifts mean for borrowers. Learn the new processes for submitting and tracking PSLF forms through StudentAid.gov, the impacts of administrative forbearance, and the long-term outlook for PSLF.

In today’s episode:

  • 06:23 How the pause in submissions during May and June affect processing
  • 08:43 When forbearance counts for PSLF forgiveness, and when it doesn’t
  • 14:50 Avoid complications by submitting employment certification annually
  • 20:15 Borrowers can audit student loan payment counts

Links mentioned:

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

1 Listener

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Student Loan Planner - What to Know About Student Loans for 2024
play

12/26/23 • 37 min

As 2023 comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to think about smart student loan moves you should make in 2024. First, I answer listener questions about administrative forbearance, consolidating loans, tactics for keeping student loan payments low, in-school deferment waivers and more. I’m not just helping you prepare for the upcoming shifts in student loan repayment plans, I’m also looping you in on tax advantages, smart deferment methods and common payment pitfalls that might have slipped under your radar. Get ready to step into the New Year with valuable insights and a solid game plan for your student loans.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

  • Does administrative forbearance count for PSLF and IDR
  • Can you get a refund for payments made while in administrative forbearance
  • How to keep your student loan payment low (and how NOT to)
  • How the 2024 presidential election results might impact student loan repayment
  • When it makes sense to consolidate your loans after the IDR waiver
  • What child-dependent tax credits you lose when you’re married but filing separately
  • What professions could use an in-school deferment waiver or SAVE plan strategy
  • Why you need to beware of the FSA payment tracker and forgiveness dates
  • The importance of gathering your payment history and payment count
  • The signup deadline for PAYE plans
  • How to get ahead on Parent PLUS double consolidation applications
  • What to do when administrative forbearances end

Links mentioned:

1 Listener

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Student Loan Planner - SAVE Plan Could be Toast

SAVE Plan Could be Toast

Student Loan Planner

play

07/16/24 • 30 min

The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan faces legal heat. Two separate lawsuits, one in Missouri and another in Kansas, each attacking the plan from a different angle. Is the SAVE plan in danger of disappearing? I’ll explain what the lawsuits mean for student loan borrowers and why they’re a risk to the SAVE plan, so you know exactly what’s going on.

In today’s episode:

  • 02:04 The Missouri and Kansas lawsuits could go all the way to the Supreme Court
  • 07:17 Progressive groups advocate freezing the student loan system
  • 17:54 My advice for borrowers caught in the middle
  • 24:03 Tax-free forgiveness for borrowers in the private sector expires in 2026

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

1 Listener

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Student Loan Planner - Your Top Questions as Payments Resume
play

09/26/23 • 48 min

I’m covering your most pressing questions as we prepare for student loan payments to resume. The forbearance period is ending, and there’s a lot of uncertainty and confusion about how to navigate the repayment landscape. I’ll discuss the recent developments with the PSLF waiver and IDR waiver, shedding some light on how these changes might affect your chances of loan forgiveness. Learn your next steps, whether you’re considering refinancing, changing repayment plans, or just want to understand the new regulations.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

  • The pros and cons of refinancing your student loans, including when it's worth it to switch to a private lender
  • The complexities involved in qualifying for PSLF and the IDR waiver
  • How the IDR waiver can significantly impact your loan forgiveness eligibility
  • When to consider forbearance as a short-term strategy
  • Why you might want to wait until 2024 to make any changes to your repayment plan
  • Why you should be cautious when considering switching to the new SAVE plan
  • How new borrowers as of July 2014 have different options compared to those with older loans
  • The political changes that could impact future loan repayment options
  • How to amend your tax returns to maximize your benefits under PSLF
  • How we’re planning to help you with tax preparation

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

1 Listener

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Whether navigating the post-graduation grace period, exploring new repayment options, or looking to supercharge your loan payoff, this episode is jam-packed with practical advice to help you take charge of your financial journey.

Hosts James Mwombela, CFP®, CSLP®, Rebecca Baldauf, Jake Courtney and Sam Silberstein deliver a wealth of insights for effectively managing student loans. No matter where you are in your career, you’ll walk away with actionable tips and the latest strategies to confidently tackle your student loan debt.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

  • The financial benefits of paying during the grace period to minimize interest accumulation
  • How consolidating loans after graduation can be smart, especially if your past income was more 'ramen diet' than 'caviar dreams'
  • The value of a student loan planner in creating personalized repayment strategies that align with your career ambitions and financial situation
  • How returning to school could enhance career prospects and open doors to loan forgiveness
  • Potential upcoming improvements in income-driven repayment plans
  • Insights on managing student loans with strategic considerations for prioritizing private student loans
  • The date Parent PLUS loans need to know for access to lower monthly payments
  • How claiming student loan interest deductions affects your AGI
  • Why avoiding forbearance is crucial when aiming for loan forgiveness
  • The role of the debt avalanche method and current considerations for refinancing student loans
  • How targeting high-interest student loans first can be a strategic move for repayment
  • The ins and outs of the 12-month ramp-up period for borrowers struggling to make payments
  • The benefits of an income-driven repayment plan as an alternative to default

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

1 Listener

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Student Loan Planner - Updates on the Limited PSLF Waiver and the MOHELA Transfer
play

06/21/22 • 44 min

Senior Student Loan Advisor Meagan Landress, CSLP®, and one of our newest Student Loan Advisors, Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, discuss a number of relevant topics to student loan borrowers today.

Listen as they answer listener questions from the inbox, technicalities about loan repayment (particularly around recertifying for your existing income-based repayment plan) and info about the Limited PSLF Waiver and consolidating your loans for PSLF.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

  • How Aidvantage is asking borrowers to recertify for income-based repayment
  • Know when you’ll actually need to recertify (not before March 2023!)
  • How recertifying too soon can impact your income-driven repayment amount
  • When we think student loan payments will resuem
  • How to figure out your interest rates on federal student loans
  • What FedLoan Servicing’s transfer to MOHELA means for borrowers
  • Where your data is stored (hint... it isn’t just your servicer account)
  • What to expect when consolidating your loans for PSLF or the IDR waiver
  • How teachers can avail of PSLF and teacher loan forgiveness at the same time

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Student Loan Planner - What is the PSLF Snowball? [Rebroadcast]
play

06/08/21 • 35 min

Only a small number of people were approved for PSLF in the first year of eligibility; I expect the 1% acceptance rate for PSLF is the lowest we will ever see and we should look forward to an increase each year.

The media has put out quite a few clickbait headlines on PSLF while sharing plenty of inaccurate information. PSLF became a major story in 2018, but I feel despite the backlash that the program is here to stay.

Today on the Student Loan Planner® podcast, we will be discussing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and how the approval rate will snowball to a larger percentage in future years.

In today’s episode, you’ll find out:

  • The truth about the high rejection rate for PSLF
  • Whether there is a massive number of PSLF borrowers coming in the future
  • Why many physicians aren’t eligible for PSLF anymore
  • PSLF structural flaws that can get ironed out over time
  • Why people were mainly rejected based on these 4 factors:

1. Had loans that didn’t qualify 2. Used the wrong repayment plan 3. Failed to include their employer’s EIN tax number 4. Failed to check a box on the form saying they were currently employed by a non-profit

For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.studentloanplanner.com/podcast-what-is-pslf-snowball

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Student Loan Planner - IDR Sensitive Investing

IDR Sensitive Investing

Student Loan Planner

play

06/11/24 • 29 min

I’m exploring investment strategies tailored for student loan borrowers, tackling tax challenges, investment allocation, and how specific identification of shares can make all the difference. Plus, I share the link between income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and your investment returns.

In today’s episode:

  • 04:25 50% VTSAX and 50% VTIAX for simple investing
  • 10:20 Accumulate losses to offset future capital gains
  • 13:39 Rising interest rates can mean increased itemizing
  • 24:59 Diversified investment strategies for optimal tax efficiency

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Show more best episodes

Toggle view more icon

FAQ

How many episodes does Student Loan Planner have?

Student Loan Planner currently has 348 episodes available.

What topics does Student Loan Planner cover?

The podcast is about Investing, Podcasts, Business and Careers.

What is the most popular episode on Student Loan Planner?

The episode title 'SAVE Plan Could be Toast' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Student Loan Planner?

The average episode length on Student Loan Planner is 39 minutes.

How often are episodes of Student Loan Planner released?

Episodes of Student Loan Planner are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Student Loan Planner?

The first episode of Student Loan Planner was released on Dec 11, 2018.

Show more FAQ

Toggle view more icon

Comments