Student Loans 101: What Every Borrower Needs to Know with Elaine Rubin
04/18/25 • 43 min
Ever wondered why student loans feel like a black hole of debt?
In this episode of 'Women and Money - The Shit We Don’t Talk About' , we cover the often overwhelming topic of student loans with our guest, Elaine Rubin. Elaine is a bilingual student loan and financial aid expert with more than 15 years of experience in federal and private student aid.
Elaine shares her personal experiences with student loan debt, offering strategies for managing loans effectively. This episode covers the pitfalls of taking out too many loans, the importance of long-term planning and budgeting, and the various repayment options available. She also stresses the importance of understanding the terms and conditions of student loans to avoid long-term financial burdens. Many challenges faced by first-generation college students bring heavy impact on women's financial independence, especially when balancing career and family. The episode expands the need for smarter financial decisions and the importance of seeking expert advice to navigate the intricacies of student loans.
Listen to this episode to learn about effective strategies for loan repayment, the pros and cons of Parent PLUS loans, and practical advice for managing student loans without sacrificing your financial future.
00:00 Intro
05:57 Expert Insights on Student Loans
08:37 Elaine's Personal Journey
13:13 Common Mistakes and Strategies for Managing Student Loans
16:31 The Impact of Student Loans on Families and Future Planning
23:57 Strategizing Loan Repayment
25:04 Simplifying Financial Aid
26:14 Scholarship Strategies
29:06 Advice to My Younger Self
32:16 Understanding Loan Interest Rates
37:24 Balancing Debt and Life
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Resources
- Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financial concerns.
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- Explore our free guides to help you on your financial journey
Ever wondered why student loans feel like a black hole of debt?
In this episode of 'Women and Money - The Shit We Don’t Talk About' , we cover the often overwhelming topic of student loans with our guest, Elaine Rubin. Elaine is a bilingual student loan and financial aid expert with more than 15 years of experience in federal and private student aid.
Elaine shares her personal experiences with student loan debt, offering strategies for managing loans effectively. This episode covers the pitfalls of taking out too many loans, the importance of long-term planning and budgeting, and the various repayment options available. She also stresses the importance of understanding the terms and conditions of student loans to avoid long-term financial burdens. Many challenges faced by first-generation college students bring heavy impact on women's financial independence, especially when balancing career and family. The episode expands the need for smarter financial decisions and the importance of seeking expert advice to navigate the intricacies of student loans.
Listen to this episode to learn about effective strategies for loan repayment, the pros and cons of Parent PLUS loans, and practical advice for managing student loans without sacrificing your financial future.
00:00 Intro
05:57 Expert Insights on Student Loans
08:37 Elaine's Personal Journey
13:13 Common Mistakes and Strategies for Managing Student Loans
16:31 The Impact of Student Loans on Families and Future Planning
23:57 Strategizing Loan Repayment
25:04 Simplifying Financial Aid
26:14 Scholarship Strategies
29:06 Advice to My Younger Self
32:16 Understanding Loan Interest Rates
37:24 Balancing Debt and Life
Follow & connect with us!
Follow & Connect with Elaine:
Connect with us!
Resources
- Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financial concerns.
- Subscribe to our newsletter to receive financial tips delivered weekly here!
- Explore our free guides to help you on your financial journey
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Real Estate Success without Burnout with Karen Cooper
Do your brilliant ideas come to you while you’re in the shower?
In this episode of 'Women and Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About’ , we’re talking about turning great ideas into action with our guest Karen Cooper. Karen is a wife, mom to three sons, and the co-owner of the Platinum Group Real Estate Team at Real Brokerage, alongside her business partner Vicky Noufal. Based in Northern Virginia, their powerhouse team of 50+ exceptional women and moms now serves clients nationwide with agents located across the United States.
Karen shares how her initial 'shower thought' led to the foundation of Empowering Women in Real Estate , a community that now boasts 30,000 members! We talk about financial independence, burnout, mindset importance, and the impact of community and support systems for women. Karen emphasizes the value of setting boundaries, investing into yourself, and the belief that slow, consistent action leads to significant growth!
00:50 The Power of Shower Thoughts
04:39 Introducing Karen Cooper
05:01 Karen's Real Estate Journey
06:31 Empowering Women in Real Estate
15:19 Overcoming Burnout
26:28 The Importance of Boundaries
29:16 Defining Financial Freedom
Got a unique financial story to share? Whether it’s about crushing debt, building wealth, an unexpected windfall, or just a wild money moment, we want to hear it! Or are you a professional who helps women with money? If you’re a financial coach, attorney, CPA, or work in any area that empowers women financially, we’d love to hear from you too! Your story could inspire our community of women. Fill out our intake form here!
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Follow & Connect with Karen:
Connect with us!
Resources
- Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financial concerns.
- Subscribe to our newsletter to receive financial tips delivered weekly here!
- Explore our free guides to help you on your financial journey
Next Episode
Confidence and Money with Sheena Yap Chan
Money and confidence go hand in hand, but too often, women are expected to do it all without being paid what they’re worth.
In this episode, we’re focused on embracing who you are, inspired by our reflections and the incredible story of our guest today, Sheena Yap Chan. Sheena is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, strategist, and award-winning podcaster, renowned for her expertise in elevating leadership and self-confidence through media. She is the founder and host of the acclaimed podcast, The Tao of Self-Confidence , where she interviews women about their journeys to self-confidence.
Sheena shares her personal journey of moving from the Philippines to Toronto, her struggles with identity, and how she ultimately found confidence to embrace her Asian heritage. We talk about the insecurities many face, and the vital role of self-acceptance and self-promotion, particularly for women in leadership roles. Sheena also talks about her successful podcast, 'The Tao of Self-Confidence', and her bestselling books that aim to empower women all over the world.
Listen to this episode to learn how to build confidence, the importance of financial independence, and hear Sheena's inspiring advice on setting and achieving big money goals. Tune in for a conversation that's sure to leave you feeling more empowered and ready to tackle your own dreams.
01:56 Embracing Authenticity and Confidence
04:13 Introducing Sheena
04:36 Sheena's Story: Overcoming Identity Struggles
11:07 Launching the Tao of Self-Confidence Podcast
14:49 Addressing Financial and Cultural Challenges
22:49 Empowering Women Through Financial Independence
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Connect with us!
Resources
- Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financial concerns.
- Subscribe to our newsletter to receive financial tips delivered weekly here!
- Explore our free guides to help you on your financial journey
Women & Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About! - Student Loans 101: What Every Borrower Needs to Know with Elaine Rubin
Transcript
Maggie: I do have student loan debt and I thought going to community college was gonna be like, oh, then I would walk out with no debt, but not quite their darling.
Barb: You do have a fantastic degree from a wonderful organization to show for it. So it wasn't like it was off or not.
Maggie: Yeah. You learn more than you think, 'cause in school you don't know how you're gonna apply it yet. But then people always ask me like, what are you g
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