June 15, 2025

How Big Life Changes Wreck, or Rescue, Your Student Loan Strategy, Ep 31

33 minutes

You might think that making more money solves more problems, but early-career physicians know it can have the opposite effect. The moment you or your partner graduate, sign a contract, or even get engaged, your financial world shifts. And if one of you has massive student loans tied to forgiveness programs like PSLF, those life events don't just change your lifestyle; they can completely upend your loan strategy. In this episode, we examine how a personal decision like marriage can lead to substantial changes in your repayment plan, tax filing decisions, and long-term financial outlook. And we don't stop at hypotheticals, we walk through actual numbers and scenarios, including couples holding off on marriage for years, all in the name of student loan optimization.

But it's not just about marriage. From the confusion around SAVE plan forbearance to the overlooked tax traps in your first attending year, we break down the key decisions that tend to sneak up on you the moment your income goes up. This isn't about turning you into a financial planner, it's about giving you the clarity to act (or not act) with purpose. We talk about what to avoid, when to wait, and how to spot the quiet mistakes that could cost you thousands. Whether you're transitioning out of fellowship, newly navigating PSLF, or just trying not to mess up your first six-figure paycheck, this episode gives you the financial footing you didn't know you needed.

Looking for help with Disability Insurance, Physician Banking, Student Loan Refinancing, Physician Mortgages, Contract Reviews, and more? Check out our "Best of the Best" sponsors page to find a list of the professionals Chad & Tyler team up with for their clients.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

(00:00) Intro and Jeremy's student loan + marriage question
(02:00) PSLF, joint income, and tax filing decisions
(05:30) Should couples delay marriage for a loan strategy?
(09:20) SAVE plan uncertainty and dual-loan households
(13:40) Tax moves when going from fellow to attending
(23:20) Are DFA and Avantis worth the cost?

Understand how your partner's student debt changes your financial reality

If one of you has six figures of med school debt and the other's making solid income, your financial life just got way more complicated. I lay out how your partner's loan situation can impact PSLF eligibility, how your tax filing status plays into it, and why your state's laws might push the numbers in a direction you didn't expect. This isn't just about love and money, it's about knowing how the system treats you once you're linked on paper.

Know when to act, and when to chill, on student loan plan changes

With the SAVE plan in limbo, making a move right now could do more harm than good. If you're in forbearance, stuck in application purgatory, or wondering whether to jump plans, this part is for you. A lot of borrowers feel stuck, but sitting tight might actually be the smart play.

I walk through why filing new forms too early can lock you into the wrong plan, what "waiting it out" should actually look like, and how to stay informed without stressing daily. The key is knowing what to watch for and how to be ready the second new rules drop. Reacting early could cost you forgiveness dollars down the line.

Stop the tax + investment mistakes that trip up new attendings

When your pay triples overnight, so do your financial blind spots. I walk through common errors I see first-year attendings make: over-contributing to retirement accounts, accidentally triggering Roth IRA penalties, and getting blindsided by taxes on forgivable bonuses. Add in SAVE changes or leftover training-year quirks, and things get messy fast. If you're trying to stay organized while your income spikes, this is how you do it without leaving money on the table or owing it back in April.

The best of the best list is a paid sponsorship, but these are professionals/companies that Tyler and Chad collaborate with within their own practices or have been vetted to earn a spot on this list. By supporting our sponsors, it allows Chad & Tyler to dedicate more time to you and the Physician Cents community. If you ever have a question (or not a great experience, which we don't expect!) about a sponsor, please let us know. We call it the "best of the best" for a reason, and we will maintain that standard for our listeners & viewers.

Resources & People Mentioned