Meet Scotty McDonald, CSLP®, the newest addition to the Student Loan Planner consulting team. Host Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, walks Scotty through his journey of career transitions and finding his passion in personal finance. He shares his background, growing up in Atwater, California, and attending art school. Scotty explores his personal journey with student loan debt and the importance of focusing on the things within our control and using past decisions to inform future strategies. Finally, Lauryn and Scotty discuss their approach to spending money, emphasizing the importance of aligning expenses with what brings them joy and moves them closer to financial independence. In today’s episode, you'll find out:  How Scotty went from fancy art school to personal finance Scotty’s philosophy about how to handle regret and frustration from past decisions A common misconception about working for yourself and having flexible hours How growing up in California shaped Scotty’s minimalist lifestyle Scotty’s first interactions with Travis and Student Loan Planner in 2016 What motivated Scotty to pursue a career in helping individuals with their finances The 3 factors Scotty considers before spending any money    Like the show? There are several ways you can help!  Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Follow on Facebook, Twitter/X, or LinkedIn    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  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!  

Introducing New Student Loan Planner Consultant Scotty McDonald

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.

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Curious about student loan planning? This episode is packed with real-life scenarios, insider knowledge, and practical advice for your student loan journey. Get insight into ambiguous regulations, servicer misinformation and the impact it has on borrowers from Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, AFC®, and Justin Kim-Hummel, former client and integral member of the Student Loan Planner team who brings a wealth of experience from his background in PR, graduate studies, and time working on Capitol Hill. Together, they tackle challenges, answer frequently asked questions, and reveal the dedication and care that goes into every consultation. Learn why this is more than just advice. It's about ​​connecting with experts who genuinely care about your financial well-being and student loan success. In today’s episode, you'll find out:  Justin's journey from client to becoming a crucial part of the Student Loan Planner team Firsthand insight into why many borrowers are dealing with misinformation and lack of clear guidance from loan services The dangers of following bad advice from student loan servicers Key benefits of booking a consultation for personalized advice and savings How uncertainty surrounding the election can impact student loan policies How to best use the free resources offered by the Student Loan Planner team How the Student Loan Planner team uses office hours to manage client questions and concerns What kind of post-consultation support you get when implementing your custom plan What information you'll need to share with a consultant to get the best advice How a consult can address the unique financial situations of high earners who may not qualify for forgiveness How expenses like credit card debt and housing costs factor into student loan repayment options The limitations of giving advice by email and how the customer support team manages expectations Why you don't have to turn on your camera during a virtual meeting with a consultant How long it takes to get a personalized student loan 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  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!  

What Really Happens at a Consultation? The Truth Behind Our Student Loan Advice

Travis shares the best stress reduction strategies out there for current and aspiring business owners. Enroll at https://studentloanplanner.com/profit

Double Your Profit, Lower Your Stress

Get ready to uncover the myths, master the rewards, and smartly amplify your spending power — all while keeping your finances sharp and your debt strategy on point. Whether you're looking to squeeze every last benefit out of your credit card points, contemplating the right card for your business expenses, or simply looking to use your cards more strategically, this episode is a goldmine. Listen in as Meagan McGuire, ChFC®, CSLP®, and Mary Rush, CFP®, CSLP®, talk tricks, tips, and savvy spending with every swipe. Discover how to make every dollar and every point work harder for you. In today’s episode, you'll find out:  How to leverage credit cards and credit card rewards to your advantage About the benefits Meagan and Mary have personally enjoyed from credit card rewards programs Why the common belief that carrying a balance improves your credit score is wrong How maintaining a low credit utilization rate can benefit your financial health When and how to utilize 0% balance transfer cards to manage debt effectively strategies for using credit cards as budgeting tools, including how to use statement balances The perks of cashback vs. niche-specific credit cards and which is best for you Why credit cards provide better fraud and travel protection than debit cards Mary's strategy for maximizing rewards with travel and cashback credit cards Meagan's experience with using a credit card for business and the rewards she missed from not using a personal card Details on point conversions of airline miles, cashback and reward points Tips to utilize credit cards for significant expenses like weddings, home improvements or even paying taxes    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!  

Credit Card Mastery: Hacks to Leverage Benefits in Your Favor

A timely discussion of what happens as we face down the expiration of the IDR waiver. Will the administration extend it at the last second? We don't know (as of the time of the recording). But one thing is sure: Borrowers can expect seismic shifts as the IDR waiver ends. It's been key to unlocking the forgiveness gates for many, but its flexible counting of nearly any kind of payment toward forgiveness expires at the end of April. We'll recap the IDR waiver and its benefits and explore what happens after the IDR waiver ends. Get clarity about your next steps and the implications of these changes on your student loan repayment journey. In today’s episode, you'll find out:  How the end of the IDR waiver impacts borrowers who've been in forbearance or deferment Changes borrowers should prepare for after the IDR waiver expires How borrowers with older loans will suffer the biggest consequences as this program ends Options for maximizing qualifying payment count when consolidating loans Consequences borrowers will face when Pay As You Earn (PAYE) applications close What the precedent of moving borrowers from REPAYE to the SAVE plan means for the future of IDR programs How to calculate the cost-benefit of married filing separately for taxes Tips to navigate the PSLF pause during the transition from MOHELA to the Department of Education  What “consolidation Death Valley" is and why it could impact you in May-June 2024 Best practices for dealing with the coming uncertainty of student loans  Links mentioned:  StudentAid.gov   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!  

What Happens After the IDR Waiver?

Roth IRAs are a highly recommended retirement savings option but it’s not all smooth sailing. Student loan repayment, income limitations, and tax filing status can lead you to treacherous waters. Learn the missteps to avoid and how to correct mistakes before they escalate into hefty fines and taxes. Join student loan advisors Meagan McGuire, ChFC®, CSLP®, Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, and Sam Silberstein, CFP®, CSLP®, and explore contribution deadlines, the pro-rata rule, form 8606, the impact of being in a community property state, and how dual-income households should strategize their student loans and retirement savings. If you’re tired of cookie-cutter advice, you don’t want to miss this episode. In today’s episode, you'll find out:  Why lack of profession-specific planning is the biggest mistake you can make in your financial journey The impact of the pro-rata rule when converting traditional IRA funds to Roth IRAs When to contribute to your Roth IRA to maximize your retirement savings Why high-earners might want to contribute to a Roth IRA despite income limits How to fix backdoor Roth IRA issues, including tactics for zeroing out accounts The importance of prioritizing pre-tax savings when you’ve got student loans How community property states complicate Roth IRAs and what to do about it Dodging extra taxes and penalties is possible if you contributed to a Roth by mistake How side hustlers and independent contractors can leverage Solo 401(k) plans  Why income projections are critical to nail the right contributions and keep the IRS happy    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!  

Introducing New Student Loan Planner Consultant Scotty McDonald

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