Student Loan Planner

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 the ultra-wealthy

(05:44) What keeps high earners from enjoying their money

(07:12) My own early retirement attempt and the surprising lesson it taught me about purpose

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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

Tips I Can't Share Publicly

Getting our free newsletter? Upgrade your experience and discover student loan loopholes so good, they might get repealed if I talk about them publicly. Find out my very best thought leadership that I really just can't be open about anymore, unfortunately. If you want to get our very best tips, not just the ones that I can share for free. Go to studentloanplanner.com/insider to get a special discount for your year membership.

Want more? Check out our other podcast

Starting to think beyond your student loans? Check out our other show, Financially Free Era. It's about what comes next, investing, building wealth, and designing a life you actually want. Find "Financially Free Era by SLP Wealth" in your podcast app.

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 why the best financial call you make in your 20s or 30s might be spending the money before your knees give out.

Key moments:

(01:44) The cost of using your full six-month grace period after graduation

(02:26) Consolidating at graduation: when it’s a good idea, and when it’s a disaster

(05:19) How the interest subsidy hack can be worth $15K–$20K for high-debt grads

(08:36) Why I think you should take some non-financial risks while you’re young

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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

Free Student Loan newsletter

If you are not already getting our weekly newsletter every Thursday, you are missing out. We break down studio loan news, updates, money tips, all in one helpful newsletter. Sign up for free at https://studentloanplanner.com/newsletter

The SLP YouTube Channel

If you're more of a visual learner or you like seeing charts, breakdowns, and exploring other topics, check out https://youtube.com/studentloanplanner

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) Notifications to leave the SAVE plan aren’t as urgent as they look

(09:17) Who really benefits from the 1% autopay interest rate reduction (and who doesn’t)

(14:05) The new consolidation trap for recent grads—and why pausing could save you a decade

(19:05) The PSLF court cases and how they redefine PSLF employer eligibility

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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

Want more? Check out our other podcast

Starting to think beyond your student loans? Check out our other show, Financially Free Era. It's about what comes next, investing, building wealth, and designing a life you actually want. Find "Financially Free Era by SLP Wealth" in your podcast app.

Tips I Can't Share Publicly

Getting our free newsletter? Upgrade your experience and discover student loan loopholes so good, they might get repealed if I talk about them publicly. Find out my very best thought leadership that I really just can't be open about anymore, unfortunately. If you want to get our very best tips, not just the ones that I can share for free. Go to studentloanplanner.com/insider to get a special discount for your year membership.

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 just tax planning) should guide big financial decisions for student loan borrowers

(12:40) Capturing tax loss harvesting benefits if the market crashes

(13:41) Gauging which professions are most protected from AI

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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

The SLP YouTube Channel

If you're more of a visual learner or you like seeing charts, breakdowns, and exploring other topics, check out https://youtube.com/studentloanplanner

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 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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

Want more? Check out our other podcast

Starting to think beyond your student loans? Check out our other show, Financially Free Era. It's about what comes next, investing, building wealth, and designing a life you actually want. Find "Financially Free Era by SLP Wealth" in your podcast app.

Tips I Can't Share Publicly

Getting our free newsletter? Upgrade your experience and discover student loan loopholes so good, they might get repealed if I talk about them publicly. Find out my very best thought leadership that I really just can't be open about anymore, unfortunately. If you want to get our very best tips, not just the ones that I can share for free. Go to studentloanplanner.com/insider to get a special discount for your year membership.

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 student loan forgiveness

(20:21) Tuition discount rates in education

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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

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

(28:02) Busyness and inertia create financial planning mistakes

Resources mentioned:

• Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha study

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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

The SLP YouTube Channel

If you're more of a visual learner or you like seeing charts, breakdowns, and exploring other topics, check out https://youtube.com/studentloanplanner

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:

(07:24) Wealth move 1: Max out tax-advantaged accounts

(08:03) Wealth move 2: Weaponize income-driven repayment

(09:09) Wealth move 3: Open a brokerage account early

(11:12) Wealth move 4: Use professional loan programs to optimize housing moves

(14:25) Wealth move 5: Two ways to maximize the value of your degree

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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

The SLP YouTube Channel

If you're more of a visual learner or you like seeing charts, breakdowns, and exploring other topics, check out https://youtube.com/studentloanplanner

Tips I Can't Share Publicly

Getting our free newsletter? Upgrade your experience and discover student loan loopholes so good, they might get repealed if I talk about them publicly. Find out my very best thought leadership that I really just can't be open about anymore, unfortunately. If you want to get our very best tips, not just the ones that I can share for free. Go to studentloanplanner.com/insider to get a special discount for your year membership.

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 payments are calculated

(10:44) Unpaid interest subsidy and other RAP features

(18:26) RAP’s 30-year forgiveness and how it impacts PSLF

Resource mentioned:

• Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) Calculator

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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

The SLP YouTube Channel

If you're more of a visual learner or you like seeing charts, breakdowns, and exploring other topics, check out https://youtube.com/studentloanplanner

Free Student Loan newsletter

If you are not already getting our weekly newsletter every Thursday, you are missing out. We break down studio loan news, updates, money tips, all in one helpful newsletter. Sign up for free at https://studentloanplanner.com/newsletter

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:

(01:52) Why the ATF lawsuit updates matter for IDR and PSLF backlogs

(04:06) How forgiveness timing could trigger bigger tax bills in 2027

(08:36) 88,000 pending PSLF buyback applicants, duplicate applications, and delays

(12:14) Parent PLUS loan confusion: When your file shows loans you never took out

(20:10) Why new grads should think hard before consolidating, and how it can lock you into a 30-year 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
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

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 [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

Want more? Check out our other podcast

Starting to think beyond your student loans? Check out our other show, Financially Free Era. It's about what comes next, investing, building wealth, and designing a life you actually want. Find "Financially Free Era by SLP Wealth" in your podcast app.

Tips I Can't Share Publicly

Getting our free newsletter? Upgrade your experience and discover student loan loopholes so good, they might get repealed if I talk about them publicly. Find out my very best thought leadership that I really just can't be open about anymore, unfortunately. If you want to get our very best tips, not just the ones that I can share for free. Go to studentloanplanner.com/insider to get a special discount for your year membership.