Student Loan Planner – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Listen in as I sit down with my good friend and one of the sharpest legal minds in the student loan world, Stanley Tate. We walk through the latest PSLF battles, what the SAVE-forbearance mess really means for your timeline, and how the coming transition to RAP and old-school IBR could reshape repayment for millions of borrowers. We also get into Parent PLUS landmines, future loan caps, and what all of this means for the next generation of borrowers. You'll learn where the pitfalls are, how to protect yourself, and why most borrowers still have more options than they think.

Key moments:

(05:07) How worried should you be about the new PSLF rules (09:20) The weighted-average credit confusion after consolidation (16:32) The risk of choosing between federal and private student loans is quite high (24:28) SAVE forbearance, recertification delays, and the Parent PLUS trap (43:47) What we're watching in negotiated rulemaking and RAP vs. IBR

Resource mentioned:

• Stanley Tate's YouTube channel

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• 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!

We've hit 400 episodes. That's hundreds of hours helping borrowers make sense of one of the most complicated (and emotional) parts of personal finance. In this milestone episode, I sit down with Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, AFC®, one of our longest-serving planners and a key part of SLP since 2018. Together, we look back on how it all started — a spreadsheet that accidentally went viral — and how far we've come since then. We talk about the biggest surprises in today's student loan system, the stories that still move us years later, and where SLP is heading next.

Key moments:

(02:37) How a viral spreadsheet launched a national business

(9:34) From Olympian to planner: Lauryn's journey to helping borrowers with student loan debt

(14:50) The biggest shock about student loans today compared to 2016

(22:00) Client stories that still stick with us

(32:15) Why today's system is simpler—but still not simple enough

(38:54) What's next for SLP: building the SLP Insiders app to bring borrowers together

Resources mentioned:

• Financial Free Era podcast
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Heather Jarvis, Student Loan Expert

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
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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!

There's a controversial and urgent topic we have to talk about: the massive upheaval headed for graduate and professional education financing starting in the fall of 2026. With the recent passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," federal borrowing for graduate programs will be drastically limited — meaning schools and students are about to face a world of change.

Learn what these new federal borrowing caps could mean for your finances, your career plans, and the future of higher ed. We'll discuss the risk of many degree programs closing, and share ways borrowers like you can prepare.

Key moments:

(01:25) Federal loan limits for new med students drop to $50k annual, $200k lifetime

(09:36) Which programs are likely going to be the hardest hit from these federal loan caps

(17:19) RAP doesn't provide a path to forgiveness for physicians in the private sector at all

(21:26) Lawmakers may rethink the cap when they see the actual economic consequences

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

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
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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!

With recertification deadlines for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans being pushed back repeatedly, there's a growing concern that borrowers may be hit with unexpectedly high payments once these delays finally end. This situation is creating what I call the "IDR recertification time bomb."

In today's episode:

03:37 Payments could skyrocket to 10 or even 20 times their current amount 07:03 IDR recertification could lead to chaos if the courts nix the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan 13:57 Resources for student loan borrowers to prepare themselves

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

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
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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!

From mounting credit card and auto loan debt to the less obvious pitfalls of inflation and misguided investment choices, Meagan McGuire and Sim Terwilliger unpack the five financial traps they see student loan borrowers falling into.

In today's episode:

01:41 Credit card debt, average balances by generation, and the best defense against growing balances 11:02 Car payments, average loan terms, and the pros and cons of buying vs. leasing 23:14 Unchecked consumerism, the lure of rage-baiting, and the dangers of chasing the status quo 33:32 Inflation and why investing is crucial to staying ahead 38:14 Student loans and the high price of not having the right repayment plan in place

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
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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!

As legal battles unfold, student loan borrowers face a wave of uncertainty. In this episode, I'll break down the latest developments from the 8th Circuit Court and explore how their recent rulings could impact the future of student loan forgiveness plans like Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE).

In today's episode:

02:33 The 8th Circuit Court's decision to halt the 400-page SAVE plan 05:04 My take on why the court may view the Biden administration's actions as illegal 06:58 Could the court challenge the legality of the ICR statute? 13:38 Student loan workarounds and strategies from tax filing tips to PSLF buyback

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!

Ever wondered how politicians invest? Join me and special guest Meagan McGuire as we discuss the portfolios of Vice President Kamala Harris and other political figures. We'll explore the importance of a balanced portfolio and share our personal experiences on the value of seeking professional advice.

In today's episode:

03:33 Kamala Harris's portfolio that Meagan calls "vanilla boringness" 04:58 Senator Clinton's optimized, low-cost, passive investment portfolio 07:11 Speaker Pelosi's net worth and a breakdown of direct indexing 14:54 Trump's investment portfolio, types of holdings and the value of his real estate 21:20 Practical takeaways and lessons from their financial strategies

Link mentioned: Coconut tree meme, explained

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!

The latest on the Biden administration's student loan cancellation program includes opt-out provisions that have left many scratching their heads. I'll cover that and explain the legal back-and-forth and endless policy changes of student loan repayment, so you don't have to feel so alone.

In today's episode:

• 00:36 The 8th Circuit Court ruling means everything about the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan is going to stay locked down

• 05:58 Positive outcomes that benefit borrowers

• 08:16 The reason behind the opt-out provision (hint: it's not about choosing to opt out)

• 10:26 Stay positive and focus on financial strategies that you can control

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
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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!

Switching jobs is about more than employee benefits and compensation packages when you're a student loan borrower. Student loan advisors Connor Pierce and Jake Courtney explore how federal student loans can adapt to income changes, making them less stressful when contemplating career moves or starting a business.

In today's episode:

(06:10) Analyze Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) vs. private employer repayment options

(13:29) Calculate hourly pay rate to assess commuting worth

(20:27) Before you switch, check your vesting schedule

(27:36) COBRA coverage and why it might be better than an ACA 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

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!

• 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!