Student Loan Planner – Details, episodes & analysis

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 
• 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!

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!

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
• 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!

Learn how to lower your taxable income and reduce student loan payments by optimizing pretax benefits like 401(k)s, IRAs, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and more. Financial experts Meagan McGuire and Connor Pierce guide you through these valuable strategies.

In today's episode:

09:18 Strategies for maximizing retirement savings as a sole proprietor

16:49 How to reimburse medical expenses from previous years tax-free

26:07 Why a Roth IRA may be a smart choice for a lower-income tax strategy

34:05 The benefits of filing a tax extension to keep your student loan payment low

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!

Worried about changes to your student loan payments? It could happen if the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan is repealed. Student loan experts Megan McGuire and Sim Terwilliger share how they're advising clients to rethink their repayment approach.

In today's episode:

05:24 Parent PLUS loan borrowers need a plan B and plan C

13:44 Fill out a forbearance application to postpone or reduce student loan payments

24:07 Monthly income-driven repayments (IDR) can spike if you don't update your income

31:49 PSLF buyback can give you credit for months that didn't qualify before

Link mentioned: 

• SAVE Plan Court Actions: Impact on Borrowers

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!

Find out where you stand financially and if you're on track to become a millionaire.

Financial experts Meagan McGuire and Sim Terwilliger explain how to evaluate savings strategies, balance debt with investments, and avoid overspending. You'll also learn how understanding opportunity costs can help shape smarter financial decisions.

In today's episode:

06:16 Calculate your current standard of living to estimate retirement expenses

16:03 Front-load retirement savings early in your career 

21:45 Compare interest rates to prioritize debt repayment or investing

32:36 Use Investor.gov's calculator to see where you're at on your savings journey

Link mentioned:

• Compound Interest 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

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!