With the stock market and global economy in a state of flux, I’ve been getting some questions about investing and coronavirus. People are asking about the possibility of a recession. Coronavirus is a very serious concern. I’m going to help you assess whether you should invest from a rational perspective, starting with asking yourself “what does this mean for me and my family.” In today’s episode, you'll find out: What I think about the possibility of a recession How coronavirus compares to the S...
Mar 17, 2020•39 min•Ep. 68
Even though I can think of about 600,000 things I’d rather talk about than taxes, it’s something we can’t ignore. I see people all the time paying way more in taxes than they should be. Today, I’m going to help you understand what you’re actually paying and why. Then we’ll jump into long-term tax planning strategies and some tips on what you can do right now to lower your tax bill as a student loan borrower. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What adjusted gross income (AGI) is and why it matt...
Mar 10, 2020•54 min•Ep. 67
If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of student loan interest raging out of control, this episode is for you. I sat down with our senior student loan consultant, Rob Bertman, CFP®, CFA to dig into the details about why student loan interest isn’t as bad as you think. Bertman has over 15 years’ experience as a financial planner and is the mastermind behind Family Budget Expert. Here’s what he has to say about how interest can impact your student loans. In today’s episode, you'll find out: • Why stud...
Mar 03, 2020•55 min•Ep. 66
Jantz Hoffman is the founder of the Certified Student Loan Professional (CSLP®) designation that helps financial advisors incorporate student loan repayment planning in their practice. I invited him on the show to get his thoughts on student loan fraud and all the fake experts out there. Brief intro to episode In today’s episode, you'll find out: What gave Jantz the idea for CSLP Why there’s no value in falsifying student loan documents Reasons Jantz says not to be nervous about PSLF going away ...
Feb 25, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 65
Student loan reform is a hot topic with the upcoming election. I asked Student Loan Planner Consultant Lauryn Williams to weigh-in on some of what the proposed plans might mean for your student loan payment. Join me as we walk you through what the future of student loans might look like. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How Bernie’s “let’s forgive all the debt” plan could boost the economy If a Wall Street tax would help or hurt the middle class How Warren’s needs-based plan could lower your...
Feb 18, 2020•59 min•Ep. 64
Student loans are complicated enough on their own. When you add student loan scams to the mix, they can be almost unbearable. That’s why I’m going to cover the top 7 student loan “Travis”-ties, so you can avoid getting caught up in a mess. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The most common student scams you need to watch out for The student loan scam that cost one reader over $50,000 Why parents shouldn’t pay for their kids’ college Questions to ask a financial advisor to test their student lo...
Feb 11, 2020•46 min•Ep. 63
Free money from your employer to help pay off your loans is a great idea, right? Wrong! It could be one of the worst employee benefits ever. I’ll break down how this can affect your finances and show you how employer student loan benefits are a bad idea. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why taking money from your employer for student loans is a trap How a free $100,000 can end up costing you $50,000 The tax consequences of employer-paid student loan payments The effect of employer student lo...
Feb 04, 2020•32 min•Ep. 62
As part of our series on introducing you to new members of the Student Loan Planner team, I want to take a moment to talk with Meagan Landress. She is a Certified Student Loan Professional™ and today she’s sharing her best student loan loopholes and strategies to help you conquer your student loan debt. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What led Meagan to student loan consulting How “married filing separately” can lower your payment How to double-dip with the poverty line deduction What doubl...
Jan 28, 2020•44 min•Ep. 61
We’ve added a new face to our Student Loan Planner team. Listen in as I interview Ben Nanney, CPA and CFP®, about the nitty-gritty on taxes and student loans. He’ll give us the inside scoop on basic tax terms and dive into some more complex tax strategies for student loan borrowers. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What drove Ben to launch his own financial planning firm Why AGI isn’t as confusing as you think What is an above the line deduction The difference between a SEP IRA and Solo 401(...
Jan 21, 2020•53 min•Ep. 60
Since it’s the final day to purchase the Six-Figure Debt to Six-Figure Net Worth course, I want to share some tips from the course to give you some insight into my investing philosophy. I’ll show you how you can manage your own investments and reach millionaire status with a strategy that only takes a few hours of your time each year. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How the Student Loan Planner course can save you money Tips to give you a taste of my investing philosophy What to do instead ...
Jan 14, 2020•39 min•Ep. 59
The Six Figure to Six Figure Net Worth Course is here! If you have a goal of growing your net worth and not letting your student loans run your life, you need to know more about this course. Join me in today’s episode as I go into detail about how you can reach financial abundance in less than a decade. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why the Student Loan Planner Course is the best investment this year How to replace your reliance on labor for income to live The impact of different risk pro...
Jan 07, 2020•34 min•Ep. 58
When you graduate from college, you probably have a negative net worth from student loan debt. But is your negative net worth really the problem? Join me as I talk about ways to grow your assets through four proven strategies that can work no matter how high your student loan debt is. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why negative net worth isn’t the problem The two types of accounts you should be investing in The minimum amount to contribute to investment accounts Why borrowers are putting m...
Dec 31, 2019•31 min•Ep. 57
Saying student loan debt isn’t that big a deal is a loaded statement. But it’s true! In this episode, I talk about why your loans don’t matter as much as you think they do. I also go over five common high-debt career paths and share strategies to make it work to your advantage, no matter what your income is. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why your student loans aren’t what’s holding you back A simple mindset shift to ease your anxiety Why going from chiropractor to physician assistant can ...
Dec 24, 2019•25 min•Ep. 56
Dr. Ben White is has been helping medical students, residents, other physicians, and everyone else manage their student loans since 2009. He’s also and author, speaker, and board-certified subspecialized neuroradiologist. Today, I talk with Dr. White about PSLF and get his thoughts on controversial repayment strategies and the future of the program. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Future changes Dr. White expects to see with PSLF Why a common sense approach to student loans doesn’t work Why...
Dec 17, 2019•47 min•Ep. 55
The holidays are fast approaching and I know what you’re thinking: what should I get for the student loan borrowers on my list this year? In this episode, I go over the top 21 gifts that would make a big impact on the lives of student loan borrowers. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why the public library is one of the best places to hang out When to use the cash back from refinancing your loan to splurge How to turn the gift of cash from ho-hum to something memorable The best way to ask for...
Dec 10, 2019•32 min•Ep. 54
Student loan debt is a growing problem and a hot topic in the media. I asked the Student Loan Planner community how they would solve the student loan crisis, and the results were not what I expected. Join me as I go into the details about how listeners feel about the growing problem of student loan debt. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How important student loan reform is to voters What borrowers think student loan reform should look like The reason most people would opt for treating studen...
Dec 03, 2019•39 min•Ep. 53
Savanna Perry is a Physician Assistant and founder of ThePAplatform.com, a site where she shares insider tips to help others navigate the journey to becoming a PA. Today, I ask Savanna how to pick the best program, what the requirements are to get in, and whether the cost of the program is worth it in the end. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How being a PA can bring balance and flexibility to your life Why Savanna chose a public program over a private program How PA programs compare to med ...
Nov 26, 2019•43 min•Ep. 52
Ryan Inman, the host of the Financial Residency podcast and founder of Physician Wealth Services, shares the biggest mistakes he’s seen physicians make when it comes to student loan debt. I talk with Ryan about the state of PSLF and why hiring a financial planner isn’t right for everyone. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The trick to making PSLF work for physicians The real reason behind PSLF rejections Why worrying about whether PSLF will still be around isn’t the biggest problem Why not ev...
Nov 19, 2019•56 min•Ep. 51
In this monumental 50th episode, I’m taking you back in time on my journey of starting this thing called Student Loan Planner. Here’s the story of why I feel deeply called to helping you and others like you make sense of your finances and what I’ve learned over the past 3 years of working full-time in the world of student loans. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why some school are honest and others are downright profit-hungry Why colleges foot the bill for flights, hotels, meals, and more wh...
Nov 12, 2019•41 min•Ep. 50
Leif is well-known in the personal finance space as the Physician on FIRE. He runs a website by the same name to inspire physicians and their patients to live a life of financial independence and early retirement. In this episode, I talk with Leif about his strategy of becoming financially independent and getting the most out of your money. In today’s episode, you'll find out: The trick physicians can use to create more freedom with locum tenens How to leverage your income to retire before tradi...
Nov 05, 2019•50 min•Ep. 49
Student loan refinancing can be a big help to your financial goals. But some refi strategies can make it so you can’t buy a house or start a business. In this episode, I’ll talk about when a refi makes sense for you and discuss how the economy, a recession, and changing interest rates factor into your decision. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What is a refi ladder and can it work for you How doing more than one refi can be a smart move The reason to refi to a longer term at a higher interes...
Oct 29, 2019•42 min•Ep. 48
Robert Berger, Deputy Editor at Forbes and author of Retire Before Mom and Dad, is passionate about helping others build financial independence. In this episode, I talk with Robert about how to plan for retirement and the seven levels you need to reach financial freedom. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What “retirement” can look like for you The seven levels of financial independence Is the 4% rule still relevant? How student loan borrowers can reach financial independence What is the “mone...
Oct 22, 2019•46 min•Ep. 47
There are many reasons you should start a business. Business owners tend to make more money than associates. A business owner could pay less taxes than an associate, too. Overhead is often 45% to 60% depending on the practice, which means profit would be 40% to 55% instead of 28% to 33% as an associate. I spell out all the benefits of owning a business. In today’s episode, you’ll find out: Why you should start a business now even if you have student loans What makes the risk of being an entrepre...
Oct 15, 2019•38 min•Ep. 46
Reese Harper, a Certified Financial Planner and founder of Dentist Advisor, specializes in financial planning for dentists. In this episode, learn his thoughts on the financial planning industry, how to be successful running a dental business and whether now is the best time in history to be a dentist. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How Reese got started with his firm His thoughts on the financial planning industry Conflicts of interest in financial planning The typical wealth and income R...
Oct 08, 2019•55 min•Ep. 45
Why do so many financial advisers give lousy student loan advice? In this episode, the Student Loan Planner consultants — Travis Hornsby, Justin Harvey, Rob Bertman and Lauryn Williams — discuss what to look for in a financial adviser, what leads to this bad advice and why an experienced financial adviser is key. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What to look for in a good financial adviser Why financial advisers need to disclose all conflicts of interest Why Student Loan Planner isn’t a fidu...
Oct 01, 2019•39 min•Ep. 44
Trent and Somer are the first couple in history to both get tax-free student loan forgiveness through the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) program. Learn about how they qualified, their journey to forgiveness and their advice for those looking to do the same. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How much student loan debt Somer and Trent graduated with How they managed to get Direct Loans What it was like for Trent to consolidate his loans in the late-2000s. How Trent ...
Sep 24, 2019•48 min•Ep. 43
Using the refinancing ladder strategy can help student loan borrowers get out of debt much faster. In this episode, learn how the refinancing ladder works for refinancing student loans — and how to decide if refinancing is right for you. In today’s episode, you'll find out: • What is the refinancing ladder strategy? • When is refinancing a good decision? • Why you shouldn’t refinance federal loans too soon • What, exactly, is student loan refinancing? • How student loan refinancing differs from ...
Sep 17, 2019•46 min•Ep. 42
Do you wonder why our student loan plan consult form has you give so much information? Hear the Student Loan Planner consultants — Travis Hornsby, Justin Harvey, Rob Bertman and Lauryn Williams — break down all 26 questions and explain how your plan is unique. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How the consultants react to learning someone’s occupation Why the consultants want to know what metro area you’re How community property states affect student loans How your choice of school might infl...
Sep 10, 2019•42 min•Ep. 41
Most people are committing financial sins of omission — not doing things because they’re too complicated. In this episode, see how anything from bad website designs to having too many options can cause financial inertia — and how setting up automatic plans can help. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How is Vanguard’s website design costing people money Why people use robo-advisers instead of companies like Vanguard Why developing the habit of investing is important How a “nudge” works in fina...
Sep 03, 2019•37 min•Ep. 40
In today's exciting episode, hear questions directly from the Student Loan Planner audience, covering topics ranging from financing a car to preparing for a massive student loan bill, with each question answered by Travis. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Is financing a car ever a good idea? How to best prepare for the tax bomb on an income-driven plan How student loans can affect buying a home Should you pay down student loans before buying a house? Should you wait until after your grace pe...
Aug 27, 2019•41 min•Ep. 39
