I’m offering a sneak peek into “Dreams Not Debt,” our brand-new ultimate guide to creating your very own financial plan. Listen is as I break down the five key crucial elements to keep in mind when putting together your plan (cashflow, taxes, insurance and asset protection, life milestone planning and goals-based investing) — and share actionable tips on how to optimize each one to help you achieve your unique goals! If you’ve always wanted to get financial plan but felt like the price was out ...
Jun 14, 2022•40 min•Ep. 185
Society tells us that we can only retire in our 60s. If that’s your plan, I think it’s great! But you need to know there are more options available than you have ever dreamed possible, and it all comes down to having the right financial planning strategy in place. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Listen in as I break down what’s wrong with the standard approach to financial planning, and what you can do to chart a course towards your ideal life in as little as a year. In today’s episode,...
Jun 07, 2022•36 min•Ep. 184
Too often, we set goals and we never reach them. Why is that? It’s most likely because our goals aren’t inspiring enough! If your goals haven’t inspired you enough to pour your heart and soul into reaching them, let’s fix that. Join us, Rob Bertman, CFA, CFP®, and Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, as we talk about how to set inspired financial goals so you can become debt-free and live the abundant life you want to live. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How to turn boring, ineffective goals into...
May 31, 2022•44 min•Ep. 183
The Federal Reserve realized they messed up: Inflation wasn’t only a temporary setback brought about by the pandemic. Monetary policy was left too loose for too long, and now it’s led to the worst inflation in 40 years. This is painful for businesses of all types, big and small—including student loan companies. Many of them have no choice but to pivot or phase out certain products, and some of them go out of business completely. Join me as I talk about the student loan servicers that have been f...
May 24, 2022•39 min•Ep. 182
Senior student loan advisor Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, sits down with one of SLP’s newest student loan advisors, James Mwombela, CFP®, to discuss the racial wealth divide and how it has impacted Black Americans’ ability to create wealth. The basis for today’s conversation is a Wall Street Journal article written in August 2021 titled “College Was Supposed to Close the Wealth Gap for Black Americans. The Opposite Happened.” In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why Black college graduates have ...
May 17, 2022•39 min•Ep. 181
I’m breaking down all the fluid elements swirling and often confusing even the most knowledgeable student loan loan experts. There’s just so much going on – and the U.S. Department of Education may or may not be concealing a backdoor form of relief via their complex waiver programs. What will happen if cancellation occurs? It’s not clear, but it’s very likely to end up in a heavy political court challenge just as midterm elections heat up. And we’ll be here to help you ride the rapids and optimi...
May 10, 2022•50 min•Ep. 180
Vastly underreported in the media, the IDR waiver is currently being portrayed as an option for tens of thousands who are eligible for PSLF or income-driven repayment. Join me as I discuss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and how I see this as a way to help millions get forgiveness. Listen in as I break down all you need to know about the IDR waiver! In today’s episode, you'll find out: What is the IDR waiver How it’s meant to help student loan borrowers Why you need to pay attention to the ...
May 03, 2022•45 min•Ep. 179
The temporary PSLF waiver is an amazing opportunity that offers expanded loan forgiveness for a limited time. Learn how you can use your knowledge of this once-in-a-lifetime program to help your friends get forgiveness on their loans before the October 31, 2022, deadline. Plus, I’m answering listener questions to clarify some points of the PSLF waiver, income recertification and Parent PLUS loans. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why you need to take advantage of the PSLF waiver How to share...
Apr 26, 2022•28 min•Ep. 178
With the student loan pause, it’s likely that many of you haven’t made a payment in quite some time. So, how does repayment work when you’re fresh out of school? What do you need to know before starting to pay off your student loans? Join us, Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, and Dan Rooker, CFP®, CSLP®, as we talk about the basics of student loan repayments while helping you figure out which repayment plan is best for you and how to start paying off your student loans. In today’s episode, you'll fi...
Apr 19, 2022•29 min•Ep. 177
There are no guarantees when it comes to the future of federal student loans, but there are some clear data points and indicators — and I’m sharing my views on what will happen next. I’ll take questions from listeners and deconstruct several scenarios that could impact student loan repayment as we head into midterm election season. Between the political and practical factors that will determine what happens next, I’ll explain why my I think the current pause will extend at least through the end ...
Apr 12, 2022•49 min•Ep. 176
THIS JUST IN from your favorite pod! __________________________ 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...
Apr 05, 2022•9 min•Ep. 175
Horror stories about out-of-control college debt are familiar to most of us, but there is a flip side to consider. Shying away from student loans can prove short-sighted, especially if it costs you the ability to focus on studies, network with classmates and pursue career enrichment opportunities. The trick is enlisting the right loans for the right reasons – with a carefully considered plan in place. Learn why our student loan advisor, Sim Terwilliger, has some regrets looking back on how she m...
Apr 05, 2022•31 min•Ep. 175
The loan servicing structure needs to be fixed, but how and why? Join me as I welcome Bobby Matson, CEO and Founder of Payitoff, to talk about why the state of the student loan serving industry is broken and how we might be able to mend it. Without getting overly cynical, we shed light on the incentive structure of student loan servicers, the problems that can arise when student loans are cancelled, and the changes and opportunities in loan servicing you can expect in the next few years. In toda...
Mar 29, 2022•50 min•Ep. 174
Do you have kids or are you thinking of having kids? Want to know how you can help your children avoid the student loan mess you’ve had to deal with? Join me and Mary Morris, CEO of Virginia529, as we talk about the benefits of a 529 plan and how to set up a tax advantage education savings plan for your children, even if they don’t exist yet. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What is a 529 plan and how does it work? What can I use a 529 plan for? How to choose a 529 plan: Cost, investment opt...
Mar 22, 2022•53 min•Ep. 173
Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, welcomes Student Loan Planner’s newest consultants, Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, and James Mwombela, CFP®. Strap in as we get to know Sim and James. The two share their authentic journeys, what motivated them to enter the financial industry, their serendipitous paths to joining SLP, and what they’re looking forward to in this new stage of their professional lives. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How James came to join the team at SLP Sim’s background and the p...
Mar 15, 2022•32 min•Ep. 172
Senior consultant Rob Bertman, CFA, CFP® joins me to discuss recent developments related to interest rate policy at the heels of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We also cover the impact of subsequent decisions to be made by the Biden administration in the coming months on interest rate policy. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What to expect from the housing market this summer as interest rates continue to rise The impact of 1% difference in a mortgage interest rate Why a typical middle-income ...
Mar 08, 2022•48 min•Ep. 171
Do you ever wonder why the prices of graduate programs have gone up so drastically over the last few decades? Do you want to know what the TRUE cost of your graduate degree is? Join me as I talk about why the cost of graduate school hasn’t gone up as much as you think it has. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How competition impacts the cost of tuition Reasons why the cost of graduate school has increased since the 1970s, especially for physical therapy, dentistry, law, vet med and pharmacolo...
Mar 01, 2022•38 min•Ep. 170
Meagan Landress, CSLP®, and Dan Rooker, CFP®, CSLP®, sit down to discuss common student loan scams. They also share why the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan might just be a great option to consider for borrowers looking to take advantage of the limited PSLF Waiver opportunity. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Why you should check the StudentAid.gov site frequently About some of the most common student loan scams Real-life examples of scams our listeners have seen Why scams are likely t...
Feb 22, 2022•37 min•Ep. 169
With tax season upon us, I’m sitting down with consultant Lauryn Williams CFP®, CSLP®, to discuss a number of common concerns by both employees and business owners. We cover everything from saving money on taxes in general to what to consider when seeking IBR recertification, all the way to taking advantage of pre-tax accounts. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How Lauryn Williams became an Olympian How to recertify for income-based repayment How to save money on taxes as an employee What to ...
Feb 15, 2022•58 min•Ep. 168
Most people have a love-hate relationship with student loans. I’m diving into five reasons why student loans are absolutely worth it. And yes, it’s true: There are unique situations in which they may not be worth the plunge. But I’ll make the case that, for the majority of folks, student loans may just turn out to be one of the best investments they’ll ever make. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Whether you qualify for PSLF if you work for a 501a What I think about crypto How Roth compares t...
Feb 08, 2022•48 min•Ep. 167
Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, sits down with fellow consultant Meagan Landress, CSLP®, to talk in detail about student loan recertification and PSLF waivers. If you’re worried about self-reporting or recertifying your income and how this whole process works when you’re on an income-driven plan, this is the episode for you! In today’s episode, you'll find out: How to self-report if you’re on an income-driven repayment plan Mishaps to self-reporting and how you can avoid them The earliest you’ll n...
Feb 01, 2022•32 min•Ep. 166
The major news this week is Navient’s $1.85 billion settlement, which involved 40 state attorneys general. I’ll give you the rundown of the settlement, what it means and answer the biggest question borrowers want to know: Can you get money from this settlement? In today’s episode, you'll find out: What is borrower defense to repayment and why you should apply How to get the most benefit from the PSLF Waiver The background of the Navient lawsuit Why Navient settled the lawsuit The role of Sallie ...
Jan 25, 2022•34 min•Ep. 165
Break out your apocalypse gear because a disaster is coming! Just kidding, we’re trying to keep things light and optimistic here, but it’s difficult when there are so many PSLF challenges people with student loans are still facing. Join me as I discuss the upcoming Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) problem of 2022 and how you can ultimately overcome it. In today’s episode, you'll find out: Who is the PSLF Waiver going to help in 2022 and who won’t benefit from it? The problem: The inequalit...
Jan 18, 2022•33 min•Ep. 164
We can’t control the pandemic or public policy, but we can control our actions to dramatically increase our net worth. I’m going to show you and your family a wealth of options for your wealth. Achieving a six-figure net worth seems like a daunting task, especially when you’re saddled with student debt. However, I’ll prove in this episode that your debt shouldn’t be an obstacle as you build your wealth. Listen in and learn why. Find out why... You can’t rely on the income you get from a job Pass...
Jan 11, 2022•33 min•Ep. 163
It’s 2022, and there’s no better year to kickstart your journey to financial independence! One of the keys to making this a reality is a solid investment strategy alongside your student loan strategy. After two years of living in a culture of fear, people are craving for freedom—for autonomy and choice. This could be the year you finally get a taste of that freedom. Listen in as I reflect on the turbulence of the economy over the past two years and offer my thoughts on what to look out for when ...
Jan 04, 2022•34 min•Ep. 162
Having six figures of student debt to pay off can often make you feel like you’re in bad shape, and for good reason. But as SLP consultants Rob Bertman, CFA, CFP®, and Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, explain, you may be doing better than you think. Listen in for a positive, upbeat message and learn how to change your paradigm around your student loans and the various opportunities available right now to help you accomplish your goals. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How a simple shift in pers...
Dec 28, 2021•30 min•Ep. 161
Just announced! President Biden extends the pause on student loan payments to May 1, 2022. 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...
Dec 22, 2021•13 min•Ep. 160
I reflect on how my wife and I would have approached her student loan strategy differently if given a second chance. Listen as I pick apart a 2015-version of me (who had just started dating my then-girlfriend-now-wife) and the conversations we had around her $124,000 med school loan, and how a seemingly straight path to forgiveness led to a string of complications. Then, I dive into my thoughts on the ongoing negotiations around Temporary Expanded PSLF and how to go about refinancing your loans ...
Dec 21, 2021•41 min•Ep. 160
From the PSLF Waiver to the EICR plan to the debt mindset, there’s a lot we need to cover regarding student loans and loan forgiveness in 2022 and beyond. Join me as I answer a few listener questions you asked us via our podcast voicemail! I talk about recertification, why it’s so hard for undergrads to get student loan forgiveness, how to not feel so trapped by your debt, and more. Let’s all take a deep breath and get some answers! In today’s episode, you'll find out: How to navigate the Public...
Dec 14, 2021•40 min•Ep. 159
Join Student Loan Planner consultants Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, and Meagan Landress, CSLP®, to discover what’s new and exciting about the PSLF Waiver and the servicer changes. They’re sharing what they’re seeing “on the ground” with real-life scenarios of the PSLF Waiver and servicer changes happening for borrowers. In today’s episode, you'll find out: What’s happening to PSLF folks that have moved from FedLoan to Mohela What is the PSLF Waiver and how does it work? How to know if you qualif...
Dec 07, 2021•48 min•Ep. 158
