Student Loan Planner

If you’ve recertified your student loans lately, odds are your inbox is flooded with confusing, maybe even contradictory, servicer messages. For physicians, dentists, veterinarians and anyone trying to get PSLF or keep payments low, these “weird” communications can cost you big — especially if you misread your repayment status or aren’t clear on PSLF buyback timelines. We’ll walk through what these new messages really mean, practical steps for navigating delayed PSLF Buyback approvals, and how your retirement savings choices can lower not just your taxes, but your student loan payments, too. You’ll learn how to read between the lines, advocate for yourself, and avoid mistakes that could cost you months or even years on the path to forgiveness. Key moments: (00:00) What “reduced payment period” notices mean for borrowers on IBR (04:08) How the 10-year standard repayment cap works for high earners on IBR (05:11) Confusing payment start dates from servicers like Mohela, and how to respond (08:35) How workplace retirement plans can lower student loan payments (12:58) PSLF buyback delays and the risks of submitting new employer certification forms Resources mentioned: PSLF Buyback FAQ Mohela Contact Us 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

Millions of student loan borrowers are coming off SAVE forbearance, and many haven't updated their income information in years. If you're a physician, dentist, or other professional with federal student loans, your next steps could have a big impact on your monthly payment. Learn the differences between income recertification and recalculation, when to use alternative income documentation, and how life changes like marriage, job loss, or a growing family can affect your payments. We cover what to watch for, how to avoid costly mistakes, and what you can do to keep your payments manageable. Key moments: (04:14) Choosing tax returns or alternative documentation for lower payments (09:57) The difference between recertification and recalculation, and when to use each (13:45) Counting dependents and family size to maximize payment relief (17:17) Adjusting student loan payments when your life situation changes (20:18) What happens if you miss your recertification deadline 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.

Payments are back, SAVE is over, and one in five borrowers is already behind. If your payment is unaffordable, or you've been ignoring your loans and want to know what happens next, this episode is for you. We’ll walk through your options before you miss a payment, what deferment and forbearance actually cover now, and the real timeline from delinquency to default. You'll also learn why loan rehabilitation usually beats consolidation, and the new rule that lets you rehabilitate twice starting July 2027. Key moments: (03:17) The latest delinquency and default numbers, and who is already behind (07:36) Income-driven vs. fixed plans when your payment is unaffordable (13:26) Deferment and forbearance options, and how to get them approved faster (20:32) What to do in the first 90 days of missing a payment to protect your credit (27:12) Loan rehabilitation vs. consolidation for getting out of default 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

In a new survey of physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and others, two groups reported similar incomes and spent about the same on homes and cars. Yet one group grew its investments at least twice as fast. What set them apart? This episode walks through the data to compare how the two groups save, invest, and feel about reaching their goals. You'll learn where busy people tend to let things slip, how to judge whether a financial planner's fee pays for itself, and which small moves can shorten the path to your goals. Key moments: (03:01) How confidence in reaching money goals differs with ongoing financial planning (06:01) Why people with ongoing planning contribute to Roths and brokerage accounts more often (10:31) Why similar median incomes still led to very different wealth growth (24:06) Why behavioral slip-ups, not intelligence, erode progress for busy professionals (33:01) The real value of ongoing planning over one-off hourly advice Resources mentioned: Hello Nectarine 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!

Federal student loans are about to feel a lot more like private debt, especially for anyone starting a master’s, dental, medical, or law degree after July 2027. Shrinking federal loan caps, fewer repayment options, and tighter limits on forbearance could mean relying more on private loans or managing higher payments. Learn how these changes affect your future borrowing, repayment options, and public service forgiveness, and how to avoid costly missteps if grad school is in your future. Key moments: (05:35) The old forbearance limits versus the new 9-month rule (07:17) Why a $10 minimum payment can still feel unaffordable (09:08) Elimination of economic hardship deferments and your two plan choices (14:14) Upcoming repayment plan changes for PAYE and SAVE borrowers 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