Get ready to uncover the myths, master the rewards, and smartly amplify your spending power — all while keeping your finances sharp and your debt strategy on point. Whether you're looking to squeeze every last benefit out of your credit card points, contemplating the right card for your business expenses, or simply looking to use your cards more strategically, this episode is a goldmine. Listen in as Meagan McGuire, ChFC®, CSLP®, and Mary Rush, CFP®, CSLP®, talk tricks, tips, and savvy spending with every swipe. Discover how to make every dollar and every point work harder for you.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

• How to leverage credit cards and credit card rewards to your advantage
• About the benefits Meagan and Mary have personally enjoyed from credit card rewards programs
• Why the common belief that carrying a balance improves your credit score is wrong
• How maintaining a low credit utilization rate can benefit your financial health
• When and how to utilize 0% balance transfer cards to manage debt effectively
  strategies for using credit cards as budgeting tools, including how to use statement balances
• The perks of cashback vs. niche-specific credit cards and which is best for you
• Why credit cards provide better fraud and travel protection than debit cards
• Mary's strategy for maximizing rewards with travel and cashback credit cards
• Meagan's experience with using a credit card for business and the rewards she missed from not using a personal card
• Details on point conversions of airline miles, cashback and reward points
• Tips to utilize credit cards for significant expenses like weddings, home improvements or even paying taxes

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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!

A timely discussion of what happens as we face down the expiration of the IDR waiver. Will the administration extend it at the last second? We don't know (as of the time of the recording). But one thing is sure: Borrowers can expect seismic shifts as the IDR waiver ends. It's been key to unlocking the forgiveness gates for many, but its flexible counting of nearly any kind of payment toward forgiveness expires at the end of April. We'll recap the IDR waiver and its benefits and explore what happens after the IDR waiver ends. Get clarity about your next steps and the implications of these changes on your student loan repayment journey.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

• How the end of the IDR waiver impacts borrowers who've been in forbearance or deferment
• Changes borrowers should prepare for after the IDR waiver expires
• How borrowers with older loans will suffer the biggest consequences as this program ends
• Options for maximizing qualifying payment count when consolidating loans
• Consequences borrowers will face when Pay As You Earn (PAYE) applications close
• What the precedent of moving borrowers from REPAYE to the SAVE plan means for the future of IDR programs
• How to calculate the cost-benefit of married filing separately for taxes
• Tips to navigate the PSLF pause during the transition from MOHELA to the Department of Education
• What “consolidation Death Valley" is and why it could impact you in May-June 2024
• Best practices for dealing with the coming uncertainty of student loans

Links mentioned:
StudentAid.gov

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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!

Roth IRAs are a highly recommended retirement savings option but it’s not all smooth sailing. Student loan repayment, income limitations, and tax filing status can lead you to treacherous waters. Learn the missteps to avoid and how to correct mistakes before they escalate into hefty fines and taxes. Join student loan advisors Meagan McGuire, ChFC®, CSLP®, Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, and Sam Silberstein, CFP®, CSLP®, and explore contribution deadlines, the pro-rata rule, form 8606, the impact of being in a community property state, and how dual-income households should strategize their student loans and retirement savings. If you’re tired of cookie-cutter advice, you don’t want to miss this episode.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

• Why lack of profession-specific planning is the biggest mistake you can make in your financial journey
• The impact of the pro-rata rule when converting traditional IRA funds to Roth IRAs
• When to contribute to your Roth IRA to maximize your retirement savings
• Why high-earners might want to contribute to a Roth IRA despite income limits
• How to fix backdoor Roth IRA issues, including tactics for zeroing out accounts
• The importance of prioritizing pre-tax savings when you’ve got student loans
• How community property states complicate Roth IRAs and what to do about it
• Dodging extra taxes and penalties is possible if you contributed to a Roth by mistake
• How side hustlers and independent contractors can leverage Solo 401(k) plans
• Why income projections are critical to nail the right contributions and keep the IRS happy

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!

It's the last call for the IDR waiver (aka IDR account adjustment). If you’ve listened to this podcast, you probably know what it is — but if you're not sure how the IDR waiver could benefit you, or if you have questions about PSLF, loan consolidation, or income recertification, this episode is for you.

I’ll take you back to the beginning of the IDR waiver and walk you through it to make sure you get the most benefit before it expires on April 30th. You’ll also hear answers to listener questions about loan forgiveness and repayment plans and get valuable insights into the upcoming changes in consolidation rules.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

• The final (final) deadline for the IDR waiver and the need for timely action
• The hidden strategy behind introducing the PSLF waiver before the IDR waiver
• Potential benefits of consolidating student loans and crucial considerations to keep in mind
• How the IDR waiver is a game-changer for borrowers with complex loan histories or multiple loans
• New options if you’re thinking about loan consolidation
• A key tip for submitting employer certification forms for PSLF credit
• Why brining up the awkward topic of student loans with your friends could benefit you and your peers
• Common misconceptions about PSLF and employer certification, including a major myth busted
• How to find the recertification date for IDR and how to recertify income for income-driven repayment plans
• Strategies for handling recertification and loan consolidation to align with changes in income
• The role of HR and the cautious approach taken when attesting to employment details for PSLF
• How to turn in a new IDR application after loan consolidation

Links mentioned:

• The American Rescue Plan

• The Department of Education

• Federal Student Aid

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 Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is undergoing major changes. The government is taking over processing from MOHELA, and a temporary pause is expected in May and June. How will this affect you? First, don’t panic — PSLF isn’t shutting down. The government is simply pausing processing while they transition everything over.

But you’ll want to take a few proactive steps to safeguard your payment count before the transition happens. Listen in as I dissect the real reasons behind these changes. Could it be a strategic move in the future student loan management?

Find out how it can impact your forgiveness:

• Why the Department of Education is hitting the pause button on PSLF
• When to expect service disruption for your student loan management
• How the transition from MOHELA to the government impact PSLF processing
• The motivation behind the government’s decision to take PSLF from MOHELA
• How the temporary shutdown will affect you, especially if you’re expecting forgiveness in May or June
• Implications of the Department of Education’s plan to centralize PSLF tracking
• What you need to do now to safeguard your payment count

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!

It sounds shocking, but it’s a reality we can’t ignore — and this isn’t just about folks burdened with 6-figure student loan debts. Now, even if you have a smaller loan balance, you have a path to student loan forgiveness. It’s the new SAVE repayment plan that’s making it possible. Listen in as we explore key factors shifting borrowers away from repayment toward forgiveness, from the increase in discretionary income allowances to the potential for accelerated forgiveness. You’ll discover the key moves you should consider and why freeing yourself from student loan debt could happen sooner than you think.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

• Unexpected ways the new SAVE plan is transforming student loan repayment advice for borrowers
• The impact of ultra-low interest rates in the early 2000s on student loan repayment
• Why chasing student loan forgiveness is outpacing traditional repayment methods
• How “micro” levels of debt could qualify for quick student loan relief
• The surprising link between debt management and mental health
• How understanding your future stream of earnings can revolutionize your loan strategy
• Behind-the-scenes political maneuvers shaping the future of your student loans
• How to navigate the joint vs. separate tax filing dilemma for couples with student loans
• Creative tactics for investing in self-care while navigating loan uncertainty
• How to leave a voicemail for the podcast to ask questions about student loans and personal finance

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!

To put it bluntly, MOHELA has student loan borrowers jumping through hoops to get things done, and it’s been extremely frustrating. Countless delays and mistakes being made, hours of being on hold or even being hung up on by servicers… the list goes on! In this episode, hosts Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, Sam Silberstein, CFP®, CSLP®, and Ben Lacomis, CSLP® join forces to shine some light on everything MOHELA is doing wrong. You’ll get tips and tricks to protect yourself from their mistakes. You’re not alone in this, folks! Let’s talk about what you can do to get the forgiveness you deserve and avoid falling for MOHELA’s mischief.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

• Common issues that student loan borrowers are experiencing with MOHELA
• Red flags to look out for if you use MOHELA
• How to prevent your PSLF from being reversed
• Tips for ensuring you get the student loan forgiveness you qualify for
• When and why you need to recertify your employment and income verification forms
• Our shockingly disappointing experiences communicating with MOHELA
• Insight to getting the most out of your phone call with MOHELA
• When you should file a complaint with the Student Borrower Protection Center
• MOHELA delays you should be aware of
• How long does it take for student loans to be forgiven
• How to approach filing your taxes amidst student loan forgiveness issues

Links mentioned:

• Student Loan Borrower Protection Center

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!

We’re standing at the edge of a major financial cliff that no one is ready for. Student loan forgiveness is happening at unprecedented rates — $138 billion and counting. Right now, borrowers are enjoying tax-free forgiven student loan debt courtesy of the American Rescue Plan. However, these benefits are set to expire at the end of 2025, leaving borrowers to face a tax cliff with unknown consequences.

We’ll explore the legal skirmishes already bubbling, like the Kansas Attorney General’s case against the SAVE plan, and analyzing their impact and preparing for the potential scenarios ahead. I’ll also highlight the vital deadlines you need to know, like the expiring IDR waiver and the barrier to new entrants for the Pay As You Earn plan that’s coming up in July 2024.

In today’s episode, you'll find out:

• How the SAVE plan, IDR waiver and PSLF waiver are helping borrowers
• The possibility of court challenges to President Biden’s student loan policies
• What’s at stake with the coming student loan tax bomb due post-2025
• Potential cancelation scenarios based on political outcomes as election season heats up
• Deadlines you can’t miss and their impact on student loan repayment strategies
• How the American Rescue Plan is enabling large-scale loan forgiveness
• What President Biden’s plan is to address the tax bomb cliff in 2025
• About hardship-based forgiveness and the push for widespread cancelation

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!