Student Loan Planner

Hosted by Travis Hornsby

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467

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Travis helps you navigate the insane world of student loans, especially if you owe $20,000 to $1 million. If you've ever spent too much time on the phone with your loan servicer, this is the show for you. Every week we share tips on loan forgiveness, investing, crushing debt, and how to get to financial freedom when you owe more than most people's mortgage.

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60 recent

November 3, 20268 min

Last Student Loan Actions Before A New Congress

Student loans are in limbo, and borrowers working toward PSLF or facing possible wage garnishment have plenty of questions. With midterm elections approaching and key deadlines coming up, the Department of Education is racing to push through changes before new congressional oversight takes effect. Find out which last-minute moves to watch for, why PSLF delays and buyback problems could get worse and what borrowers should know about payments, forbearance, and repayment plans right now. Key moments: (00:00) Department of Ed may slow-walk loan discharges as a bargaining chip (03:00) Tax refund seizures and wage garnishment may restart soon (03:50) PSLF processing delays and buyback rules are changing (05:30) General forbearance gets much stricter starting mid-2027 (06:57) Interest subsidies under REPAYE: How to check and what to do 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 help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

October 27, 202649 min

FICO Scores, Student Loans, and the $500K Cost of Bad Credit

You might have a pristine credit score, but still be drowning in debt. Or maybe you’re a new grad with six figures in student loans and no idea how those monthly payments are going to affect your shot at a mortgage, business loan or even a better credit card. Medical, dental, and veterinary professionals: this one is directly for you. We explore how student loans impact your FICO score and credit report, plus key actions you can take today to protect your credit and avoid thousands in unnecessary interest. Key moments: (02:21) Doctors with poor credit can pay $500k more in lifetime interest (12:45) Why that free Credit Karma score is not your real FICO (23:44) How utilization rate affects 165 points of your credit (28:29) Student loan late payments and the 90-day federal grace period (40:04) Hard inquiries, 45-day window, and rate shopping the smart way Resources mentioned: annualcreditreport.com (free yearly credit reports) myFICO.com (official FICO score pulls) 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 help@studentloanplanner.com 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.

October 20, 202621 min

Weird Student Loan Notices, IBR Payment Caps, and PSLF Buyback Delays

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 help@studentloanplanner.com 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

October 13, 202632 min

Recertification vs. Recalculation for Student Loan Borrowers

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 help@studentloanplanner.com 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.

October 6, 202638 min

What To Do If You Can’t Pay Your Student Loans

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 help@studentloanplanner.com 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

September 29, 202642 min

The Wealth Gap We Found in Our Survey

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 help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

September 22, 202616 min

How Federal Loans Are Becoming More Like Private Loans

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

September 15, 20261 hr 1 min

Student Loan Tax Bomb: What Forgiveness in 2026 Really Means for You

If you started repaying federal student loans around 2001-2006 and have been on a 20, 25, or 30-year income-driven repayment plan, you’re right on the doorstep of forgiveness. Here’s the catch: the forgiven balance triggers a potentially staggering tax bill — what we call the “tax bomb.” Learn who’s at risk, how big the tax bill could be, missteps to avoid, and the exact steps to prepare. Key moments: (08:54) Estimate your forgiveness date without an official payment count tracker (18:02) What to save and invest for the tax bill (24:17) Parent PLUS restrictions and the consolidation cutoff (37:15) What the insolvency exclusion requires you to document, and why few qualify (53:17) Offer in compromise, and when the IRS will negotiate a reduced amount Resources mentioned: IRS Offer in Compromise pre-qualifier IRS Form 1099-C Mentioned in this episode: 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. 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.

September 8, 202610 min

The “Pay Down Debt vs. Invest” Math Has Shifted

Should you prioritize paying off your student loans or is it smarter to focus on investing? With interest rates changing dramatically since the days of ultra-low 3% loans, we break down how the math (and the mindset) has shifted. You’ll learn how rising interest rates affect that balance, how your tax bracket factors in, and why it might be smarter to shift extra money toward debt rather than your brokerage account, at least for now. Key moments: (03:53) How loan interest rates relate to your tax bracket and what that really costs (07:02) Deciding when to prioritize debt paydown over investing in brokerage accounts (08:13) When liquidity makes sense if you’re considering life changes or starting a business 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 help@studentloanplanner.com 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

September 1, 202624 min

Why You Shouldn’t Panic About Forgiveness Counts Being Rolled Back

This is a two-for-one episode. We’ll start by digging into the mailbag and answering questions you sent in. Then we’ll get to the topic filling my inbox with panicked emails: whether the Department of Education can take back forgiveness counts that were already granted. If you followed the rules, you shouldn’t be worried, and I’ll explain what I think is actually going on with these count corrections. Key moments: (00:00) Choosing the right college and degree in the new era of borrowing limits (06:04) What to do when your loan servicer gets your PSLF payment count wrong (08:14) Handling $145,000 in loans on a new engineer's starting salary (14:34) How the IDR account adjustment explains the counts being corrected now (18:51) Whether granted forgiveness can be reversed, and who gains from the panic 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 help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show! Mentioned in this episode: 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. 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.