Student loan lawyer Stanley Tate joins us to tackle the big question we’re all asking: what’s actually happening with student loans right now? We’re exploring the latest legislative changes, what they mean for your repayment strategy, and why Parent PLUS borrowers are especially freaking out. We talk through everything from the COVID payment chaos we all lived through to the potential collapse of graduate programs and the emotional toll of student debt policy.

What you’ll walk away with is information you can use, not just more anxiety. Whether you’re strategizing payments or just trying to stay sane, this episode helps you navigate what’s coming next.

Key moments:

(04:52) Future borrowers will see hard caps on how much they can borrow
(09:11) Parent PLUS borrowers must get on an income-driven repayment plan by July 2026
(13:55) Should SAVE borrowers hold on or switch? We share our strategies
(25:47) Resources to manage student debt exist, but you have to choose action over ignoring the problem
(31:47) Our predictions for what happens to graduate programs moving forward
(39:20) Student loans aren't a "set it and forget it" type of debt

Resources mentioned:
Connect with Stanley Tate

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If you’ve been riding the SAVE Plan forbearance wave, a big shift is headed your way. The Department of Education announced that the SAVE forbearance will officially end on August 1, 2025. That means interest starts ticking again, and borrowers will be pushed to switch repayment plans. Most will be steered toward the old Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan, especially with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act set to overhaul everything in July 2026. But you’ve still got options.

Find out what the end of SAVE forbearance means for your loans, what the government is recommending (and why), and how you can make the smartest move for your student loans.

Key moments:

(04:01) Choosing between IBR and RAP depends on PSLF status, years in repayment, and forgiveness goals
(07:46) PSLF isn’t dead: why potential policy reversals don’t mean your forgiveness plan is doomed
(09:41) When paying off your loans might actually make more sense (and how to get a lower interest rate)
(14:50) After years of chaos, borrowers just want stable rules so they can actually plan their lives

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Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

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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!

Some parts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are pretty rough for borrowers, but believe it or not, it could’ve been way worse — you can thank the Senate parliamentarian for blocking the worst of it. We’ll walk you through what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and what you need to start planning for now. This is your clear, practical guide to understanding how the bill will affect your wallet and the conversations you’ll need to have with your partner, financial planner, or school’s aid office.

Key moments:

(03:40) The math of student loans becomes very complicated for borrowers starting fall 2026
(11:39) Grad school closures and layoffs could mean higher salaries for remaining professionals
(14:22) Families face tough choices as expensive colleges become harder to finance
(18:56) How you file taxes continues to shape your student loan payment strategy under new rules

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Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

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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!

“Senate parliamentarian” isn’t exactly a household name, but her latest ruling is huge news for anyone with student debt. Learn what her surprise decision means for the Big Beautiful Bill Act and how it could shape repayment plans and forgiveness programs. You’ll find the specifics of what this means if you’re a Parent PLUS borrower, in dental and medical school, or just worried about how these policy shifts could affect your financial future. We’ll take you beyond the political noise and cut through the confusion to give you actionable info you can use.

Key moments:

(02:32) The current bill would essentially kick a lot of people who need to borrow after July 2026 onto the RAP plan
(05:21) Future students deserve clear repayment rules upfront, not changes mid-degree like the Senate is proposing
(08:45) Anybody who's ever had a parent plus loan needs to apply for the ICR plan
(11:20) PAYE borrowers must be prepared to get switched to the old IBR or possibly the RAP plan
(15:48) Different borrowers should take different approaches while legislation is pending

Resource mentioned:

IDR Plan Request at Studentaid.gov

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Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

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• 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!

If you're married, there’s a lot to consider in the latest student loan reform proposals. Discover what the changes being debated in Congress could mean for married borrowers, including the potential loss of “married filing separately” as a repayment strategy and how the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) might affect your monthly payments. If you’re single or engaged, this still matters — we’ll cover what you need to know before tying the knot, plus smart moves you can make now to avoid future headaches.

Key moments:

(03:07) New rules could make marriage costly for borrowers with high student debt

(10:54) RAP plan offers fewer deductions than IBR, especially for families with multiple children

(16:36) Capping federal loan limits could push students toward private lenders with strict requirements

(25:02) Borrowers with high debt-to-income ratios may benefit from sticking with forgiveness, despite uncertainty

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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!

The Senate just dropped its version of the student loan reform bill, and let’s just say… it’s not great. In fact, it’s worse than expected, especially if you have six-figure student debt, Parent PLUS loans, or are a future student. Learn what’s at stake, how it could completely reshape repayment options, and who (besides private lenders) might come out ahead. More importantly, you’ll learn what you can do now to protect yourself if the bill moves forward. If student debt is part of your financial life, don’t miss this one.

Key moments:

(00:52) SAVE and new IBR borrowers could be forced into old IBR under the Senate bill

(02:18) New rules could turn marriage into a major cost for student loan borrowers

(02:48) Parent PLUS borrowers face the harshest penalties under this proposed legislation

(07:14) Future borrowers need a plan before taking loans after July 2026 under the new rules

(09:18) There's still a whole lot that you can do if you're an existing borrower

Links mentioned:

• StudentAid.gov - The official federal site for consolidating student loans

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

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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!

If the GOP reform bill moves forward, lowering your adjusted gross income (AGI) won’t just be helpful, it’ll be more important than ever for student loan borrowers. We explore what could change, who’s most at risk, and what steps you can take to protect your paycheck. From maxing out pre-tax retirement contributions and HSAs to leveraging self-employment and smarter tax planning, we’ll walk you through practical ways to lower your AGI — and why it might be the biggest factor in your student loan repayment.

Key moments:

(04:18) Business owners may gain an edge with deductions if the GOP bill becomes law
(07:53) Many haven’t felt the full weight of student loan payments in a while — that may soon change
(13:55) If this bill passes, 1099 or self-employed work might offer major financial advantages
(16:05) Expect to lose 50–60% of your income to loans and taxes unless you lower your AGI

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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!

Get real answers to real questions student loan borrowers are asking about PSLF processing delays, confusing buyback calculations, switching repayment plans, and trying to understand how recent legislation might affect their loans. You’ll get the latest updates on what’s happening behind the scenes and what those changes could mean for you. We also cover practical, actionable steps, like how to time your income recertification, what to consider if you’ve had a long forbearance period, and a lesser-known deferment option for borrowers undergoing cancer treatment.

Key moments:

(02:58) PSLF buyback uses the lower payment: before or after forbearance, whichever is smaller
(13:30) Forgiveness is likely best when student debt is double your income or more
(19:59) SAVE plan delays create confusion; should you switch IDR plans or wait it out?
(31:29) Moving abroad may lower your AGI and help secure smaller payments toward forgiveness
(35:45) FMLA and income recertification: what to know before submitting updated income documentation

Links mentioned:

Apply for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
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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!