Escape Student Loan Debt Podcast

EscapeStudentLoanDebtPodcast l Student Loan Strategies for the Established Professional

Tax filings. Investment structuring. Insurance planning. Purchasing your home. Business funding. For listeners with private and federal loans, the Escape Student Loan Debt podcast demystifies Student Loans, how they impact every single area of your finances, and how to get student loan payments or balances forgiven, reduced, re-organized or expedited. Hosted by Brenton Harrison.

  1. How (and Why) to Review Your Student Loan History [REPLAY]

    6d ago

    How (and Why) to Review Your Student Loan History [REPLAY]

    EPISODE RESOURCES Student Aid Website   How to Download and Read Your NSLDS File on StudentAid.gov (and Spot Forgiveness/Credit Errors) As student loan guidelines change and they apply past credit to borrowers' accounts, it's important you know how to review your loan history. In this episode, we discuss how to download and review your NSLDS data file, and easter eggs in the document that could lead to faster loan forgiveness than you think. We walk listeners through creating/logging into a studentaid.gov account, navigating to My Aid, viewing details, and using “Download My Aid Data” to obtain the NSLDS file, which initially looks confusing but includes critical data. Using a de-identified sample, We show how to verify and update contact information, review total disbursements and balance growth over time, check Pell Grant lifetime usage, identify which loans are Direct vs. FFEL/Perkins and may require consolidation for forgiveness eligibility, and read loan status timelines to spot improper long consecutive forbearances that may need correction. We end by previewing deeper guidance on consolidated loans, PSLF, and updated income-driven repayment rules in the next episode. 00:00 Why Your Aid Data Matters 00:54 NSLDS File Overview 02:20 Create Your StudentAid Account 03:02 Find and Download Aid Data 04:31 What You’ll Learn Next 05:45 Read the Top of the File 06:40 Loan Totals and Balance Growth 08:00 Loan Types and Consolidation Clues 09:34 Decode Status and Payment History 11:32 Spot Forbearance Rule Violations 13:28 Wrap Up and Next Episode

    14 min

  2. May 15

    The History of Student Loans, Pt. 1 [REPLAY]

    EPISODE RESOURCES The Debt Trap The History of Student Loans, Pt. 2 How Student Loans Started: From GI Bill Direct Loans to Federally Backed Bank Loans (1944–1965) During a light week for federal student loans, we replay our very first Escape Student Loan Debt episode on how the student loan system began. Join us as Brenton covers key student debt milestones: the 1944 GI Bill’s uneven access for Black, brown, and some female veterans; the 1958 National Defense Student Loan Program that produced Perkins Loans; the 1960 creation of the United Student Aid Fund to guarantee bank loans; and the 1965 Higher Education Act creating the Guaranteed Student Loan Program (later Stafford/FFEL), a public-private model that obscured federal costs until defaults.  00:00 Weekly Update And Replay 01:19 Podcast Intro And Host 02:07 Why History Matters 02:53 Two Minute Crisis Summary 04:28 GI Bill Origins 1944 05:31 Perkins Loans 1958 06:06 Budget Reporting Problem 07:44 USA Fund And Bank Guarantees 09:07 Midroll And Assessment 09:44 Higher Education Act 1965 10:47 FFEL Model Explained 11:55 Wrap Up And Next Episode

    13 min
  3. Student Loan Regulation Updates!

    May 1

    Student Loan Regulation Updates!

    EPISODE RESOURCES RISE Student Loan Regulations Fact Sheet ...I Just Lost $33,709 Episode Repayment Assistance Plan Explained Finalized DOE Student Loan Rules: New Caps, Repayment Assistance Plan, and Default Rehab Changes (Effective 2026–2027) In this episode we share newly finalized Department of Education regulations tied to the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and explain how they may affect student loan borrowers starting in 2026–2027. We outline new federal loan caps beginning July 1, 2026: graduate loans limited to $20,500 annually/$100,000 total; professional programs (11 fields including law, medicine, dentistry, and clinical psychology) to $50,000 annually/$200,000 total; and Parent PLUS capped at $20,000 annually/$65,000 per dependent, plus a $257,500 lifetime limit for new borrowers. We also cover repayment changes including a new Repayment Assistance Plan becoming the only income-driven option for first-time borrowers after July 1, 2026, a tiered 10–25 year standard plan, expanded loan rehabilitation to twice per loan with IDR opt-in at agreement signing, revised forbearance limits, sunsetting certain deferments for loans after July 1, 2027, and new institutional and part-time borrowing rules, warning current borrowers to be cautious about taking new loans. 00:00 New Rules Overview 00:20 Community Updates 01:36 Fact Sheet Breakdown 02:24 Graduate Loan Caps 03:13 Professional Degree Definition 04:53 Parent PLUS Limits 07:10 Lifetime Borrowing Cap 07:54 Repayment Plan Overhaul 09:17 Tiered Standard Plan 10:41 Default Rehab Changes 13:04 Deferment Forbearance Shifts 14:01 School Part Time Limits 15:16 Key Takeaways Next Steps

    17 min
  4. The Repayment Assistance Plan Explained

    Apr 17

    The Repayment Assistance Plan Explained

    EPISODE RESOURCES Download the updated IDR Guide! Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) Explained: Eligibility, Payment Calculation, Subsidies, and Who Should Use It The episode breaks down the forthcoming Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)! We dig into all the details ranging from who's eligible for RAP, to how Discretionary Income and protected income are thrown out the window when it comes to calculating payments. We cover scenarios where RAP saves money as compared to other options, and how to determine whether it's worth paying 5 to 10 years longer on RAP as compared to more conventional plans like IBR and PAYE. Check it out! 00:00 RAP Overview 02:00 New IDR Deadlines 03:35 Guide Walkthrough 04:05 Eligibility Basics 04:35 No Protected Income 06:02 Payment Formula 08:00 Income Cliffs 09:24 Dependent Discount 09:57 No Hardship Cap 11:17 Interest Subsidy 15:08 30 Year Forgiveness 15:48 Married Filing Separately 16:27 Who Should Use RAP 17:39 Low Income Example 19:20 High Income Example 21:53 Mega Borrower Tax Bomb 27:27 Final Recommendations 28:10 Wrap Up

    29 min
  5. EMERGENCY EPISODE!!!

    Apr 1

    EMERGENCY EPISODE!!!

    EPISODE RESOURCES SAVE Plan Cancellation Press Release SAVE Plan Timeline Press Release Parent Plus Loan D-Day, Disallowed Student Loan Guidelines and Details on the Immediate Future of the SAVE Plan In this episode, we go through EXTREMELY important details on the future of Parent Plus Loans, and why many borrowers need to take action by April 1st in order to preserve eligibility for student loan forgiveness. These borrowers must have a newly consolidated loan disbursed by July 1st to maintain eligibility, and all parents should be wary of borrowing any new Parent Plus Loans after that time. We also cover certain student loan guidelines from the Biden era that have been disallowed, including, crucially, the ability to consolidate federal loans without resetting your credit towards forgiveness. Lastly, for borrowers on the SAVE plan, we have details on the 90 day timeline borrowers will have to move to a new Income Driven Repayment plan or risk being placed on a (likely significantly higher) Standard Plan. Tune in for details!

    22 min
  6. Student Loan Updates | SAVE is Dead, PLUS loans and IDR Backlogs

    Mar 20

    Student Loan Updates | SAVE is Dead, PLUS loans and IDR Backlogs

    SAVE Plan Dissolved, April 1 Deadlines, and Growing IDR/PSLF Backlogs This episode shares several student loan updates, led by a higher court directing a lower court to honor a settlement dissolving the SAVE plan, with no timeline yet for moving SAVE borrowers into other repayment options and speculation ranging from IBR to the standard plan.  We also cover the importance of Parent PLUS borrowers potentially losing access to IDR and PSLF for new loans after July 1 , and why April 1 is the practical deadline for consolidating loans.  A similar urgency applies to borrowers needing Direct Loans (not FFEL/Stafford) for PSLF or certain plans, with consolidation needed by June 30.  The Department Of Education reports an IDR application backlog of over 560,000 and PSLF buyback backlog around 88,000. Lastly we discuss private loans, and the potential impact of the Fed's likely refusal to continue lowering interest rates. 00:00 Save Plan Ends 01:15 Transition Uncertainty 02:30 Parent PLUS Deadline 04:55 Direct Loan Consolidation 06:02 IDR Backlog Update 07:59 PSLF Buyback Delays 09:30 IDR Forgiveness Restart 10:46 Refinancing Rate Outlook 12:03 Wrap Up Next Steps

    13 min
  7. Is SAVE Back From The Dead?

    Mar 6

    Is SAVE Back From The Dead?

    EPISODE RESOURCES Schools Eligible for Discharge SAVE Plan Court Update, Forbearance Strategy, and a Borrower Defense Deadline Ruling This episode provides an update on the still-unlikely revival of the SAVE repayment plan and what borrowers in SAVE administrative forbearance should consider. SAVE, created by the Biden administration and popular for its low payments and generous forgiveness, remains effectively halted: borrowers can’t newly enroll, interest accrues, optional payments don’t earn IDR or PSLF credit, and the plan appears headed toward phase-out by 2028. A recent court development removed the case due to lack of dispute after the parties agreed to end SAVE, creating temporary uncertainty, and we talk about what comes next for those seeking forgiveness and those planning to pay off their loans in full. We also preview the upcoming Repayment Assistance Plan expected mid-2026, noting it may lower payments for families under $100k AGI, and share a separate court ruling granting loan discharges for certain defrauded-student applicants after the Department of Education missed a deadline. 00:00 Save Plan Update 00:58 Why Save Is Stuck 02:02 Court Twist Explained 03:22 Is Save Coming Back 04:46 Stay or Exit Forbearance 06:26 Best Backup Repayment Plans 07:05 Repayment Assistance Preview 09:15 Borrower Defense Ruling 10:42 Wrap Up and Next Episode

    11 min
  8. Student Loan Updates! | PAYE Forgiveness, New(ish) Consolidation Rules + More

    Feb 20

    Student Loan Updates! | PAYE Forgiveness, New(ish) Consolidation Rules + More

    EPISODE RESOURCES RISE Committee Document Federal Student Loan Updates: RISE Committee Proposals, New Borrowing Limits, Parent PLUS Deadlines, and Forgiveness Processing In this episode, we highlight the major proposed changes—including creation of the Repayment Assistance Plan, removal of ICR and PAYE, changes to SAVE, limits on graduate and undergraduate borrowing, and restrictions on Parent PLUS—that are in a public comment period tied to rules stemming from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Key items discussed from the RISE committee include new borrowing caps effective for programs starting July 1, 2026 or later. We also explain consolidation-credit rules: after periods where consolidation used the highest-count loan (Biden-era), then a weighted average, then a reset-to-zero approach, the RISE committee recommends returning to weighted average (though rules are not yet finalized and borrowers should be cautious).  Additonal topics include spousal/joint consolidation loans, Parent PLUS strategies and deadlines 00:00 Student Loan News You Need This Week (Intro) 00:17 Tonight’s One-Take Episode + What’s on the Agenda 01:44 RISE Committee Rules: Public Comment & What’s Changing 02:51 New Grad/Undergrad Borrowing Limits (Starting July 2026) 07:00 Parent PLUS Borrowing Caps: New Annual & Lifetime Limits 07:21 Consolidation Credit Update: Weighted Average vs. Reset to Zero 10:04 Spousal Consolidation Loans: Separation & PSLF Credit Fixes 12:23 Default/Garnishment Payments Potentially Counting Toward Forgiveness 13:03 Parent PLUS Strategy & July 1 Deadlines (IDR/PSLF Access) 15:34 ICR & PAYE Forgiveness Processing Restarts + 2026 Tax Bomb 18:25 Wrap-Up: What to Watch Next & When the Next Update Drops

    19 min
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About

Tax filings. Investment structuring. Insurance planning. Purchasing your home. Business funding. For listeners with private and federal loans, the Escape Student Loan Debt podcast demystifies Student Loans, how they impact every single area of your finances, and how to get student loan payments or balances forgiven, reduced, re-organized or expedited. Hosted by Brenton Harrison.

Information

  • Creator
    EscapeStudentLoanDebtPodcast l Student Loan Strategies for the Established Professional
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    109
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Escape Student Loan Debt Podcast
  • Show Website
    Escape Student Loan Debt Podcast

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