Student Loan Planner

Travis Hornsby
  • 4.8 (183)
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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.

  1. 2D AGO

    First Look at "Beautiful Bill" Regulations

    We're taking an early look at the new student loan rules released in January 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Find out why borrowers, especially Parent PLUS families, need to pay close attention. We'll explain which degrees are most affected, how professional and graduate programs are changing for loan purposes, how the RAP plan will impact repayment, and whether private lenders can keep up with demand. Key moments: (02:18) Why these regulations were rushed and what's coming next (04:40) Parent PLUS borrowers face confusing deadlines and inconsistent official guidance (11:57) Who counts as a "professional student" under new loan caps (17:47) The surprising good news on consolidation and forgiveness credit   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!

    26 min

  2. FEB 3

    All the Regs That Need to Happen Very Soon

    If you feel like student loan policy is stuck in limbo right now, you're not wrong. In this episode, I walk through the mountain of regulations the Department of Education still has to publish very soon if the new repayment system is going to function by July 1. We talk about why schools are scrambling, why borrowers are stuck waiting and how political timing is making everything messier. If you're trying to plan your finances while the rules are still being written, this episode explains what's missing and what's coming. Key moments: (03:06) Degree borrowing limits are creating chaos for schools and students (05:26) Democratic senators demand answers from the Department of Education (12:34) A lot of rules still don't exist for implementing the plan changes (14:01) Why students, schools, and policymakers are all "gambling" right now   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!

    17 min

  3. JAN 27

    Parent PLUS Loan Changes for 2026

    Parent PLUS loans are about to get a lot more complicated, and most families have no idea what's coming. In this episode, senior student loan advisor Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, AFC®, sits down with student loan expert Janna McKay, AFC®, CSLP®, to break down the biggest changes affecting Parent PLUS borrowers. You'll learn about the end of double consolidation, new repayment access rules, and what the July 2026 deadline really means for forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). If you're a parent helping kids through college, this episode could save you from a costly mistake. Key moments: (06:38) Why double consolidation is officially dead (and what replaces it) (08:10) Quick clarification for borrowers who don't have Parent PLUS loans (13:38) Real client cases where consolidation mistakes caused major problems (22:43) Why borrowing after July 2026 could permanently block PSLF for parent borrowers (33:18) Legacy provisions for borrowing before July 1, 2026 vs. borrowing after     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!

    39 min

  4. JAN 20

    Your Goals Are Too Polite

    Most financial goals sound reasonable, but "socially acceptable" goals are often too polite, and they can quietly sabotage the life you actually want. We dig into how to uncover honest, motivating goals, why Coast FIRE sneaks up on more people than they realize, and how student loans don't have to delay living a meaningful life. If your goals feel safe but uninspiring, this one's for you. Key moments: (03:53) The hidden signs you might already be at Coast FIRE (07:57) What you'd really change if money stress disappeared tomorrow (08:44) Identifying coping habits that block the life you actually want (14:06) Replacing safe goals with honest ones 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!

    19 min

  5. JAN 13

    Can Retiring Too Late Kill You?

    Is working until 65 actually bad for your health? In this episode, we dig into what the research really says about the link between retirement age and mortality. I share my journey from being obsessed with early retirement to recognizing the deeper value of time freedom, purpose, and creativity in financial planning. We explore how most professionals are actually on track to be wealthier than they realize, how you can use flexible financial strategies to live better now, and how to stop optimizing for being the richest person in the cemetery. Key moments: (02:40) What the NIH research actually says about retirement and mortality (06:01) What people really want isn't early retirement — it's control over their time (10:15) Most professionals are already on track to have "too much" money (25:06) Why chasing passive income is often solving the wrong problem   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!

    31 min

  6. JAN 6

    What's New With Student Loans In 2026 + Listener Q&A

    2026 may be the most confusing year for student loans yet. Find out what's actually changing with repayment plans, forgiveness, and Parent PLUS loans — and learn what you should be paying attention to right now. We'll also hear real listener questions about PSLF during a government shutdown, IDR recertification delays, getting out of SAVE forbearance, and whether PSLF buyback is worth counting on. If you're feeling anxious heading into 2026, this episode can help you make smart decisions without overreacting. Key moments: (00:44) Does government shutdown time count for PSLF? (08:26) Moving out of the SAVE forbearance, PSLF buyback and family size rules (20:10) Considerations for filing taxes jointly vs. separately (29:30) Warning for Parent PLUS borrowers who are still borrowing or who haven't yet consolidated (35:31) RAP plan rollout and what borrowers should expect next 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!

    41 min

  7. 12/30/2025

    Married Filing Separately: What Student Loan Borrowers Need to Re-Check at Tax Time

    Filing taxes married filing separately can be one of the most powerful tools for lowering income-driven student loan payments. But it's also one of the easiest ways to make costly mistakes if you're not careful. Meagan McGuire, CFP®, ChFC®, CSLP®, walks through what borrowers need to double-check before tax season hits. You'll learn when filing separately actually saves money, when it backfires, and how community property states completely change the math. Key moments: (05:32) Why married filing separately can dramatically lower IDR payments (09:58) Real numbers: comparing tax cost vs. student loan savings (17:28) The Roth IRA trap many married borrowers miss (23:37) Why community property states often create extra student loan savings   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!

    33 min
  8. Holiday Encouragement for Borrowers

    12/23/2025

    Holiday Encouragement for Borrowers

    The holidays can stir up a lot of stress, especially when student loans are still hanging over your head. In this episode, I want to slow things down and offer some perspective. We talk about why extreme frugality isn't required to build wealth, why "rich enough" beats "obscenely rich," and how your education and earning power already put you in a strong position. This is a reminder that student loans don't get to steal your peace or your joy. Key moments: (01:57) The difference between being rich and being rich enough (05:32) The real spending decisions that actually delay retirement (09:42) Why balance, gratitude, and time matter more than net worth   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!

    12 min
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4.8
out of 5
183 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Travis Hornsby
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    428
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Student Loan Planner®. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Student Loan Planner

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