Student Loan Planner

Travis Hornsby
  • 4.8 (183)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 5D AGO

    PSLF Chaos, Consolidation Deadlines, and Parent PLUS Landmines

    Things are not "calm and predictable" in student loan land right now. Hear real stories from recent consultations and learn what actions matter most before the June 30th, 2026, consolidation deadline. We dig into what's happening with PSLF case reviews, consolidation risks, tax season strategies, and what Parent PLUS borrowers need to know now that double consolidation is gone. Even if you feel lost or overwhelmed, you'll finish this episode with a checklist of things to act on now to protect your strategy before small mistakes turn into expensive ones. Key moments: (02:22) Why PSLF payment histories are missing and how to file a complaint with StudentAid.gov (08:49) Consolidate after June 30, 2026, and you could add 10 years to forgiveness (18:37) Smart strategies for tax returns and loan recertification (26:42) Double consolidation is over for Parent PLUS borrowers — here's what to do now Resources mentioned:  File a StudentAid.gov complaint File a CFPB complaint   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!

    35 min

  2. FEB 24

    Tax Season Student Loan Tips & Big Mistakes We See

    If your student loan payment is tied to your income, your tax return isn't just paperwork — it's part of your repayment strategy. Listen to a live tax webinar we did with Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, Director of Tax at SLP Wealth, as we share the biggest mistakes we're seeing this season, especially around married filing separately, community property states, and backdoor Roth IRAs — plus when filing an extension can legitimately save you real money on income-driven repayment. If you're navigating forgiveness, IDR, or just trying not to overpay Uncle Sam, this one's for you. Key moments: (02:09) Married filing separate vs. joint: when it lowers payments (08:29) The top mistake: Backdoor Roth errors that trigger penalties (20:37) Niche tax savings under RAP plan, managing AirBnbs, and passive income (35:31) The new SALT cap changes and who benefits   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!

    55 min

  3. FEB 17

    What Will Students and Parents Do This Fall?

    Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a financial aid cliff. If you're a grad student, parent of a college student, or a current professional school attendee, the shifts in borrowing limits, repayment plans, and the fate of Grad PLUS loans could seriously affect your finances and your future. Listen in as I answer listener questions and then pivot to the big question: what happens if you (or your kid) take out even one new federal loan after July 2026? Key moments: (00:42) PSLF Buyback: Which tax years might determine your payment? (05:48) The tax-extension strategy to keep a lower IDR payment for another year (11:53) Taking out just one loan after July 2026 blocks you from everything but the RAP plan (15:18) Parents borrowing on behalf of a child face especially bad news (18:23) Should you gamble your financial future? The "retire with defaulted Parent PLUS loans" strategy   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!

    27 min

  4. FEB 10

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    431
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Student Loan Planner®. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Student Loan Planner

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