287 episodes

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.

Student Loan Planner Travis Hornsby

    • Business
    • 4.8 • 138 Ratings

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.

    You Have a New Job. Now What?

    You Have a New Job. Now What?

    For those of you stepping into new roles, congratulations! This milestone comes with a lot of things to think about, from managing lifestyle inflation to understanding the impact of major purchases on your future. We’ll uncover valuable insights on income-based student loan payments, refinancing options, and how to approach big decisions like whether to rent or buy a house. I’ll help you unpack the price-to-rent ratio so you can make a well-informed decision based on financial and personal factors. We'll also discuss contract negotiations, gender disparities, non-compete agreements, and the importance of getting the most out of your benefits package.
    In today’s episode, you'll find out:
    How to use contracts for better severance or negotiation during job changes Why you shouldn’t accept being bullied during training or residency Key factors in job matching for medical professionals Benefits of income-based student loan payments and the pitfalls of early recertification Essential insights for loan refinancing and selecting the best payment plans Tips for making smart housing choices, like rent vs. buy, during life changes Negotiating techniques beyond salary to yield better benefits and work-life balance The impact of gender and non-compete agreements in specialized professions How to manage lifestyle inflation and understand consumption smoothing The role of marginal utility in making financially savvy decisions The emotional biases in finance advice from experts like Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey How to celebrate a job success or career change without sinking your finances  
    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 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!
     

    • 40 min
    Till Debt Do Us Part

    Till Debt Do Us Part

     
     
    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 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!
     

    • 37 min
    Emergency pod: IDR Recertification Pause Extended

    Emergency pod: IDR Recertification Pause Extended

    Deadlines for updating your income and family size information for your IDR plan have been extended to late September 2024, at the earliest.

    • 9 min
    Tips I’ve Learned as a Business Owner

    Tips I’ve Learned as a Business Owner

    Are you curious about business ownership? Whether you're just flirting with the idea of starting your venture or already knee-deep in entrepreneurship, this show is packed with actionable advice to help guide your journey. We'll explore why setting boundaries is not just a buzzword but a fundamental practice for any successful business owner. You’ll also discover specific strategies to carve out a profitable niche, edge out competition, and utilize barriers to your advantage. But the key takeaway here is that student loan debt shouldn’t be a barrier to your dreams. So grab your notepad, and let's jump into the world of business ownership with a clear head and a strategic mindset. 
    In today’s episode, you'll find out:
    How boundaries are a crucial part of business success Why focusing on profitability is crucial before scaling up Ways to validate your business model without offering discounts Why barriers, competition, and market availability are key to your business choice How regulatory barriers can offer both challenges and benefits The importance of identifying specific customer pain points and solving them Strategies to address low reimbursement rates or high service costs The financial impact and workload considerations when dealing with insurance companies Why holding free clinics might be a better strategy than accepting low-paying insurance The best ways to balance family life, retirement, and work fulfillment  
    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 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!
     

    • 38 min
    Tax FAQs from Student Loan Borrowers

    Tax FAQs from Student Loan Borrowers

    Tax season got you scratching your head? Let’s clear the fog. Join me and Rebecca Bauldauf, CPA, CCFC, from the SLP Wealth tax team, as we navigate the maze of taxes, student loan planning, family dynamics, and long-term financial strategies. Whether you're flying solo or juggling the finances of a growing family, you’ll discover actionable tips that could lead to substantial savings, from the ins and outs of tax service fees to strategies for retirement savings and dealing with the IRS. And if you're in search of a long-term financial ally, learn how to find the right tax help that aligns with your goals. Get ready to reshape your financial approach and transform your tax strategy!
    In today’s episode, you'll find out:
    The hidden impact of commoditized tax prep services When higher CPA fees become worthwhile for complex tax situations Advantages of hiring different firms for their practice and personal tax returns Two crucial financial moves for low-income earners How marriage changes your tax game, tax filing status and student loan payments Smart retirement savings strategies that factor in PSLF and employer matches Key steps for residents to maximize their tax bracket and student loan situation The secret weapon of the 1040-X form in tax filings How to navigate 'married filing separately' in community property states If you should link your student loan account to the IRS or manually certify income How tactical contributions to retirement accounts can make a huge difference in your student loan repayment journey Why coordinating tax and financial planning teams improves your financial position Pros and cons of filing taxes separately for childless couples with student loans The importance of long-term tax planning regardless of income level  
    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 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!

    • 37 min
    Which Tik Tok Finance Tips Get You Arrested?

    Which Tik Tok Finance Tips Get You Arrested?

    Financial advice has never been more accessible — or more questionable. Are you ready to tackle the truth behind those viral finance hacks you’ve seen online? The barrage of personal finance advice on platforms like TikTok is a siren song, promising financial security and a life free from money worries. But those tips can affect more than just your wallet. Some might get you a slap on the wrist, while others could land you in legal hot water. Join me as I sift through the noise of self-proclaimed “experts” peddling easy wealth, from misleading tax credit pitches and hazy tax advice to exaggerated real estate loopholes and sketchy investment opportunities. Discover how to distinguish between genuine advice and deceptive, flashy pitches to build a solid financial foundation that can withstand the trends and temptations of our times. 
    In today’s episode, you'll find out:
    How pandemic relief is stretching the IRS too thin, leading to tax fraud and scams The exact requirements and documentation for the short-term rental tax loophole Why you can’t focus solely on “maximizing wealth” The ins and outs of student loan loopholes and how to avoid pitfalls How visual effects can skew your perception of financial advice found on social media Why “vanilla” insurance products win out over complex insurance-investment hybrids How actuaries calculate insurance product profitability and why it favors the company Why the allure of low interest rates and novelty causes alternative investments to surge Why decisions based on student loan forgiveness programs can be risky The real estate loophole to use if one spouse works full time and the other takes on real estate investing The truth behind the marketing of whole life and universal life insurance Why tax-efficient index funds may be a better investment alternative How the concept of “infinite banking” could be misleading When borrowing against insurance products might not be the best option Why the smartest financial move is to verify before you buy  
     
    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 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

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
138 Ratings

138 Ratings

karen from Dallas ,

A must for anyone with student loans.

Thank you so much Travis and your team for all that you. Looking out for us with student loans, with compassion and nonjudgmental .

Stumblette ,

Meh

Very informative, however as much as it’s boasted that you can apply these steps to anyone’s situation, which…I’m sure you can to a degree, I’ve listened to many of these episodes and it is largely focused on people with 6-digit debt, ASSUMING they’re in well paying jobs like medical, or married with dual income, and especially people who qualify for PSLF.

For someone like me, 6-digit student loans, stuck in 46k job that ISN’T medical or government or anything remotely PSLF-qualifying, with high bills, I haven’t found anything that talks to people like me.

Smart guy, but where’s the help for the:
-single
-$200k+ debt
-$46k gross
-living minimally with $180 to live off bi-weekly after bills
-standard job; think customer service, not govt or medical or law

BaylorBear 11 ,

Thank you

This is an amazing resource for student loan borrowers. Thank you!

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