Credit Card Mastery: Hacks to Leverage Benefits in Your Favor
Release Date: 04/30/2024
What Really Happens at a Consultation? The Truth Behind Our Student Loan Advice
Student Loan Planner
Curious about student loan planning? This episode is packed with real-life scenarios, insider knowledge, and practical advice for your student loan journey. Get insight into ambiguous regulations, servicer misinformation and the impact it has on borrowers from Lauryn Williams, CFP®, CSLP®, AFC®, and Justin Kim-Hummel, former client and integral member of the Student Loan Planner team who brings a wealth of experience from his background in PR, graduate studies, and time working on Capitol Hill. Together, they tackle challenges, answer frequently asked questions, and reveal the dedication...
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Double Your Profit, Lower Your Stress
Student Loan Planner
Travis shares the best stress reduction strategies out there for current and aspiring business owners. Enroll at
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Credit Card Mastery: Hacks to Leverage Benefits in Your Favor
Student Loan Planner
Get ready to uncover the myths, master the rewards, and smartly amplify your spending power — all while keeping your finances sharp and your debt strategy on point. Whether you're looking to squeeze every last benefit out of your credit card points, contemplating the right card for your business expenses, or simply looking to use your cards more strategically, this episode is a goldmine. Listen in as Meagan McGuire, ChFC®, CSLP®, and Mary Rush, CFP®, CSLP®, talk tricks, tips, and savvy spending with every swipe. Discover how to make every dollar and every point work harder for you. In...
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What Happens After the IDR Waiver?
Student Loan Planner
A timely discussion of what happens as we face down the expiration of the IDR waiver. Will the administration extend it at the last second? We don't know (as of the time of the recording). But one thing is sure: Borrowers can expect seismic shifts as the IDR waiver ends. It's been key to unlocking the forgiveness gates for many, but its flexible counting of nearly any kind of payment toward forgiveness expires at the end of April. We'll recap the IDR waiver and its benefits and explore what happens after the IDR waiver ends. Get clarity about your next steps and the implications of these...
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Roth IRA Disasters to Avoid
Student Loan Planner
Roth IRAs are a highly recommended retirement savings option but it’s not all smooth sailing. Student loan repayment, income limitations, and tax filing status can lead you to treacherous waters. Learn the missteps to avoid and how to correct mistakes before they escalate into hefty fines and taxes. Join student loan advisors Meagan McGuire, ChFC®, CSLP®, Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, and Sam Silberstein, CFP®, CSLP®, and explore contribution deadlines, the pro-rata rule, form 8606, the impact of being in a community property state, and how dual-income households should strategize...
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Last Call for the IDR Waiver
Student Loan Planner
It's the last call for the IDR waiver (aka IDR account adjustment). If you’ve listened to this podcast, you probably know what it is — but if you're not sure how the IDR waiver could benefit you, or if you have questions about PSLF, loan consolidation, or income recertification, this episode is for you. I’ll take you back to the beginning of the IDR waiver and walk you through it to make sure you get the most benefit before it expires on April 30th. You’ll also hear answers to listener questions about loan forgiveness and repayment plans and get valuable insights into the...
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The Dept of Education Shifts PSLF Processing from MOHELA: The Real Reason and Borrower Impact
Student Loan Planner
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is undergoing major changes. The government is taking over processing from MOHELA, and a temporary pause is expected in May and June. How will this affect you? First, don’t panic — PSLF isn’t shutting down. The government is simply pausing processing while they transition everything over. But you’ll want to take a few proactive steps to safeguard your payment count before the transition happens. Listen in as I dissect the real reasons behind these changes. Could it be a strategic move in the future student loan management? Find out how...
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Why Most Borrowers Will Get Forgiveness Now (Even Those With Small Balances)
Student Loan Planner
It sounds shocking, but it’s a reality we can’t ignore — and this isn’t just about folks burdened with 6-figure student loan debts. Now, even if you have a smaller loan balance, you have a path to student loan forgiveness. It’s the new SAVE repayment plan that’s making it possible. Listen in as we explore key factors shifting borrowers away from repayment toward forgiveness, from the increase in discretionary income allowances to the potential for accelerated forgiveness. You’ll discover the key moves you should consider and why freeing yourself from student loan debt could...
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MOhela MO Problems
Student Loan Planner
To put it bluntly, MOHELA has student loan borrowers jumping through hoops to get things done, and it’s been extremely frustrating. Countless delays and mistakes being made, hours of being on hold or even being hung up on by servicers… the list goes on! In this episode, hosts Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, Sam Silberstein, CFP®, CSLP®, and Ben Lacomis, CSLP® join forces to shine some light on everything MOHELA is doing wrong. You’ll get tips and tricks to protect yourself from their mistakes. You’re not alone in this, folks! Let’s talk about what you can do to get the forgiveness...
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The Tax Bomb Cliff Is Coming
Student Loan Planner
We’re standing at the edge of a major financial cliff that no one is ready for. Student loan forgiveness is happening at unprecedented rates — $138 billion and counting. Right now, borrowers are enjoying tax-free forgiven student loan debt courtesy of the American Rescue Plan. However, these benefits are set to expire at the end of 2025, leaving borrowers to face a tax cliff with unknown consequences. We’ll explore the legal skirmishes already bubbling, like the Kansas Attorney General’s case against the SAVE plan, and analyzing their impact and preparing for the potential scenarios...
info_outlineGet ready to uncover the myths, master the rewards, and smartly amplify your spending power — all while keeping your finances sharp and your debt strategy on point. Whether you're looking to squeeze every last benefit out of your credit card points, contemplating the right card for your business expenses, or simply looking to use your cards more strategically, this episode is a goldmine. Listen in as Meagan McGuire, ChFC®, CSLP®, and Mary Rush, CFP®, CSLP®, talk tricks, tips, and savvy spending with every swipe. Discover how to make every dollar and every point work harder for you.
In today’s episode, you'll find out:
- How to leverage credit cards and credit card rewards to your advantage
- About the benefits Meagan and Mary have personally enjoyed from credit card rewards programs
- Why the common belief that carrying a balance improves your credit score is wrong
- How maintaining a low credit utilization rate can benefit your financial health
- When and how to utilize 0% balance transfer cards to manage debt effectively
strategies for using credit cards as budgeting tools, including how to use statement balances - The perks of cashback vs. niche-specific credit cards and which is best for you
- Why credit cards provide better fraud and travel protection than debit cards
- Mary's strategy for maximizing rewards with travel and cashback credit cards
- Meagan's experience with using a credit card for business and the rewards she missed from not using a personal card
- Details on point conversions of airline miles, cashback and reward points
- Tips to utilize credit cards for significant expenses like weddings, home improvements or even paying taxes
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Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!