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Student Loan Planner Review: Is It Worth It? (2026)

The wrong repayment strategy can cost you six figures. A consultation could save you far more.

$5.4B+

Total debt consulted

$85K

Avg. projected savings*

$100

ChooseFI discount

*$85K average projected savings per client. $5.4B+ total debt consulted, $1.9B in projected savings found. Source: studentloanplanner.com

By Choose FI · Updated September 11, 2026

1

Same Debt. Completely Different Strategies.

Your Situation
What Actually Matters

Public-service employee

with 62 PSLF payments

Minimizing payments for the next 58 qualifying months — RAP vs. IBR depends on income, family size, and filing status

Married physician

with rising income

Whether aggressive payoff beats forgiveness once taxes, investment opportunity cost, and career trajectory are modeled

Private-sector borrower

earning $220K

30-year RAP forgiveness (now taxable) vs. refinancing vs. accelerated payoff — each path has a completely different lifetime cost

Same balance. Three completely different optimal strategies.

2

Is a $495 consultation worth it for you?

Answer 3 quick questions to find out.

1. How much do you owe in student loans?

2. Do you work for (or plan to work for) a nonprofit or government employer?

3. Are you currently in a graduate or PhD program?

3

The Question Isn't RAP or PSLF.

It's which path minimizes your lifetime cost.

Loan dates
Income (your & spouse's)
Tax filing status
Dependents
PSLF payment count

RAP changes in 2026

Borrowers whose loans were disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 have RAP as their only IDR option.

Older borrowers may retain access to IBR and potentially other plans — but PAYE and ICR are scheduled to disappear by July 1, 2028.

See what this means for you

A repayment plan (like RAP) can be paired with PSLF. The right plan depends on your full picture — and small details can change the best answer by hundreds of thousands.

4

What Student Loan Planner Actually Does

Models every option

RAP, PSLF, IBR, PAYE, refinancing, payoff

30-year cash flow & forgiveness

See payments, forgiveness dates, and totals

Compares outcomes

Total cost, monthly cash flow, and trade-offs

Gives clear next steps

A prioritized plan you can act on immediately

Sample deliverable

You receive a detailed strategy comparison document you can keep and reference.

5

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

A small consultation fee can prevent a six-figure mistake.

$85K

Average projected savings from the right strategy*

10–30 yrs

The long window where small choices compound

$100K+

Potential extra cost from the wrong plan or timing

Perspective

$495 is less than 1% of the potential difference between the best and worst strategy.

Why We Trust Student Loan Planner

Travis Hornsby, CFA — Founder of Student Loan Planner

Founded by Travis Hornsby, CFA, Student Loan Planner has consulted on over $5.4 billion in student debt and found $1.9 billion in projected savings for the professionals they've worked with. They are fee-only and fiduciary — meaning they don't sell financial products and are legally required to act in your best interest. The firm is focused exclusively on student loans, which means every consultant specializes in the exact problem you're trying to solve.

Best for

  • Borrowers with $100K+ in student loans
  • Anyone eligible (or potentially eligible) for PSLF
  • High-income earners facing the payoff vs. forgiveness question
  • Married couples filing jointly or separately

May not be worth it if

  • Your total balance is under $50K with no PSLF eligibility
  • You're already on the right IDR plan and know it
  • You plan to pay off your loans aggressively within 2-3 years

Transparency: ChooseFI earns a referral fee when you book through our link. This doesn't affect the price you pay — the $100 discount is exclusive to our audience. We recommend Student Loan Planner because we genuinely believe in the service, and Travis has been a guest on the show multiple times.

Frequently Asked Questions

A one-time consultation costs $595, but ChooseFI listeners get an exclusive $100 discount — making it $495. There are no ongoing fees or upsells.

You get a one-on-one session with a CSLP (Certified Student Loan Professional) who models every repayment option — RAP, PSLF, IBR, PAYE, refinancing, and aggressive payoff — using your actual loan data, income, family size, and career trajectory. You leave with a 30-year cash flow comparison and a prioritized action plan.

Yes. Student Loan Planner consultants are fee-only and fiduciary, meaning they are legally obligated to act in your best interest. They do not sell financial products or earn commissions.

If your total student loan balance is under $50,000 and you don't work for a nonprofit or government employer (no PSLF eligibility), a consultation may not be worth the cost. The savings from optimization are smaller at lower balances. Our quiz above can help you decide.

The average projected lifetime savings reported by Student Loan Planner clients is over $50,000. For borrowers with six-figure balances or PSLF eligibility, savings can exceed $100,000.

The $100 discount applies to the initial consultation. Student Loan Planner may offer additional services, but the ChooseFI discount is specifically for the strategy consultation.

Exclusive ChooseFI Discount

Get your personalized student loan strategy for $495

Save $100 on your consultation with Student Loan Planner.

Get $100 Off My Consultation

Secure · No obligation · Fee-only & fiduciary

Exclusive ChooseFI Discount

$100 Off

Student Loan Planner Consultation

$595 $495
Get $100 Off My Consultation

Secure · No obligation

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