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

 

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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!