Student loans aren’t just a financial obligation — they’re a moving target. Rules shift, repayment plans evolve, forgiveness programs get redefined, and big deadlines are on the horizon. To help make sense of it all, Melissa Joy, CFP®, sits down with student loan expert David Gourley, founder of K-12 Planning, to break down the latest changes and what they mean for borrowers today.

David brings deep expertise from years of helping educators, public service professionals, and families navigate the student loan maze. Together, Melissa and David walk through what’s stable, what’s shifting, and what borrowers need to pay attention to right now — especially as 2026 brings some of the biggest changes we’ve seen in years.

They explore why Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains intact (despite the headlines), the critical steps Parent PLUS borrowers must take before federal doors close, and how the upcoming Repayment Assistance Program (RAP) could reshape long-term planning for millions. David also shares the little-known strategies around tax filing, repayment timing, and consolidation that can dramatically change someone’s loan trajectory.

Highlights include:

• Why PSLF is not going away — and who still qualifies
• How adjunct professors can use a multiplier to qualify as full-time
• The crucial July 1, 2026 deadline for Parent PLUS consolidation
• What RAP is, how it compares to IBR, and why timing matters for borrowers
• How long-term forgiveness works (20, 25, or 30 years) — and when it may be taxable
• How filing taxes married filing separately can significantly reduce payments
• The risks of relying on lower payments when interest continues to grow
• What changes to borrowing limits mean for grad students and parents
• When refinancing to a private loan may actually make sense
• How to plan ahead when student loan rules continue to evolve

If you’re navigating repayment, planning for forgiveness, or preparing to send a child to college, this conversation offers clarity in a landscape that rarely stands still. Melissa and David bring the context, strategy, and grounded perspective borrowers need to make confident decisions — today and in the years ahead.

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