SAVE has ended
About 7.5 million SAVE borrowers are being told to switch plans within 90 days of their notice. Wait too long and you can be placed in a plan with a much higher payment.
Student loan strategy · Flat fee · No sales pitch
Stop overpaying on your student loans.
SAVE is gone and the 2026 rule changes hit millions of borrowers. Our student loan expert models every repayment and forgiveness option for your numbers — so you pick the right plan the first time.
What kind of student loans do you have?Free 2-min check
No SSN or FSA ID needed
No credit check
Instant personalized results
Already know you want a plan? See pricing — from $497 →
Independent & flat-fee. Not affiliated with the U.S. Dept. of Education. We never ask for your FSA ID.
Renée Earwood, MS, AFC®Forbes Advisor Advisory Board member, 2024 · Student loan specialist since 2016
As featured in
The biggest shake-up in decades
The student loan rules just changed. Your old plan may now cost you thousands.
Your servicer will process whatever you choose — but they won't tell you which choice is cheapest for you. Picking wrong can mean higher payments, lost forgiveness credit, or a surprise tax bill.
RAP launched July 1
The new Repayment Assistance Plan is better for some borrowers and worse for others. It isn't automatic — you have to apply, and it's not open to every loan type.
PAYE & ICR close by July 2028
The order and timing of your next moves now affect your payment, your forgiveness count, and whether forgiveness is taxed. This is where a plan pays for itself.
Always confirm your own deadlines at StudentAid.gov or with your servicer. Rules current as of October 2026.
Does this sound like you?
Pick the one that fits. We'll tailor your results.
Every borrower's best move is different. Start with the situation closest to yours.
I work in public service or a nonprofit
Teachers, nurses, government, military & 501(c)(3) employees. Make sure every payment counts toward tax-free PSLF.
Check my PSLF pathI borrowed Parent PLUS for my child
The most restrictive federal loan — and the rules changed again in 2026. See which doors are still open.
Check my Parent PLUS optionsI owe six figures (doctor, dentist, lawyer…)
At high balances, the right plan vs. the wrong one can be a $50,000+ difference. Don't guess.
Check my high-balance optionsI was on SAVE or in forbearance
You need a new plan — and the default isn't always the cheapest. Compare RAP, IBR and more before your deadline.
Find my best new planI'm married (or getting married)
How you file taxes can change your payment by hundreds a month. Model both ways before you file.
Check our options as a coupleI'm 50+ and thinking about retirement
Protect your savings, your Social Security and your timeline — and stop paying more than you have to.
Check my retirement planReal clients. Real numbers.
Different ages, incomes and goals. One thing in common: a clear plan.
$17K–$880K
Projected savings Renée's past clients have seen from their strategies. Individual results; not typical, and yours depend on your loans, income and goals.
Public-sector professional · age 62
When retirement is on the line
“Will my student loans keep me from retiring?”
Before$2,127
After$710
- $279,260 projected forgiveness on $188K of Parent PLUS loans
- Total projected cost cut by $80,000+
- A realistic path to retirement without draining savings
- Used a Parent PLUS consolidation strategy that closed July 1, 2025 — no longer available.
Chiropractor · age 30 · newly married
Build wealth, not just pay loans
“How do we pay the least and still invest?”
Before$2,160
After$815
- $211,451 projected forgiveness on ~$200K federal loans
- Total projected cost cut by $54,000+
- Freed up cash flow to invest as a couple
Social worker · age 24 · nonprofit
Getting it right from day one
“What's my lowest payment and a clear PSLF plan?”
Before$414
After$261
- $17,082 projected tax-free PSLF forgiveness
- Total savings of $12,800+
- Confidence that every payment counts
About these examples: These are real, anonymized clients, shown because their situations are common — not because their results are typical. Figures are hypothetical projections based on each client's loans, income, family size and the federal rules in effect at the time of analysis. Many borrowers see smaller changes, and some learn their current plan is already the right one. Federal rules can change, and no outcome is guaranteed.
I was facing over $2,100 a month in student loan payments and thought retirement might not be possible. After my strategy session, my payment dropped to $710, with a clear path to forgiveness. For the first time in years, I feel confident about retiring.— Public-sector professional, Parent PLUS borrower
Individual result, not typical, using a strategy that is no longer available.
How it works
Your plan in four simple steps — no sales call
Start with the free check. When you're ready, everything else happens online, on your schedule.
1
Take the 2-minute check Free
A few multiple-choice questions show which repayment, forgiveness and deadline issues apply to you.
2
Choose your option $497–$1,297
Secure checkout. Add a 60-minute session with Renée, or choose Premium for guided help with your paperwork.
3
Share your details ~10 min
A short questionnaire and your Student Aid Data file — we show you exactly how to download it. Never your FSA ID.
4
Renée reviews & sends it ≤ 5 business days
Every report is personally reviewed and approved by Renée Earwood, MS, AFC®, before it reaches your inbox.
Start with the free check
About 2 minutesPrivate & secure
What you get
The Student Loan Strategy Report
Not a generic calculator. A side-by-side model of your loans, your income and your goals — with a step-by-step action plan.
- Every federal plan, modeledMonthly payment, total cost and forgiveness under RAP, IBR, Standard and every plan you still qualify for.
- Forgiveness & PSLF pathwayYour qualifying payment count, timeline, and how to protect it.
- Tax & marriage strategyHow filing status and forgiveness taxes change your real cost.
- Mistakes to avoidThe irreversible moves — consolidations, plan switches, deadlines — that cost borrowers the most.
- Your next-steps checklistSteps to consider, where to submit them, and when — in plain English.
- Reviewed by a credentialed expertRenée personally reviews and approves every report before it's sent.
Simple, honest pricing
One flat fee. No monthly charges. No percentage of your savings.
The same thorough analysis in every option. Choose how much of Renée's help you'd like along the way.
Some student loan firms charge $2,800 up front plus $900 a year for plan updates. Here, it's one flat fee.
Strategy Report
For borrowers who want a clear, written plan for their own numbers.
$497one time
Delivered within 5 business days after your information is in
- Every federal option you qualify for, modeled for your numbers — RAP, IBR, PAYE, ICR, Standard and more
- PSLF timeline and tax-on-forgiveness estimates
- Married? Filing jointly vs. separately, compared
- Plain-English steps to consider, and mistakes to avoid
- Personally reviewed and approved by Renée
Secure checkout · then a 10-minute questionnaire
Strategy Report + 60-minute session
For bigger decisions — marriage, Parent PLUS, PSLF, retirement, or a high balance.
$997one time
Everything in the Strategy Report, plus time with Renée
- Everything in the Strategy Report
- 60-minute one-on-one video session with Renée Earwood, MS, AFC®
- Walk through your options and ask questions live
- Book your time right after your questionnaire
Secure checkout · then a 10-minute questionnaire
Most complete
Premium: report, session + paperwork help
For borrowers who want it done right, start to finish, with Renée beside them for every form.
$1,297one time
Everything in the report + session, plus guided help with your applications
- Everything in the report + 60-minute session
- A guided paperwork session: complete your applications together on a screen share
- Repayment plan applications, PSLF employment certification, and consolidation when it fits your strategy
- You log in and submit from your own account. We never ask for your FSA ID
Secure checkout · then a 10-minute questionnaire
Refund policy. Change your mind? Get a full refund any time before Renée begins reviewing your report. Details
You pay for strategy and expertiseApplying for federal plans is always free at StudentAid.gov. Your fee covers the analysis and Renée's expertise, and with Premium, her guidance on every form. You always submit.
No products, no commissionsWe don't sell loans, refinancing or investments. Our only job is your plan.
We never ask for your FSA IDYou stay in control of your account. We guide; you submit.
Employers & organizations: student loan workshops and courses for your team or members.
Ask about workshops →Why not just call my servicer?
Who's actually on your side?
Your servicer processes paperwork. "Debt relief" companies charge monthly fees for forms you can file free. We build your strategy.
| Student Loan Coach | Your loan servicer | “Debt relief” companies | DIY calculators | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Models every option for your exact situation | ~ | |||
| Accounts for taxes, marriage & retirement | ||||
| Credentialed student loan specialist | ||||
| One flat fee — no monthly charges | Free | Free | ||
| Never asks for your FSA ID password | ||||
| Tells you if you don't need help | — | — |
Meet your coach
Hi, I'm Renée. I help borrowers see every option — and the real cost of each.
MS, Personal Financial Planning (K-State)
Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®)
Certified Student Loan Debt Counselor® — 14th in the U.S.
Graduate Certificate, Financial Therapy
Forbes Advisor Advisory Board member, 2024 · Renee Earwood, AFC® – Forbes Advisor
“I don't tell people what to do with their student loans. I help them see every option — and the real cost of each — so they can choose confidently.”
I know what it feels like to avoid your finances because the numbers feel too scary to face. I was a young single mom after a divorce, working two jobs and 60 hours a week just to get by. I wasn't bad with money — nobody had ever taught me. So I kept my head down and hoped it would sort itself out. It didn't, until I decided to learn.
I joined a nonprofit financial education program in my community, and something clicked: not just the knowledge, but the relief of finally understanding. Within two years I went from client to financial counselor to director of that same program. Then I became the 14th person in the United States to earn the student loan counselor certification from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, and earned a master's in personal financial planning.
What I found along the way surprised me: almost nobody, including many financial advisors and planners, truly understands how federal student loans work. The system is governed by federal law, like taxes, full of complexity that creates real opportunities for people who know how to read it — and real traps for people who don't. My clients' projected savings have ranged from $17,000 to $880,000, not because of a magic wand, but because I put the pieces together for each person's situation.*
If you've been avoiding this, I get it. I've lived that avoidance. I built this so you don't have to figure it out alone.
*Individual results; not typical. Your results depend on your loans, income and goals.
- No shame. Wherever you are, there's no judgment here — only options.
- No one-size-fits-all. I model outcomes; I don't push a single solution.
- Clear boundaries. I provide education and strategy — not investment, tax or legal advice — and I'll tell you when to bring in a CPA or attorney.
Alexander LiberatoCo-founder & CFO · FCAA certified student loan counselor
Jason BueningOperations · 15+ years in management & business ownership
Questions, answered
Before you buy
Is this a “student loan forgiveness” company? How do I know it's legit?
No — and that's the point. We're an independent, flat-fee student loan coaching firm led by a credentialed Accredited Financial Counselor®. We don't charge monthly fees, we never ask for your FSA ID password, and we never promise forgiveness. We are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education. Renée has been quoted by U.S. News, NerdWallet and the Associated Press, and was a Forbes Advisor Advisory Board member in 2024.
Why pay for a strategy when my servicer is free?
Your servicer will process the plan you pick, but servicers aren't set up to compare every option against your taxes, marriage, career and retirement goals. On six-figure balances, the difference between plans is often tens of thousands of dollars. The free 2-minute check shows you which issues apply to you before you spend anything.
I was on SAVE. What do I need to do right now?
SAVE has ended, and servicers are sending notices asking borrowers to choose a new plan within about 90 days. If you don't choose, you may be placed in a plan with a higher payment. Take the free check. If you've received a notice with a deadline, mention it in your questionnaire and Renée will prioritize it.
What's the difference between the three options? Are there other fees?
All three include the same full analysis and written Strategy Report, personally reviewed and approved by Renée. The $997 option adds a 60-minute one-on-one video session to walk through it together. Premium ($1,297) also adds a guided paperwork session: Renée walks you through each application on a screen share while you fill it in and submit it from your own account. Each is one flat fee — no subscriptions and no percentage of your savings. If you start with the report, you can add the session later.
You're paying for education, strategy and guidance, not enrollment. Applying for any federal repayment plan or forgiveness program is free at StudentAid.gov. Even with Premium, you submit your own applications — we never ask for your FSA ID, contact your servicer, or change your loans on your behalf. You stay in control.
What happens after I pay?
You'll get a secure link right away to a short questionnaire (about 10 minutes) where you upload your Student Aid Data file — we show you exactly how to download it. Renée then reviews your report personally, and it arrives by email within 5 business days after your information is complete. With the $997 and Premium options, you can book your session as soon as your questionnaire is done; Premium clients schedule their guided paperwork session with Renée once the report is delivered.
Can I get a refund?
Yes — you can get a full refund any time before Renée begins reviewing your report. Once her review has started, the report fee is non-refundable because the work is underway. If a session included in your purchase doesn’t take place, that session’s portion is refunded ($500 for the 60-minute session, $300 for the Premium paperwork session). Just reply to any of our emails. See the Refund Policy.
Is my information secure?
Yes. Payments are handled by Stripe — we never see your card number. Your documents are encrypted, only Renée can access them, and uploaded files are deleted after your report is delivered. We never ask for your FSA ID or password. See our Privacy Policy and Security page.
Do you need my FSA ID or Social Security number?
No. You keep full control of your accounts. We'll show you how to download your own loan data from StudentAid.gov and share it with us securely, and we'll tell you exactly what to submit — you submit it yourself.
Can you help with Parent PLUS or private loans?
Yes, Parent PLUS is one of our specialties — it has the most restrictive rules and the most room for costly mistakes. Private loans aren't eligible for federal forgiveness, but we'll show you how they fit into your overall plan, including when refinancing makes sense and when it would cost you federal protections.
What if the rules — or my life — change after I get my report?
Your report reflects the rules in effect on its date and is built around changes already scheduled, like the July 2028 plan closures. But like any financial plan, a student loan strategy works best when it's reviewed and updated over time.
If the laws change, or your income, family size or job changes, come back for an updated plan — updated plans are available for returning clients. Mailing-list subscribers also get plain-English alerts when a rule change could affect their plan.
Do you work with borrowers in every state?
Yes. Federal student loan rules are the same nationwide, and everything — including the optional session — happens online.
Your servicer won't build your strategy. Renée will.
Find out in 2 minutes which repayment, forgiveness and deadline issues apply to you — then decide if you want a plan built for your numbers.
No SSN or FSA IDNo obligationFlat-fee, independent experts