Should physicians attack medical school loans immediately or pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)? That question drives this episode. Student loans are not just math. They often shape how you live, how you work, and how much flexibility you may have over your future.

This episode is designed for residents and future attendings who are trying to balance debt, life goals, and long term financial planning without getting trapped in one size fits all advice approach.

We explore the emotional side of debt, the tradeoffs of different strategies, and how student loan decisions connect to bigger goals like buying a home, starting a family, building wealth, and creating flexibility later in life.

Topics include:

💭 Paying off medical school loans vs PSLF

💭 Lifestyle tradeoffs in residency and early attending years

💭 Emotional freedom of being debt free vs forgiveness strategies

💭 Income based repayment and tax planning considerations

💭 Filing jointly vs separately and why it can make a big difference

💭 PSLF planning for different family and career scenarios

💭 How retirement planning and student loans intersect

💭 Thinking long term instead of reacting short term

This episode is about learning how to think strategically about student loans in a way that fits real life.

If you are a resident, future attending, medical student, or partner of a physician navigating student debt, this conversation is built for you.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

We’re here to make retirement planning feel less intimidating by helping people think through their strategies and plans through clear relatable financial topics!

💬 Questions or Want to Connect?

🌐 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: www.custerfinancialadvisors.com

📧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: custerfinancialadvisors@lpl.com

Chapters:

00:00 Navigating Student Loans for Medical Professionals

00:53 Pros & Cons of Student Loan Forgiveness

02:30 Physicians and FIRE Choice

04:54 PSLF Option

06:41 Pros/Cons of PSLF

07:29 Help Deciding if PSLF Makes Sense

08:38 Tax Filing on PSLF

09:10 Strategies for Income-Driven Repayment

10:51 Should All Residents Use the Employer Match?

14:52 Michael is a Strategy Nerd

15:20 Rant About Taxes!

16:29 Single Physician Scenario Loan Example

20:39 Married Physician & Non-Physician PSLF Example

26:52 Physician and Homemaker

28:46 Dual Physician Loan Strategies

32:49 Youtube Disc. TN & Words.mp4

Disclosures:

Harborfront Financial Group is a Registered Investment Advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training, and the content of this communication has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.

The information contained in this material is intended to provide general information about Harborfront Financial Group and its services. It is not intended to offer investment advice. Investment advice will only be given after a client engages our services by executing the appropriate investment services agreement. Information regarding investment products and services are provided solely to read about our investment philosophy and our strategies. You should not rely on any information provided on our web site in making investment decisions.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Harborfront Financial Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Harborfront Financial Group and Custer Financial Advisors are separate entities from LPL Financial.

This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. The hypothetical rates of return used do not reflect the deduction of fees and charges inherent to investing. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.

Stepping into medicine changes a lot including your relationship with money. In this episode of Common Curiosities, we rewind to the very beginning of the financial journey for resident physicians and future doctors. From student loan overwhelm to first paychecks, we explore the big questions that show up when debt, income, and long term planning all collide at once.

Topics include:

💭 The two big student loan paths: aggressive payoff vs forgiveness strategies

💭 What Public Service Loan Forgiveness actually requires

💭 Income based repayment and what “qualifying payments” really mean

💭 Nonprofit work rules and why your future employer matters

💭 Federal vs private loans and how refinancing may change your options

💭 The often overlooked tax side of loan forgiveness

💭 Why the right strategy depends on your career path, income trajectory, and family life

If you are in residency, medical school, or planning your future in medicine, this episode is about helping you think more clearly about your options and the tradeoffs behind each choice.

More episodes in this medicine focused series are coming next as we continue unpacking the pros, cons, and long term planning realities.

Stay curious.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

We’re here to make retirement planning feel less intimidating by helping people think through their strategies and plans through clear relatable financial topics!

💬 Questions or Want to Connect?

🌐 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: www.custerfinancialadvisors.com

📧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: custerfinancialadvisors@lpl.com

Chapters:

00:00 New Physicians Common Questions

01:32 Medical School Loan Payoff Options

02:12 Forgiveness vs Payoff for Med School Loans

04:30 How to Qualify for Student Loan Forgiveness

05:59 Be Careful Refinancing

07:06 How to Qualify

07:43 Tax Implications of Loan Forgiveness

10:20 Deciding the Right Loan Repayment for You

12:15 Youtube Disc. TN & Words.mp4

Disclosures:

Harborfront Financial Group is a Registered Investment Advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training, and the content of this communication has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.

The information contained in this material is intended to provide general information about Harborfront Financial Group and its services. It is not intended to offer investment advice. Investment advice will only be given after a client engages our services by executing the appropriate investment services agreement. Information regarding investment products and services are provided solely to read about our investment philosophy and our strategies. You should not rely on any information provided on our web site in making investment decisions.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Harborfront Financial Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Harborfront Financial Group and Custer Financial Advisors are separate entities from LPL Financial.

This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. The hypothetical rates of return used do not reflect the deduction of fees and charges inherent to investing. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.

We’re digging into three big questions that involve incentives, trade‑offs, and possible ripple effects few talk about.

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:

💭 A proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates

💭 Who may benefit and who could lose when credit card rates are limited

💭 How lower interest rates could affect rewards, approvals, spending and stock prices

💭 Why Fannie and Freddie buying mortgages may push rates down

💭 The potential impact on home prices, taxpayers, and mortgage investors

💭 Whether investing in the stock market is pivotal or just one option

💭 Saving versus investing and why fear often comes from unfamiliarity

💭 Alternative ways people invest in themselves outside traditional markets

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

We’re here to make retirement planning feel less intimidating by helping people think through their strategies and plans through clear relatable financial topics!

Chapters:

00:00 Michael's Attempt at a Trophy Husband

02:44 10% Credit Card Cap Potential Winners & Losers

07:40 $200 Billion Mortgage Buying Effect Markets?

08:41 How Would Buying Mortgages Reduce Mortgage Rates?

09:55 Who Benefits & Who May Be Hurt?

12:26 Any Concern it Reminds of '08-'09?

12:59 Is it Scary To Invest?

18:21 Is the Stock Market Designed to Go Up?

💬 Questions or Want to Connect?

🌐 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: www.custerfinancialadvisors.com

📧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: custerfinancialadvisors@lpl.com

Disclosures:

Harborfront Financial Group is a Registered Investment Advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training, and the content of this communication has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.

The information contained in this material is intended to provide general information about Harborfront Financial Group and its services. It is not intended to offer investment advice. Investment advice will only be given after a client engages our services by executing the appropriate investment services agreement. Information regarding investment products and services are provided solely to read about our investment philosophy and our strategies. You should not rely on any information provided on our web site in making investment decisions.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Harborfront Financial Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Harborfront Financial Group and Custer Financial Advisors are separate entities from LPL Financial.

This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. The hypothetical rates of return used do not reflect the deduction of fees and charges inherent to investing. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.