Ep111: Medical Student Debt after OBBB: RAP Rules, PSLF Updates, and Refi Strategy
Big changes are here for student loans—and if you’re a doctor, student, or high-debt professional, this episode could save you thousands. Dr. Disha Spath sits down with Aaron Smith, co-founder of Savi and longtime student loan policy advocate, to break down the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and what it really means for your financial future. Aaron has worked with the Department of Education, Congress, and the White House—and he’s carried student debt himself. Together, he and Dr. Disha unravel the brand-new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, and how these reforms reshape repayment strategies, PSLF, and refinancing decisions. Key Topics Covered: 1. The Big Beautiful Bill, Simplified What’s changing in federal student loan repayment. Which repayment plans are gone, and the details behind RAP. 2. RAP vs. Current Plans Why RAP bases payments on gross income. Why locking into an income-driven repayment plan before 2026 could be a smart move. 3. PSLF Stays Strong The good news: PSLF wasn’t touched by the new law. How to avoid errors with employer certification and payment tracking. 4. Goodbye Grad PLUS Loans How cutting Grad PLUS reshapes graduate and medical school financing. What rising reliance on private loans means for lower-income students. 5. Smart Moves for Current Borrowers How to maximize forgiveness and avoid costly mistakes. Critical timelines for choosing your repayment plan. 6. Should You Refinance? When private refinancing could save you money—and when it locks you out of forgiveness forever. What falling interest rates might mean for borrowers in 2025–2026. 7. Employer Support & Advocacy How hospitals, universities, and employers are stepping up with student loan benefits. Why employer advocacy is helping expand PSLF eligibility. Listener Takeaways: Act before July 2026: Enroll in an income-driven plan now to keep your options open. PSLF is safe—but annual employer certification is key to avoiding lost credits. Future grad students beware: With Grad PLUS gone, private loans will change the game. Refinancing is final: weigh lower interest rates against losing federal protections. Stay plugged in—loan policy is shifting fast, and being proactive could save you years of payments. Resources Mentioned: Black Swan Real Estate Savi Student Loan Platform Secure Freedom Fund U.S. Department of Education PSLF Help Tool Connect with Us: Host: Dr. Disha Spath, The Frugal Physician Guest: Aaron Smith, Co-Founder of Savi This episode is brought to you by Black Swan Real Estate, led by physician-investor Dr. Elaine Stageberg. Dr. Stageberg, a Mayo Clinic–trained physician, together with her husband Nick, has spent years building Black Swan Real Estate into a diversified, large-scale portfolio now approaching half a billion dollars across 2,000 doors. Now, through their Secure Freedom Fund, a 10% fixed rate of return offering, you can invest alongside them. The Secure Freedom Fund offers institutional-quality real estate opportunities—designed to deliver strong cash flow, long-term growth, and remarkable tax advantages. This fund is uniquely structured so that each investor can tailor it to their own individual goals: a minimum investment of just $25,000, the ability to choose monthly cashflow distributions or to elect the compounding option for higher overall growth, the option to exit the fund on your timing, the flexibility to invest in your personal name, a trust, an LLC, or a retirement account, and so much more. If you’re an accredited investor who’s ready to diversify beyond Wall Street and invest with experienced, trust worthy operators who’ve been exactly where you are, visit SecureFreedomFund.com today to learn more. From there, you can review the slides, watch the webinar, and even a book a call directly 1:1 with Dr. Elaine Stageberg. That’s SecureFreedomFund.com.
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