Student loans
Student-loan specialty covers federal program strategy (PSLF, SAVE, PAYE), forgiveness-vs-refinancing math, residency and fellowship income planning, and the larger decisions that tie into early-career household cash flow. Particularly relevant for physicians, dentists, attorneys, and public-sector professionals.
By the numbers
The Wellspent public graph lists 245 fee-only financial advisors focused on student loans at 170 firms, most in Salt Lake City, Cincinnati and Savoy. 70% hold the CFP certification. Of the 244 with fees on file, 59% charge percentage of assets.
- Advisors listed
- 245
- Firms
- 170
- Cities
- 145
- Hold the CFP
- 70%
- Other credentials: CFA 8% · CPA 4% · EA 5%
- How they charge (of 244 with fees on file): percentage of assets 59% · ongoing planning fee 55% · one-time planning fee 36% · hourly 34%
Source: Wellspent public graph, data as of . Shares are of advisors listed here; an advisor can hold several credentials or fee types. Methodology
Advisors with depth in student loans
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evon Mendrin We help optometrists nationwide build thriving practices and lasting wealth through tailored financial planning and investment management. | Optometry Wealth Advisors LLC | Madera | Certified Student Loan Professional, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Mary Ann Sullivan Pension-focused retirement planning and education for educators and public employees who want to manage their own money confidently. | 395 Financial Planning | Mammoth Lakes | CFP, RICP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Matt Sheers Flat-fee, advice-only planning for mid-career individuals and couples working through career changes, growing families or business ownership. | Sheer Empowerment Financial | Plymouth | CFP, CFA | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Megan Kiesel Flexible, as-needed planning for early- and mid-career people who want a meaningful life and long-term financial stability. | Livelihood LLC | Philadelphia | CFP | One-time planning fee, Hourly |
| Rupa Pereira Tax-focused hourly and comprehensive planning for young families, women-led households and clients with cross-border ties. | FWJ Planning | Raleigh Durham Triangle | CFP, EA | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Sarah Gerber Project and ongoing planning for newlyweds, young families and early-career professionals building a financial foundation, including couples merging finances. | Momentum Financial Planning LLC | Longmont | CFP, AFC | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Alejandro Haas | Copper Square Private Wealth, LLC | Phoenix | CFP, CIMA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Alvin Carlos | District Capital Management | Washington | CFP, CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Amber FitzRysler | Rising Financial | Minneapolis | BA, CFP, EA | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Amy Barnes | Firebrand Wealth Management, LLC | Seattle | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Altfest | Altfest Personal Wealth Management | New York | CFP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Langdon | VetWorth | Peachtree City | CFP, EA, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Audrey Morrison | Cairn Financial Advisors, LLC | Denver | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Autumn Knutson | Styled Wealth | Tulsa | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Bill Jensen | Acadia Financial Services LLC | Burke | CFP, EA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Cary Cates | Cates Financial Planning, LLC | Denton | CFP, EA, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Chris Haigh | Iconoclastic Capital Management LLC | Brooklyn | CFP, ChFC, RICP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Christopher Kehoe | R.W. Roge & Company, Inc. | Bohemia | CFA, MBA, AIF, CFP | Percentage of assets, One-time planning fee |
| Christopher Marrone | Marrone Wealth Management LLC | New York | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Courtney McKenna | Altfest Personal Wealth Management | New York | CFP, CLU, CFA, CPA/PFS | Ongoing planning fee |
| Curtis Pope | Pope Wealth Planning | New York | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Daniel Wrenne | Wrenne Financial Planning | Lexington | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ed Smith | Valor Wealth Partners | Washington | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Francisco Ayala | The Coleridge Group | Phoenix | CFA, CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Gene Thompson | Iconoclastic Capital Management | Brooklyn | CFP, ChFC, RICP, Certified Student Loan Professional | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Hannah Szarszewski | Blue Mountain Financial Planning, LLC | Lubbock | CFP, AFC | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Hunter Kelly | Palm Valley Wealth Management | Saint Augustine | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Jared Andreoli | Simplicity Financial, LLC | Milwaukee | Certified Student Loan Professional, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jennifer Swindler | Money Illustrated Advisory Services | Bluffdale | AFC, CDFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| John O'Callaghan | Impact Financial Life Planning LLC | Baltimore | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jordan Banning | Crafted Financial Planning | Glendale | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jordan DeBoer | Calibration Financial | Milaca | AWMA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Kathryn Kubiak-Rizzone | About Time Financial Planning | Rochester | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lance Elrod | Next Step Financial Transitions | Cypress | CFP, CDFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Liz Plot | Primas Financial Planning | Columbia | CFP, ChFC, AFC, EA | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Mai Yang | Heartworth Financial | Saint Louis Park | CFP | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Marcus Miller | Mainstay Capital LLC | Lakeland | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Patrick Yaghoobians | Noor Financial Services | Los Angeles | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Sara Young | Live and Give Financial LLC | Cincinnati | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tracy Baron Garcia | TBG Investing | Lake Oswego | CFP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Zubin Kapur | Valor Wealth Partners | Washington | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Audrey Emerson Planning with no minimums for newlyweds, freelancers and creative millennials, usually through a four- to five-month integrated process. | AdviceOnly | Bellingham | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Betsy Ratashak-Vogel | R&V Personal Finance | Decorah | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Bill Nelson | Pacesetter Planning LLC | Arlington | Certified Student Loan Professional, CFP, CFT-I | Ongoing planning fee |
| Bob Wolfe | HealthyFP | Conshohocken | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Charles Thomas | Intrepid Eagle Finance | Clover | CFP, MBA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Wells | Flourish Financial Planning | Grapevine | CFP, CKA, MS, MSFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Clint Gossage | CMG Financial Consulting, LLC | Scottsdale | CFA, CFP, CPA | Ongoing planning fee |
| David Frank | Turning Point Planning LLC | Los Angeles | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ivan Havrylyan | Outside The Box Financial Planning, LLC | Wheeling | CFP | One-time planning fee |
Guides
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Pay off student loans or invest: how to decide
Paying extra earns your loan's rate, guaranteed. With federal loans, forgiveness, the new Repayment Assistance Plan and the tax on forgiveness can change the answer. Here's how rates, taxes, risk and liquidity decide it.
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Lower-income and early-career: where to get advice that fits
You don't need a portfolio to get good advice. Free help covers taxes, debt, housing and student loans; a fee-only planner charges a median $300 an hour, and a quarter of one-time plans start at $845 or less.
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Credit counselor vs financial planner: which do you need?
See a credit counselor when debt is the problem: most nonprofit agencies counsel for free and can set up a plan with your creditors. See a financial planner when the question is what to do with your money: fee-only planners charge a median $300 an hour. If you're behind on payments, start with the counselor.
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Buying your first home: the money plan to make before you offer
At late October's average rate of 7.24%, a $400,000 home with 10% down costs about $2,453 a month before taxes and insurance. Plan the payment, the down payment and the cash you keep, then decide if advice is worth $300 an hour.
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Do I have to have $1M to hire an advisor?
No. Of 781 US fee-only firms whose websites state a minimum, 50% say they have none, and hourly, one-time and subscription planners work with people at any asset level.
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Financial advisor for doctors: what real expertise looks like
A good advisor for doctors knows PSLF, disability cover, hospital retirement plans and the late start on saving. Fee-only planners charge a median $4,500 a year, or $2,000 for a one-time plan.