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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Richmond | Pruitt Richmond Wealth Management | Estero | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Jeff Burke | 7th Street Financial | Chaska | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, Hourly |
| Jessica Smith | Vitality Wealth | Meridian | CFP, CPA, MAcc | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joel Chouinard | SharpEdge Financial LLC | Southlake | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Josue Luque De Julio | Next Gen Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Horowitz Advice-only planning for environmentally and socially conscious people who want to align their money, investments and values. | Just Advising | Raleigh | CFP | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Kevin Burkle Flat-fee, one-time early retirement plans for people who want to keep control of their investments, with ongoing software access. | HCP Wealth Planning, LLC | Jacksonville | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Mike Zeiter | Foundations Financial Planning | Carthage | CFP, CPA, PFS | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Patti Hughes | Lake Life Wealth Advisory Group LLC | Chicago | CFP, CPA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Rachel Lawrence | Reverie Wealth | Rochester | CFP, MSFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Rafael Melendez | Next Gen Financial Planning | San Diego | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Rosario Chacón | Wealth-Source Financial | Oakland | CFP, CSLP, CDFA, EA | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Stephanie Loeffel | Ascend Financial LLC | Scituate | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Tyler Landes | Tandem Financial Guidance, LLC | Kansas City | AIF, CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Valerie Rivera | FirstGen Wealth | Chicago | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Zachary Zwillinger | ZZ Planning LLC | New York | CFP, JD | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Anandi Krishnamurthy | AKrish Financial Advisory | Cupertino | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Andrew Katz-Moses | Katz-Moses Financial, LLC | Washington | CFP, M.Ed. | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Andrew Mastro | Wrought Financial Planning | Haddonfield | CFP, CFA | Ongoing planning fee, Flat fee or retainer |
| Betsy Hutchins | Forward Financial Planning | Germantown | CFP, CRPC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Carey Morgan | Livelihood LLC | Philadelphia | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Hourly |
| Cecil Staton | Arch Financial Planning, LLC | Athens | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Christopher Annello | SAGEbroadview Wealth Management, LLC | Farmington | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Crystal Kelly | Amani Financial Inc. | Edmonton | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Dallen Haws | Haws Financial Planning, LLC | Sierra Vista | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ethan Miller | Planning for Progress | Silver Spring | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Gary Birdsall | True Financial, LLC | Houma | CFP, JD | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| J. David Principe | SAGEbroadview Wealth Management, LLC | Farmington | CFP, Certified Student Loan Professional, CPA/PFS, RLP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Jeffrey McDermott | Create Wealth Financial Planning, LLC | Jacksonville | Certified Student Loan Professional, CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| JoAnn May | Forest Asset Management LLC | Riverside | CFP, CPA/PFS, MBA, CPA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Justin Belkin | Financial Boss | Plainview | CFP, EA, MBA | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Massi De Santis | Desmo Wealth Advisors, LLC | Lakeway | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Morris | Multipath Wealth Management | Columbia | CFP, MSFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Matthew Smith | Concert Financial Planning, LLC | Houston | CFA, CFP | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mike Henzes | Open Wealth Network | Pottstown | CFP, EA, MBA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Ryan Townsley | Town Capital | Bel Air | CFP, MBA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Scott Wellens | Fortress Planning Group | Pewaukee | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Shaun Melby | Melby Wealth Management, LLC | Nashville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Steven Fox Next Gen founder now building AdviceOnly to help advisors give advice instead of sales pitches; takes occasional small hourly projects. | AdviceOnly | San Diego | CFP, EA, BFA, MS | Subscription, One-time planning fee |
| Zack Gutches | True Riches Financial Planning | Denver | CFP, CPA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Andrew McFadden | Panoramic Financial Advice | Fresno | CFP, MBA | Flat fee or retainer |
| Catherine Hawley | Hawley Personal Finance | Los Angeles | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Dwayne Reinike | Valiant Financial Planning | Kirkland | CFP, ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Germaine Weldon | Inspired Financial Planners, LLC | Gulfport | CFP, CPA/PFS, Certified Student Loan Professional, CPA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Janice Fier | Couloir Wealth Advisors, Inc. | Welch | CFP | Hourly, One-time planning fee |
| Kade Hammes | Storybook Financial | Coralville | CFP, RLP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Marcus Holzberg | Holzberg Wealth Management | Corte Madera | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mark Schweiss | Modern Dollar Planning | St. Louis | CFP, CFA, CPA | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Mike Anderson | AdviceOnly | Murrieta | CFP | Hourly, Flat fee or retainer |
| Ryan Frailich | Deliberate Finances, LLC | New Orleans | CFP, Certified Student Loan Professional | Ongoing 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.