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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon Miller | Financial Rounds | Cincinnati | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Taylor Sutterfield | Dentist Advisors | Salt Lake City | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Theodore Schumann | The DBS Companies | Bay City | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Thomas Kelly | Kelly Investment Management | Carlsbad | CFP | One-time planning fee |
| Adam Grossman | Mayport | Newton | CFA | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Alistair Huong | AdventEdge Financial | Apison | ChFC | One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee |
| Amanda Harrell | FPL Capital Management | Metairie | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Ashley Perlmutter | Sherman Wealth | Gaithersburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Bradley Sherman | Sherman Wealth | Gaithersburg | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Brandon Clouse | Prism Planning Partners | Libertyville | Not listed | One-time planning fee |
| Brian Ward | W&S Management Services | Rochester | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| David Hamer | Integrity Asset Management | Hawthorne | CFP, CFA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Derek Hughes | Hughes & Company | Marietta | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Emily Maretsky | Educated Financial Planning | Astoria | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Jacob Kuebler | Bluestem Financial Advisors | Savoy | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Johnathan Frerichs | Bluestem Financial Advisors | Savoy | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Joseph Miebach | Bluestem Financial Advisors | Savoy | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Joshua Cutler | Bluestem Financial Advisors | Savoy | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Mario Payne | TOAMS Financial | Jacksonville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Michael Dixon | Your Planning Partner | Palm Beach Gardens | PFS | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael George | FPL Capital Management | Metairie | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Nathan Ward | W&S Management Services | Richmond | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Vogel | Bluestem Financial Advisors | Savoy | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Ross Riskin | Riskin Wealth Management | Newtown | PFS | Percentage of assets |
| Ryan Galiotto | Etch Financial | Pittsburgh | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Samuel Wesley | Bluestem Financial Advisors | Savoy | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Timothy Lee | Bluestem Financial Advisors | Savoy | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Virajith Wijeweera | FPL Capital Management | Metairie | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Allison Kade | WealthFD | Conshohocken | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Carlie Campuzano | Millennial Wealth Management | Broomfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Charles Johnson | Differential Planning | Silverdale | CFA | Hourly |
| Christopher Villaire | Villaire Financial | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Debra Allison-Aasby | Great Lakes Financial Strategies | Oshkosh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Grayson Hofferber | Millennial Wealth Management | Broomfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Joseph Hogan | WealthFD | Conshohocken | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Joseph Rugger | Bridge To Wealth | Corinth | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Lori Slaughter | Millennial Wealth Management | Amarillo | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mark Recker | Recker Financial | Bay City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Lambdin | Method Finance | St. Louis | CFA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Melanie Husk | MEL Consulting | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nam Phan | Phan Capital Management | San Antonio | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Nicholas Butler | Butler Financial Services | Westlake Village | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Nina Shaw | The DBS Companies | Mendham | CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Phuong Luong | Just Wealth | Pittsfield | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Rabih Dimachki | Dentist Advisors | Salt Lake City | CFA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Rose DeFrank | WealthFD | Conshohocken | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan DiFabrizio | WealthFD | Conshohocken | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Steven Underriter | Freedom Financial Planning Solutions | Grand Rapids | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer |
| Victoria Abaev | WealthFD | Conshohocken | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alberto Crespo | Crespo Capital | Jacksonville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
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.