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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Claire Nornhold | Garritt Financial Solutions | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Caitlin Price | Tactical Wealth Partners | Swansboro | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Danielle Dettenmayer | Tactical Wealth Partners | Southern Pines | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| David Gourley | K-12 Planning | Kansas City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| David Klepeisz | Accruent Wealth Advisors | Winston-Salem | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Denisse Arebalo | Pacific Canyon Investments | Lemon Grove | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Igor Tsukerman | Eureka Wealth Solutions | New York | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| James Behr | Stillwater Private Wealth | Mt. Pleasant | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Jeffrey Venables | Garritt Financial Solutions | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Justin Garritt | Garritt Financial Solutions | Baltimore | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Mark Eid | Acts Financial Advisors | Mclean | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Graham | Mayport | Newton | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Seth Bittner | Stillwater Private Wealth | Allentown | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Stephen Chang | Acts Financial Advisors | Mclean | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Taylor Whitt | Cairn Financial Group | Nashville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Terrance Andersen | Tactical Wealth Partners | Zionsville | CFP | Ongoing planning fee |
| Trey Ortman | Ortman Finances | Canistota | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Weston Bryan | Accruent Wealth Advisors | Winston-Salem | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Greene | Cairn Financial Group | Nashville | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Aaron Gardiner | Gardiner Financial | Wellesley | Not listed | Hourly, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Mickley | Lakeside Planning | Macungie | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Brent Hudson | Fluid Financial Planning | Columbus | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Brian Munoz | Financial Rounds | Cincinnati | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Cilimberg James | Foresight Financial Advising | Vestavia | ChFC | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Daniel Smith | FreeMind Financial Advisory | Shirley | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Jeffrey Brink | The DBS Companies | Bay City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Jesse Geary | Geddi Capital | Ann Arbor | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Joseph Warner | Allvet Financial | Plano | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Lauren Kearl | Dentist Advisors | Salt Lake City | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Lawrence Davsko | Skinner Copper & Ehmen | Springfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Lisa Whitley | MoneyByLisa | Washington | Not listed | One-time planning fee |
| Meredith Jones | Allvet Financial | Manakin Sabot | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets |
| Michael Stock | Boltwood Capital Management | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Noah Skinner | Skinner Copper & Ehmen | Springfield | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Regan Duperon | The DBS Companies | Bay City | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Gochnour | Dentist Advisors | Salt Lake City | Not listed | Ongoing planning fee |
| Zachary Wolf | Boltwood Capital Management | Walnut Creek | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Bernard Campbell | Etch Financial | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Donald Slone | Etch Financial | Pittsburgh | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Heriberto Chinea | EightOne Capital | Pearland | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Matthew Mohning | MSM Financial | Minneapolis | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Cathie Arthurs | Wayfinding Financial | Lynnwood | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Trent O'Neal | Wayfinding Financial | Lynnwood | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sirkka Wood | Cairn Financial Group | Nashville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Wesley Shuman | Journey | Summerville | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
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.