Podcast Summary: Saving Our Son From Student Loan Hell
Podcast Information:
- Title: Jill on Money with Jill Schlesinger
- Host: Audacy
- Episode: Saving Our Son From Student Loan Hell
- Release Date: December 18, 2024
Introduction
In the episode titled "Saving Our Son From Student Loan Hell," hosts Jill Schlesinger and Mark T. McGowan delve into the pressing issue of student loan debt, particularly focusing on a real-life scenario submitted by listeners Joe and Liz. The couple seeks expert advice on how to assist their 24-year-old son, who is grappling with substantial student loan burdens.
The Problem: A Son Overwhelmed by Student Loans
Joe and Liz introduce their son's financial predicament:
- Son’s Financial Status:
- Age: 24
- Annual Income: $55,000
- Student Loans:
- Private Loan: $96,000 at 10% interest
- Government Loans: Two additional loans totaling approximately $43,000 with varying interest rates (2%, 3%, and 6%)
Joe explains, “He’s getting particularly killed with a bad loan that is... the interest charges... it’s gone up to 15k in interest loans” (03:01).
Background: Family’s Financial Health
Joe and Liz provide an overview of their own financial situation to contextualize their ability to help:
- Income:
- Joe: $140,000 annually
- Liz: $140,000 annually
- Retirement Savings:
- Joe’s 401k: $127,000
- Liz’s Funds: Pension plan starting at age 64 ($2,500/month), HSA ($100,000), and additional retirement accounts
- Assets:
- Home: Valued at $700,000 with a remaining mortgage of $60,000 at 4.875% interest
- Inheritance: Anticipated $70,000 from Liz’s mother's estate
- Other Financial Obligations:
- Monthly Expenses: Approximately $8,000
Discussion: Strategies to Alleviate the Son’s Loan Burden
Mark T. McGowan guides Joe and Liz through potential strategies to reduce their son's financial strain:
-
Refinancing the High-Interest Loan:
- Proposal: Parents consider paying off the $96,000 loan and restructuring it at a lower interest rate (e.g., 3%).
- Mark’s Insight: “You're refinancing the loan for him” (23:32). This approach would lower the monthly payments from $1,000 to approximately $660 over 15 years.
-
Utilizing Retirement Funds:
- Strategy: Withdraw a portion of Joe’s 401k to pay off the loan, leveraging lower income in the following year to manage tax implications.
- Mark’s Advice: “Take out 50 or 60 grand from that 401k, pull it out, you’ll have that money... when you get mom’s money, you pay this whole thing off” (14:26).
-
Inheritance as a Financial Boost:
- Timing: The $70,000 inheritance from Liz’s mother's estate is expected in March.
- Application: Use these funds to further reduce the loan balance and invest in more stable financial instruments.
-
Financial Responsibility and Budgeting:
- Emphasis: Encouraging the son to maintain a disciplined budget and prioritize high-interest debts.
- Mark’s Point: “Let him feel what that feels like” (17:39), highlighting the importance of financial accountability.
-
Optimizing Investments:
- Recommendation: Diversify the brokerage account holdings from single stocks to a mix of large-cap stocks, ETFs, or bond funds to stabilize returns and grow the investment portfolio.
Insights and Key Takeaways
-
Equitable Support vs. Equal Support:
- Discussion: Joe and Liz differentiate between helping one child equitably rather than equally, ensuring that support is tailored to individual needs without disadvantaging other siblings.
- Joe’s Clarification: “Equitable is different than equal” (10:57).
-
Long-Term Financial Planning:
- Advice: Focus on long-term strategies such as retirement planning and investment diversification to ensure financial stability while addressing immediate debts.
-
Parental Involvement and Boundaries:
- Balance: While supporting their son, Joe and Liz emphasize the importance of fostering financial independence and responsibility.
Conclusion
Mark T. McGowan provides Joe and Liz with a comprehensive plan to alleviate their son’s student loan burden through refinancing, strategic withdrawal from retirement accounts, and utilizing forthcoming inheritance funds. The episode underscores the delicate balance parents must maintain between providing support and encouraging financial autonomy in their children.
Notable Quotes:
- Joe: “He’s getting particularly killed with a bad loan that is... the interest charges... it’s gone up to 15k in interest loans” (03:01)
- Mark T. McGowan: “You're refinancing the loan for him” (23:32)
- Joe: “Equitable is different than equal” (10:57)
- Mark T. McGowan: “Let him feel what that feels like” (17:39)
Resources Mentioned:
- Podcast Contact: Listeners seeking similar advice can reach out via jillonmoney.com and join live discussions.
- Financial Tools: Mark offers to perform amortizations and financial analyses to aid in decision-making.
This episode provides valuable insights for parents grappling with how to support their children amidst rising student loan debts, emphasizing strategic financial planning and fostering responsible money management.