✅ Student loan repayments and forgiveness for professional students is changing fast—and the new 2026 rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are set to reshape how repayment works for graduate-level borrowers across the U.S. In this episode, financial expert James Mwombela from Student Loan Planner breaks down what the new law means for law students, pharmacy students, dental students, business school graduates, optometry students, physician assistants, nurses, medical students, chiropractors , and other healthcare professionals navigating student debt. If you're in or entering a graduate or professional program , the elimination of Grad PLUS loans , new federal borrowing caps , and less generous income-driven repayment plans could directly affect your future—and your finances. This episode covers everything you need to know about the coming changes and how to prepare, strategize, and protect your financial future . 🎯 James Mwombela specializes in advising professionals with $100K+ in student debt. He offers tailored strategies to help borrowers minimize payments, maximize forgiveness, and avoid common traps—especially with the shift toward the new RAP plan and limitations around IBR , consolidation , and PSLF eligibility . 🔎 In this episode, you'll learn: 📉 What the 2026 federal loan cap means for professional school costs 🧾 How the end of Grad PLUS loans impacts tuition financing 🏛️ Who qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and who doesn’t ⚠️ The risks of private student loans and predatory lending 🧠 How to compare RAP vs. IBR and choose the right repayment plan 🧮 The best moves before July 2026 to lock in smarter repayment terms 🧰 Why consolidation could help—or hurt—you depending on timing Whether you're pre-med, pre-law, starting dental school, applying to MBA programs, or in the thick of a DPT, NP, or pharmacy program— this episode is packed with strategies, timelines, and clarity to help you make the right loan decisions now and in the years ahead. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS (23:47 total) 00:00 – Intro: Who is James Mwombela & what’s this episode about? 01:10 – The new 2026 bill: How it changes student loan rules 03:45 – What med students and future residents must understand now 06:20 – $200k cap: What it means for your med school budget 08:00 – Private loans & risk of predatory lending 10:15 – Impact on med school tuition + school behavior 12:00 – What to watch out for in private lending contracts 13:30 – For residents: Should you pay off or go PSLF? 16:00 – Why RAP may be worse than IBR 18:00 – Consolidation risks post-2026 20:10 – Best strategies for attendings in private vs nonprofit hospitals 22:30 – Final thoughts + how to work with Student Loan Planner 🔖 HASHTAGS #StudentLoanForgiveness #MedSchoolDebt #PSLF #DoctorsFinance #JamesMwombela #StudentLoanPlanner #FinancialFreedomForDoctors #DoctorDebtStrategy To check out the YouTube (video podcast), visit: https://www.youtube.com/@drchrisloomdphd Disclaimer: Not advice. Educational purposes only. Not an endorsement for or against. Results not vetted. Views of the guests do not represent those of the host or show. Click here to join PodMatch (the "AirBNB" of Podcasting): https://www.joinpodmatch.com/drchrisloomdphd We couldn’t do it without the support of our listeners. To help support the show: CashApp- https://cash.app/$drchrisloomdphd Venmo- https://account.venmo.com/u/Chris-Loo-4 Buy Me a Coffee- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chrisJx Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereal_drchrisloo Follow the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NkM6US7cjsiAYTBjWGdx6?si=1da9d0a17be14d18 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter: https://substack.com/@drchrisloomdphd1 Subscribe to our email list: https://financial-freedom-podcast-with-dr-loo.kit.com/ Thank you to all of our sponsors and advertisers that help support the show! Financial Freedom for Physicians, Copyright 2025
