Repay, refinance, or work toward forgiveness? The right answer depends on your income, career path, and goals. A fiduciary, fee-only Certified Financial Planner builds a plan for your loans, and for the rest of your financial life.
Income-driven repayment & forgiveness
Payments tied to income, with possible forgiveness
Pay it down on a set schedule
Federal plans with predictable payments
Refinance privately
May lower your rate, but ends federal protections
Your options
Three ways dentists usually handle their loans
Most dentists end up on some version of one of these. The best fit depends on your income, your employer, your specialty, and what else you're saving for.
Path 01
Income-driven repayment and forgiveness
Federal plans that set your payment based on income, with the remaining balance forgiven after a set period. Public Service Loan Forgiveness can shorten that period for people working at qualifying employers.
Often worth a look if
You work for a government or qualifying nonprofit employer, or your debt is large compared with your income for years to come.
Watch out for
Forgiveness timelines are long, the paperwork has to be right every year, and some forgiven balances can be taxable.
Path 02
Pay it down on a set schedule
Federal repayment plans with fixed or predictable monthly payments that pay the loans off over a set term.
Often worth a look if
Your income is strong relative to your debt and you want the loans gone, without giving up federal protections along the way.
Watch out for
Higher monthly payments can squeeze cash you may need for a practice purchase, a home, or retirement savings.
Path 03
Refinance with a private lender
Replace your federal loans with a private loan, often to get a lower interest rate or a different term.
Often worth a look if
You have stable, high income, you won't use forgiveness, and you can get a meaningfully better rate.
Watch out for
Refinancing federal loans is permanent. You lose income-driven plans, forgiveness, and federal pause or deferment options.
A fiduciary works for you. A salesperson works for the sale.
A fiduciary is legally responsible to act in your best interest. Many people calling themselves financial advisors follow only a "suitability" standard, which lets them recommend what pays them most. We hold ourselves to the higher standard because it's the right thing to do.
We've taken the Fiduciary Oath
We have adopted the full oath from The Committee for the Fiduciary Standard.
Fiduciary, fee-only How we work
Suitability standard Many "advisors"
Legal duty
Must act in your best interest
Recommendations only need to be "suitable"
How they're paid
Fee-only: paid by you, no commissions
Often paid commissions on products they sell
What they recommend
Advice based on a full analysis of your situation
Products that can pay them the most
Accountability
Legally responsible for the advice
Little accountability if it doesn't serve you
Beyond "just" investments
Your loans are one part of a bigger plan
Your life is more than dollar signs. We build 100% custom financial plans around your needs, personality, and goals, so you get comprehensive advice from a fiduciary, fee-only Certified Financial Planner without the headache of complexity or the heartache of uncertainty.
When should I start planning for my dental school loans?
The earlier the better. Choices made in dental school and residency, like which repayment plan you enroll in and whether payments count toward forgiveness, can affect what you pay for years. Starting before your first associate job gives you the most options.
Should I refinance my federal student loans?
It depends. Refinancing can lower your rate, but it permanently turns federal loans into private ones, which ends access to income-driven plans, forgiveness, and federal deferment options. It usually only makes sense once you are sure you won't use those protections.
Can dentists qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
Yes, if you work full time for a qualifying employer, such as a government agency or an eligible nonprofit like many community health centers, and make qualifying payments on an eligible federal plan. Most private practices and DSOs are not qualifying employers.
What does fee-only mean?
A fee-only planner is paid directly by you, not through commissions on products they sell. That removes the incentive to recommend something because it pays the planner more.
What is a fiduciary?
A fiduciary is legally responsible to act in your best interest. Many financial advisors only follow a suitability standard, which allows recommendations that are acceptable for you but pay them more. We have adopted the full oath from The Committee for the Fiduciary Standard.
Does my student loan plan connect to my insurance?
It should. Disability and life coverage protect your ability to repay, and loan payments affect how much coverage and savings you can afford. Because CFS also advises on insurance for dentists, your plan can account for both.
How do I get started?
Reach out to our team. We'll match you with an advisor who will review your loans and goals, then walk you through your options.
