Prepare for a successful conversation with your coach
This checklist will help you prepare for your student loan coaching call and make the most of your time with an EdAssist® by Bright Horizons® student loan coach. These coaches average 20+ years of professional education finance experience and can help you navigate repayment options, forgiveness programs, and strategies to pay off your student loans more effectively.
Determining which coaching session is right for you Depending on your employer’s benefit plan and policy, you may have access to four different types of coaching through EdAssist. It’s important to book a session with the right type of coach based on your questions.
When to choose student loan coaching
If you have existing student loan debt and want help figuring out the best way to pay it off—whether that's finding forgiveness programs, choosing a repayment plan, or deciding whether to refinance or consolidate—student loan coaching is the right choice.
What your coach can help you create
After meeting with a student loan coach, you may walk away with:
- A clear plan for paying off your loans faster
- A strategy that maximizes your repayment savings over time
- Guidance on which forgiveness programs you may qualify for
- A communication plan to make sure your loan servicer allocates your payments correctly
- A better understanding of how your student loans fit into your overall financial wellness
Before your scheduled loan coaching call
- Log into your loan servicer's website and review your current loan details
- Check studentaid.gov to see your federal loan history, if applicable
- Note your current repayment plan and monthly payment amount
- Write down any questions or frustrations you have about your loans
- Think about your financial goals beyond just paying off your loans
When scheduling your appointment
- Use the appointment notes section to briefly describe your situation
- Mention if you have federal loans, private loans, or both
- Note if there's a specific issue you're trying to solve, such as high payments, confusion about forgiveness, or cash-flow concerns
- Flag if you're facing any urgent deadlines or financial hardship
Key questions to think about
You don't need to have definitive answers to all of these—just thinking about them will help guide your conversation.
About your current loans:
- How much do I owe in total?
- What types of loans do I have (federal, private, or both)?
- Who is my loan servicer(s)?
- What repayment plan am I currently on?
- What's my current monthly payment, and is it manageable?
- Am I behind on any payments?
About your goals:
- Do I want to pay off my loans as fast as possible, or do I need lower monthly payments right now?
- Am I hoping to qualify for loan forgiveness?
- Am I considering going back to school, and if so, how might that affect my loans?
- Where does paying off student loans rank among my other financial priorities?
About your work situation:
- Do I work for a government agency or nonprofit?
- Does my employer offer any student loan repayment benefits?
- Is my income likely to change significantly in the near future?
Questions you might want to ask your coach
- What repayment plan makes the most sense for my situation?
- Am I eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)? What steps do I need to take?
- How does Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) work, and is it right for me?
- Should I consolidate my federal loans? What are the pros and cons?
- Should I refinance my loans? When does that make sense, and when should I avoid it?
- How do I make sure my loan servicer is applying my payments correctly?
- What's the best way to pay off my loans faster if I have extra money to put toward them?
- How do my student loans fit into my overall financial picture?
- Can I pause my payments if I go back to school?
- Are there any forgiveness programs I might not know about?
Information that may be helpful to have on hand
- Your loan servicer name(s) and login information
- Your total loan balances and interest rates
- Your current monthly payment amount
- Your current repayment plan
- Your employer type (government, nonprofit, or private sector)
- Your approximate annual income
- A list of any other debts you're managing, which can help with big-picture planning
- Your studentaid.gov login for federal loans
Remember
- EdAssist student loan coaches have deep expertise. They've been financial aid decision makers managing billions of dollars in aid to families, and they understand how these systems work from the inside.
- There's no judgment here. Whether you owe $10,000 or $200,000, coaches are there to help you figure out a path forward.
- The student loan landscape can be confusing and it changes frequently. What you heard a few years ago may not be accurate anymore, so it's worth getting updated guidance.
- You don't have to figure this out alone. Many people put off dealing with their student loans because it feels overwhelming, but one conversation can make a big difference.
- This is separate from financial coaching. If you have broader questions about budgeting, saving, or managing other types of debt, booking a financial coaching session may also be helpful if it’s included in your EdAssist employer benefit.
Ready to schedule your coaching call? Visit your EdAssist portal to get started.
