What if one checkbox on a student loan consolidation form this summer could cost you six figures?
In this solo mailbag episode, Jimmy tackles five listener questions spanning the most urgent financial decisions physicians face right now — plus a bonus reminder on disability insurance that every trainee needs to hear before graduation.
The biggest takeaway: fourth-year med students planning on PSLF should NOT consolidate their loans this spring. Thanks to OBBBA, any consolidation loan disbursing after July 1, 2026 wipes out IBR eligibility forever — and since IBR has a payment cap that RAP doesn’t, losing it can mean a five- or six-figure mistake over the life of your loans. Well-meaning mentors are still giving the old “consolidate to skip the grace period” advice, and for this year’s graduating class, it’s dangerous.
Jimmy also breaks down:
- Which repayment plan is best if you’re aggressively paying off loans in residency (hint: RAP’s interest subsidy makes it a near-0% loan during training)
- Whether the HSA is really the best retirement account — and why you shouldn’t let the investment tail wag the insurance dog
- The case for renting your first 6–12 months as a new attending, even when physician mortgage lenders are pushing you to buy on day one
- Pay off the mortgage early or invest? The math vs. the emotional argument — and why both answers can be right
Plus the annual reminder Jimmy will never stop making: if you’re finishing training, get disability insurance before you graduate. 50% of physicians need a Guaranteed Standard Issue (GSI) policy, and it’s only available while you’re still in training.
Get $100 off a student loan consult with Student Loan Planner:Â
Every doctor needs own-occupation disability insurance. Get a quote from a source you can trust.
Want a free copy of The Physician Philosopher’s Guide to Personal Finance? Snag your copy here.
Submit your own questions for a future mailbag episode at jimmy@moneymeetsmedicine.com
