FAFQ: Am I totally screwed with private student loans?

Frequently asked financial questions are questions that I’ve seen pop up over and over again.  I thought I’d take the time to answer them in this Frequently Asked Financial Questions Series. So each post will have a short quick answer to these frequently asked financial questions followed by a longer more detailed answer.

Am I totally screwed with private student loan debt?

Private student loans might not have the flexibility in terms of repayment that federal loans do, however, with federal loans you can’t refinance them without losing that flexibility.

Short Answer:

No, private student loans, unlike federal student loans, can be refinanced without losing flexibility. In fact, depending on who you refinance with, might give you some flexibility. Also, if you’re doing it right you will actually save money since you will be repaying the loan at a lower interest rate.

Most of my loans are federal loans, however, my bar loan was and is a private loan. I refinanced with SoFi, saving me over $1,000 over the life of the loan. While I do recommend SoFi, don’t be afraid to shop around for different rates. If you do decide to go with SoFi, you can earn a $100 welcome bonus by using my link.

Long Answer:

Private student loans don’t typically offer repayment plans based on your income level. However, the ability to refinance private loans should not be overlooked. Those (like me) that have federal loans and are dependent on income-driven repayment plans, can’t afford to refinance our loans and are screwed with our interest rates. Seriously, one of my interest rates is 8.5%.

While your interest rate is in part due to timing and when you were lucky enough to go to school. So after you finish school and start making a decent income, you can start to shop around for a better loan to replace the loan you took out for school.

Related: How to Find Out How Much You Owe in Student Loans

You can even leverage different loans against each other to ensure you get the best possible loan for your situation. Keeping in mind that the loan with the lowest interest rate may not be the right loan for you.

This could be because the lowest interest rate is actually a variable interest rate that could go up. You may want the security of a fixed interest rate. Though it’s all going to depend on you and your financial situation.

Some advantages to having private student loans

Besides the ability to refinance at what could be a much lower rate, there are a few other advantages of having private loans. Including the fact that with your repayment you will actually pay off your loans. At the end of repayment, you won’t be staring down a gigantic tax bill.

Another advantage of private loans is that to a certain extent, you can choose what financial institution/bank you want to work with when it comes to your loans. While your loan could always be sold off to another bank, you can then just refinance the loan with a different company.

What to do if you’re struggling with your private loans

While you aren’t inherently screwed by private loans, repayment can be hard. Particularly, if you don’t make enough money or you are struggling to keep up with your private loan repayment. However, there is something you can do.

Refinancing isn’t just for getting a lower interest rate. You could also refinance with the goal of a longer repayment term, lowering your monthly payment. Over the life of the loan, you may end up paying more in interest. However, it can be worth it to be able to live more affordably, with a lower monthly payment for your loans.

Wrapping it Up with a Bow on Top

While you aren’t screwed just because you have private student loans, you need to be aware of your loan details and take action. With private loans, you can refinance to either save on interest or extend the loan term to lower your monthly payment or both. You also have the benefit of choosing which financial institution to work with regarding your student loans.

Read more from the Frequently Asked Financial Questions Series?