The idea of using 401(k) or IRA savings to reduce immediate student debt burdens can be appealing, considering retirement seems distant while student loans demand immediate attention.

However, this strategy often leads to more financial woes than relief. While there are rare instances where such a move could be beneficial, most borrowers find an alternative approach to be preferable.

Can retirement funds from a 401(k) or IRA be used to pay off student loans?

If you have money in retirement accounts, no law prevents you from using your money to pay off your student loans.

However, just because you can make this move doesn’t mean you should.

There are three major issues with taking money out of a retirement account to knock out student debt:

• Income Taxes on Withdrawals: Withdrawing from a 401(k) or traditional IRA incurs income taxes, as these funds are tax-deferred.
• Early Withdrawal Penalties: If you’re under 59.5 years old, early withdrawals typically trigger a 10% penalty.
• Reduced Retirement Savings: Using these funds for student loans decreases your retirement savings, potentially leading to financial challenges later in life.

Early withdrawal penalty exceptions

There are several circumstances where an IRA or 401(k) early withdrawal penalty can be avoided. These exceptions include buying a first home, medical expenses, and Covid-19.

Educational expenses are also included, but this exemption doesn’t extend to student loan payments. Therefore, using retirement funds for a child or grandchild’s education is penalty-free, but the same rule doesn’t apply to paying off your own student loans.

It’s important to note that even in cases where penalty-free withdrawal is possible, it might not always be the wisest financial move if there are better alternatives.

Alternative Options

Rather than tapping into retirement funds, consider these alternatives:

Refinance Student Debt: If you have enough money in your retirement account to eliminate your student loans, the odds are pretty good that you could find a lower interest rate through student loan refinancing. One lender, Earnest, even considers retirement accounts when making lending decisions. Several lenders currently offer refinance rates around 5%. If the interest rates on your student debt are lower than what your retirement account is earning, you will come out way ahead.

401(k) Loans: A 401(k) loan, where you borrow from your fund and repay it, could be an option, avoiding taxes and penalties. However, failure to repay means taxes and a 10% penalty.

Reduce Retirement Contributions: Lower your contributions to your retirement fund to free up funds for paying off high-interest student loans, especially if you’re not benefiting from employer matching.

These strategies provide different approaches to managing student debt without compromising retirement savings.

When it makes sense to use retirement accounts for a student loan payoff

There are a few circumstances where dipping into retirement accounts is a reasonable choice.

• If you have already reached age 59.5 – If you are old enough to make a penalty-free withdrawal and you feel confident about your finances heading into retirement, pulling the money out to pay down student debt makes sense.
• If you have money in a Roth IRA – Roth IRAs are treated differently than traditional IRAs. Savers can withdraw Roth contributions at any time without penalty. Roth accounts only charge a penalty if earnings are withdrawn before age 59.5. Moving money out of a Roth account makes sense for borrowers who have high-interest student loans. If your student debt is charging 13%, but you only expect to earn 7-10% on your Roth account, moving the money is a logical choice.

The Big Concern with 401(k) and IRA Withdrawals

Raiding your retirement accounts may provide temporary relief from present difficulties but can lead to severe future challenges.

Consider this scenario: you decide to forgo student loan payments for the next three months. In the short term, it provides some relief. However, in the long run, your loan balance grows, accompanied by late fees, ultimately worsening your overall financial situation. Similarly, prematurely tapping into your retirement account is a short-sighted move.

Managing student loans can be demanding, but facing an underfunded retirement later in life presents even greater challenges. When you can no longer work and struggle to meet your financial obligations, the difficulties multiply.

The post Should I Empty My Retirement Accounts to Pay Off My Student Loans? appeared first on The Student Loan Sherpa.

For borrowers on income-driven repayment plans, monthly payments are calculated based on what a borrower can afford to pay. Putting money in certain retirement accounts essentially shields that income from being included in monthly payment calculations.

It might sound like a bit of accounting voodoo, but getting lower payments via retirement contributions is pretty simple.

Why Putting Money in a 401(k) or 457 Retirement Plan Means Lower Student Loan Payments

The whole “process” is basically three steps:

1. Put money in an eligible retirement account.
2. Claim a tax deduction for the retirement contribution.
3. Get a lower student loan payment on an IDR plan.

Step three is the one with the potential for confusion. To make sense of it, borrowers need to understand how monthly payments on Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans work.

The appeal of an IDR plan is that borrowers can make payments based on what they can afford to pay. The Department of Education calculates a borrower’s “discretionary income” in order to determine what they can afford to pay.

The starting point for the dictionary income calculation is usually the borrower’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from their most recent tax return. The larger your AGI, the more you will be expected to pay on an IDR plan.

Shifting back to the retirement side of the equation, some retirement contributions qualify for a tax deduction. This tax deduction lowers the taxpayer’s AGI. The reduced AGI essentially shelters income from student loan payment calculations.

In other words, putting money in a retirement account lowers your income for tax purposes. This “lowered income” means lower payments on income-driven repayment plans.

If things are still a bit fuzzy, the next section will cover the eligible retirement accounts, and later on we will do a quick example with actual numbers.

The Exception: Roth 401(k)s and “Post-Tax” Accounts

Sadly, not all retirement account contributions mean lower student loan payments.

Some retirement accounts are considered “pre-tax” because the money placed in the retirement account isn’t taxed yet. These accounts are also commonly called tax-deferred, meaning you don’t pay taxes until the money comes out of the account.

These contributions that lower your tax bill are the ones that lower student loan payments. Common examples include most 401(k)s, 457 plans, and IRAs.

Borrowers don’t get a student loan benefit if the retirement account is a “post-tax” account. Post-tax contributions don’t lower your tax bill, which means they don’t help with student loan payments. Common examples of post-tax retirement accounts are Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s.

Sherpa Tip: If you get a tax deduction for putting money in your retirement account, it also means lower payments on income-driven repayment plans.

Other Ways to Save for Retirement and Lower Student Loan Payments

Clever borrowers might also wonder if other tax breaks mean lower student loan payments.

The answer is yes. Several other tax deductions also mean lower student loan payments.

However, not all tax deductions mean lower student loan payments. The critical detail on tax deductions is whether or not the deduction lowers your AGI. Tax pros call deductions that lower AGI “above-the-line” deductions. The tax breaks that don’t lower AGI are “below-the-line” deductions.

The following deductions are “above-the-line” and will lower income-driven student loan payments:

• Health Savings Account Contributions
• Alimony Payments
• One-half of Self-Employment Taxes
• Student Loan Interest

Deductions that do not lower student loan payments include the following:

• Charitable Contributions
• Mortgage Interest
• State and Local Taxes

Taking Advantage of Lower Payments for Tax Breaks

Before getting too excited about the opportunities for lower student loan payments, it is worth remembering that debt elimination is the goal of all borrowers. Lower monthly payments are nice, but they also mean spending more on interest in the long run.

The people chasing after student loan forgiveness will benefit the most from using retirement contributions to lower payments. If you are on your way to Public Service Loan Forgiveness, putting money in the correct retirement account means lower monthly payments, a reduced tax bill, more money saved for retirement, and more student debt forgiven.

Even if forgiveness isn’t on the horizon, the lower payment is still helpful. If you have a reduced federal student loan bill, it means you can focus your efforts on attacking your high-interest private loans or saving for a home down payment.

An Example with Actual Numbers

Suppose I make $60,000 per year working for the government.

I have a lot of federal student debt, so I enroll in an income-driven repayment plan. If I choose the SAVE plan, my monthly payments will be $226 per month, according to the SAVE Payment Calculator.

I realize that I need to be saving more for retirement, so I have my employer start withholding $200 per paycheck for my retirement. Taxes vary from state to state, but for this discussion, let’s assume my $200 contribution per paycheck lowers my take-home pay by $150. After a full year, I will have set aside $5,200 for my retirement.

That retirement contribution lowers my AGI by $5,200. According to the loan simulator, the lower AGI reduces my monthly payment to $183 per month. If I’m working for an employer eligible for PSLF, the lower payments would mean more debt forgiven after ten years.

In the months I receive two paychecks, I will have set aside $400 for retirement, spent $43 less on my student loans, and only lost out on approximately $300 worth of take-home pay.

To recap, by setting aside money for retirement, I’ve accomplished the following:

• Lowered my monthly student loan payment,
• Increased the money set aside for my future,
• Lowered my tax bill, and
• Increased the amount of debt that can be forgiven.

Long-Term Benefits: This approach has significant long-term benefits. The $200 set aside each paycheck can reasonably be expected to grow as time passes. Your original contributions may have grown considerably by the time you reach retirement age, depending upon your investment strategy. A hidden advantage to this approach is that borrowers get an early start on interest working for them instead of against them.

Clearly, some sacrifice is required to utilize the connection between retirement, payments, and forgiveness. However, for the borrowers who can forgo a bit of income today, the future benefits are pretty significant.

Why this is my Favorite Student Loan Hack?

For many student loan borrowers, retirement is a problem for the future. Student loans are the crisis of the present.

Taking advantage of this hack requires setting money aside for retirement. I love the idea of saving for the future and making the present a little bit easier.

The post How 401(k) and 457 Retirement Plan Contributions Lower Student Loan Payments appeared first on The Student Loan Sherpa.

Many federal borrowers depend upon income-driven repayment plans like IBR, PAYE, or SAVE to keep their monthly payments affordable. On IDR plans, payments are based on what borrowers can afford rather than what they owe.

The way the government calculates what a borrower can afford has some strange consequences for those saving for retirement.

Some retirement maneuvering can actually result in lower student loans and more student debt forgiveness. Other retirement planning strategies may cause larger student loan payments, even though the borrower moves money from one retirement account to another.

Today, I’ll break down how the government calculates monthly payments and how your retirement planning can influence monthly payments.

Defining Income for Income-Driven Repayment Plans

The critical number for borrowers to watch is their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from their most recent tax return. As AGI goes up or down, monthly student loan payments go up or down.

AGI is an all-important number because it is the starting point for discretionary income calculations. The Department of Education calculates discretionary income and then charges borrowers a percent of that number each month. The higher your AGI, the higher your discretionary income, and the higher your monthly payments.

As borrowers, we have a huge incentive to keep our AGI as low as possible during tax season. A lower AGI means a lower tax bill and lower student loan payments.

Retirement plan contributions, conversions, and withdrawals can have a huge impact on AGI.

Roth Conversions

In a Roth conversion, a taxpayer moves money from a retirement account like a 401(k) or traditional IRA and puts it in a Roth IRA. There are many circumstances where a Roth conversion is a sound retirement planning strategy.

However, the downside to a Roth conversion is that Uncle Sam charges taxes on the money that moves into the Roth account. The year you transfer money from a traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth account, it will raise your AGI.

In other words, a Roth conversion can mean larger student loan payments.

From the borrower’s perspective, this seems unfair. Moving money from one retirement account to another doesn’t mean you have extra money to pay toward your student loans. Unfortunately, the discretionary income calculation is a blunt instrument, and anything that raises your AGI raises your student loan payment.

Sherpa Tip: A Roth conversion isn’t always a bad idea if you have federal student loans. However, you should consider the increased monthly payment as one of the potential downsides of the conversion.

401(k) and IRA Rollovers

Moving money from a 401(k) into an IRA is a common retirement planning move. If you change employers, moving the money from an old 401(k) account is often a really smart move.

For student loan borrowers, a traditional IRA rollover is harmless.

When the money goes from the 401(k) of your old workplace into your traditional IRA, there are no tax consequences. No tax consequences mean no changes to your AGI and no impact on your monthly student loan payments.

What is the difference between an IRA Rollover and a Roth Conversion?

Traditional IRAs and 401(k) are tax-deferred accounts, meaning the money goes into the account without paying income tax. You don’t have to pay taxes until it comes out.

In a Roth account, you pay taxes on the money before it goes in, but withdrawals during retirement are tax-free.

Thus, if you move money from one tax-deferred account to another, there is no tax bill, but if you move from a tax-deferred account to a Roth account, you have to pay taxes on the money that moves.

401(k) and IRA Withdrawals

Pulling money out of a 401(k) or traditional IRA before retirement is expensive. In addition to the regular taxes that apply, a 10% early withdrawal penalty may also apply.

Because of the high cost associated with an early withdrawal, this move typically only happens when someone is facing a major financial emergency, makes a mistake, or qualifies for a penalty-free withdrawal.

Regardless of the circumstances that lead to the withdrawal, it is bad news for student loan borrowers. Money that comes out of a 401(k) or traditional IRA increases your AGI. Thus, whether you are retired or in a financial crisis, withdrawals can increase student loan payments.

Retirement Contributions

The flipside of this equation is retirement plan contributions.

If you put money in a tax-deferred account like a 401(k) or traditional IRA, it lowers your tax liability. These contributions lower your AGI and lower student loan payments for borrowers on IDR repayment plans.

Not everyone can afford to make retirement contributions, but if you can swing it, the advantages are huge. Setting aside money for retirement means:

• a lower tax bill
• lower IDR payments for a year
• more debt is forgiven if you reach forgiveness

This strategy is my favorite way to eliminate student debt and save for retirement.

Final Thoughts on Roth IRA Conversions, 401(k) Withdrawals, and IRA Conversions

Up to this point, we have only looked at the student loan consequences of these moves.

A Roth IRA conversion isn’t always a bad idea for student loan borrowers. Similarly, your finances may necessitate an early withdrawal from a 401(k).

The planning behind any retirement account maneuvering should go far beyond the student loan impact. However, the student loan consequences should undoubtedly factor into your decision.

The post How Roth IRA Conversions, 401(k) Withdrawals and Other Retirement Moves Affect Student Loan Payments appeared first on The Student Loan Sherpa.

Many students turn to student loans to pay for expenses like tuition and housing. When you are going into more debt each year, the idea of saving for retirement might sound strange. Surprisingly, putting money in a retirement account during college may be the best move financially. It also provides many intangible benefits.

While many different retirement plans are available, I’d argue that one plan stands out as the very best option for college students.

Student Debt vs. Saving for Retirement

Many people are legitimately concerned about their student loans. As such, many believe they should use whatever income they generate during school to reduce borrowing. It is a responsible plan, and the logic is sound.

However, it isn’t the only reasonable option.

On average, the stock market gains about 10% per year. While the stock market’s average annual gain is about 10%, this is not guaranteed. Returns vary, sometimes falling below 10% and other times rising above. That being said, if you can borrow money at 5% interest and invest it to generate 10% interest, you will come out ahead.

With a smart investment strategy, the investment growth could exceed the debt from student loans.

If you’re comfortable with risk, investing could be beneficial. For example, if you can accept that you might lose money, investing might be a good option. However, if you prefer certainty, focusing on student loan repayment may be better.

Additionally, some graduates will qualify for student loan forgiveness on their federal loans. If you have a slightly larger loan balance because you chose to put your summer earnings in a Roth IRA, it could mean more debt is eventually forgiven.

Looking past the basic accounting and risk considerations, there are additional benefits to putting money aside for retirement during school.

Benefits Beyond Dollars and Cents

Getting an early start on saving for retirement can be fun and educational. You can make some risky stock picks because the stakes are low. Losing money might still be a valuable lesson.

If you lose $500 betting on GameStop or the latest meme-stock, it sucks. However, if that lesson means you make smarter investments for the next 40 years, it is money well spent.

It is never too early to learn about saving for retirement. If you make mistakes in your early-to-mid-twenties and learn from them, you will be well ahead of the curve.

A basic understanding of investment strategies could lead to smart decisions when evaluating your retirement plan options at your first job out of school. Many people find saving for retirement, the stock market, and investing to be overwhelming. However, once you have a basic understanding of your options and strategy, it becomes more exciting. The sooner this transition takes place, the better off you will be in the long run.

Roth IRA Benefits for College Students

As college students navigate their financial journey, a Roth IRA emerges as an invaluable tool for securing their future. This retirement account offers unique advantages perfectly aligned with the financial circumstances and goals of students, making it a standout choice for early investment.

Two reasons, in particular, stand out:

Tax-Free Withdrawals in Retirement – Most retirement accounts offer a tax break for contributions. If you are in a high-income tax bracket, the traditional method is a huge perk. As a college student, you are likely in a lower income tax bracket. Instead of getting the tax break at the beginning, you get the tax break on withdrawals. Money in a Roth IRA grows tax-free, and eligible withdrawals are also tax-free. Roth contributions are an excellent way to take advantage of being in a lower income tax bracket.

Withdraw Contributions at Any Time – Most retirement accounts have complicated rules for withdrawal. Taking money out early normally means a tax bill and penalties. However, with a Roth IRA, savers can withdraw their contributions at any time. The only way they run into penalties or taxes is if they pull earnings early. For example, if you put $1,000 in a Roth IRA and it grows to $1,500, you can pull that $1,000 out any time you like. The $500 of growth must stay in the account until retirement, or an early withdrawal penalty may be imposed. This feature means a Roth IRA can serve as an emergency fund.

When is Saving for Retirement a Bad Idea?

While the Roth IRA offers great potential for college students, it’s not always the optimal choice. Carefully consider your financial situation, particularly if you’re dealing with:

• Credit Cards – With interest rates often exceeding 20%, prioritizing credit card debt repayment is crucial.
• High-Interest Private Student Loans – Similar to credit card debt, these loans should be addressed first due to their high interest rates.

Comparing the debt expenses and projected retirement earnings is helpful, but it isn’t the only step. Students need to carefully consider how they would react if they lost money on their investments. Investing isn’t for everyone, but a Roth IRA during college could be the perfect educational experience, and a head start towards retirement.

The post The Best Retirement Plan for College Students appeared first on The Student Loan Sherpa.

Because a huge tax bill at forgiveness is only a possibility, I’ve devised a plan that will help me prepare for this possibility and maximize my options if it doesn’t become a reality.

Why Plan for a Huge Student Loan Tax Bill?

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness borrowers are the lucky ones. Not only do they get their student loans forgiven after just ten years, but the forgiveness is tax-free.

IDR borrowers are not as lucky. As the rules stand right now, many will have to pay taxes on the debt forgiven under IBR, ICR, PAYE, or SAVE. This is because the IRS’s general rule is to treat forgiven debt as income in the year it is forgiven. This rule has given rise to the term student loan tax bomb.

The recent stimulus package had a small student loan provision that could make a massive difference for some IDR borrowers. Loans that are forgiven between now and 2026 will not be taxed. Unfortunately, I won’t be reaching forgiveness that soon, so as the law stands, I still have to plan for a tax bill.

I’m optimistic this tax bill may not ever happen, but I don’t trust Congress enough to assume that I won’t have to worry about it.

My Tax-Bomb Plan is a Roth IRA

Right now, I’m saving money for an uncertain future.

I may need money for a large tax bill. Ideally, that bill never comes. Hopefully, I can set that money aside now and save it for retirement. In this scenario, a Roth IRA makes the most sense.

I use a Roth IRA for three reasons:

1. It is an excellent retirement account.
2. I can withdraw my contributions at any time without taxes or penalties, so if the tax bill comes, I have funds available.
3. If I have some other immediate emergency, I can dip into this savings.

The unique and flexible rules of a Roth IRA make it the ideal type of account for this particular situation.

Roth IRA Flexibility vs. a Bank Savings Account

The top two options for my tax bomb plan were a standard savings account and the Roth IRA.

I was able to quickly eliminate options like a 401(k) or a Traditional IRA. Of the many different retirement accounts, the Roth IRA stood out as the best choice. Most other retirement plans impose a penalty for withdrawals before reaching retirement age. Because I may need the money in about ten years, these plans will not work.

Thus, the decision came down to Roth vs. a savings account.

The significant benefit of a savings account is that it is easy. Every bank offers one, and I can take the money out whenever I like. However, I see two major downsides. First, with that ease comes temptation. It would be easy to pull some money out of that account to make a purchase that isn’t necessary. Additionally, there are no tax benefits, and the interest rates on a savings account are terrible these days.

Having a Roth IRA means major tax advantages. The money inside a Roth account grows tax-free. If it ends up being a retirement account, I can use those funds without facing any tax considerations.

The Roth downside is that only contributions can be withdrawn penalty-free. In other words, if I put $10,000 into a Roth IRA and the balance grows to $10,800, I only have my original $10,000 contribution available for my student loan tax bill. The remaining $800 will have to sit in the Roth account until I hit retirement age… or I will have to pay a penalty on the $800 that got pulled out early.

However, the biggest advantage of the Roth IRA is that I can invest the money to grow my savings. I tend to invest conservatively because I may need the money in about ten years. This route is riskier than a standard savings account, but it has a higher upside. If we ever get more clarity on student loan taxes, I can also change my investment strategy to a longer outlook based on my retirement.

A Final Advantage: Funds in an Emergency

I’m a huge supporter of having an emergency fund. This especially holds true for student loan borrowers. If you depend upon high-interest credit cards to weather a financial hardship, it will be costly.

Many argue that a Roth IRA is an excellent supplemental emergency fund. Ideally, that money gets used in retirement. However, if you face desperate circumstances, the Roth account is a huge asset.

I hope to use my Roth IRA for my retirement. However, I’m ready to use my Roth IRA to pay a large student loan tax bill. If necessary, I have my Roth IRA for a major financial emergency.

I suspect many federal borrowers working towards IDR forgiveness will find a Roth IRA to be an excellent resource.

The post My Plan for the Student Loan Tax Bomb appeared first on The Student Loan Sherpa.

Many student loan borrowers may lean towards eliminating debt first. Retirement is a battle for another day.

However, there are a couple of unique advantages to Roth IRAs that could make a Roth contribution a higher priority than debt elimination.

Comparing Interest Rates

One of the first considerations in the Roth IRA contribution vs. student loan payment question should be interest rates.

Borrowers with student loan interest rates in the 2-3% have more options to save for the future.

Historically, the average return for the stock market is around 10%. Some years the market will lose money and other years it will do far better than the 10% average gain.

A student loan borrower with a 2% interest rate on their loan can reasonably expect investments to earn more than the cost of the loan interest in most years. Thus, a borrower with an extremely low-interest student loan will usually be better off with a Roth contribution instead of paying down their student loans.

As student loan interest rates increase, the analysis shifts.

A borrower with a 7-8% interest rate loan might prefer to pay down their student loans first. Even though the market will historically return 10%, the risk might not outweigh the reward. Making payments on a loan charging 8% interest is like guaranteeing an 8% return on an investment. Many investors would gladly take a guaranteed 8% return over riskier market returns.

As investors get more experience, they will be in a better position to evaluate the potential Roth returns against the cost of letting a student loan linger.

The Big Roth IRA Advantage

There are many different types of retirement accounts. However, for student loan borrowers, a Roth IRA has an especially appealing feature.

Roth contributions can be withdrawn at any point without any taxes or penalties.

Roth IRA to Student Loan Example: Suppose I contribute $1,000 to my Roth IRA and let it sit for a couple of years. In that time, the balance grows to $1,200.

If my variable-rate student loan jumps up in interest, I might decide that I would rather use my Roth funds to pay down my student debt.

I can pull out the original $1,000 contribution and apply it to my student loan balance without facing any taxes or penalties. However, if I want to pull out the $200 worth of gains before I turn 59.5, I may have to pay taxes and a 10% early withdrawal penalty.

Ideally, I can withdraw just my contributions and leave the gains in my account to continue to grow until I reach retirement age.

The Roth perk here is flexibility.

If you put your money in a Roth account, you can always pull out the contribution and apply it to your student loans (assuming you haven’t lost money on your investments). Additionally, many people use a Roth IRA as an emergency fund. Going this route allows saving for retirement, but permits a penalty-free withdrawal in the event of a financial emergency.

If the money is used to pay down student loans, it is gone forever. Borrowers can’t get a refund on previous extra payments.

Risk Aversion and the Debate Between Student Loan Payments and Roth IRA Savings

Deciding between attacking student debt and putting money away for retirement isn’t a simple math equation.

A significant factor in the decision is risk aversion.

Some people are extremely cautious with their money while other people are literally gamblers.

Putting money in a Roth account has major advantages. However, there is a real possibility that Roth investments lose money. Savers can take steps to reduce risk in their investments, but any stock investment carries risk.

If the possibility of losses will keep you up at night, the guaranteed returns from student loan repayment might be the better option.

Dealing with High-Interest Student Loans

The final wild-card in the student loan payoff vs. Roth IRA debate is the option to refinance student debt.

Borrowers can use student loan refinancing to convert high-interest student debt into a lower-interest loan.

This route will only be an option for those who are employed and have a decent credit score. However, it is a great way to reduce interest spending and potentially free up cash for investment.

The best rates currently available are with the following lenders:

Rank	Lender	Lowest Rate	Sherpa Review
T-1		4.86%	ELFI Review
T-1		4.86%*	Splash Financial Review
3		5.29%	Laurel Road Review

The post Paying Down Student Loans vs. Investing in a Roth IRA appeared first on The Student Loan Sherpa.