Student Loans – WealthStyle Podcast

The Student Loan Strategy Most Borrowers Miss with Geoffrey Urquhart (Ep. 121)

By wealthstylepodcast | May 11, 2026

Student loans are changing fast, and the rules are getting harder to follow.

What if the biggest risk is not your balance, but the path you choose to manage it?

In this episode, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl interview Geoffrey Urquhart, CEO of Sharp Notions and Founder of RefiDesk, about how borrowers can adapt to evolving student loan policies. He explains recent federal changes, new borrowing caps, and how repayment options are shifting toward income-based plans. Geoffrey also shares how to evaluate forgiveness versus refinancing, common mistakes borrowers make, and why planning earlier, even during school, can significantly impact long-term outcomes.

Key takeaways:

How new federal borrowing caps affect professional and graduate students and shift funding strategies earlier
Why choosing between forgiveness and refinancing depends on income stability and long-term planning goals
Common borrower mistakes, including wrong repayment plans and poor timing when refinancing loans
How residency and early career stages offer critical opportunities to optimize loan strategies
How RefiDesk simplifies decision-making by comparing repayment and refinancing options efficiently
And more!

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Connect with Our Guest:

About Our Guest:

Geoff Urquhart is the CEO of G Sharp Inc. and the founder of RefiDesk, a platform that helps financial advisors and their clients make smarter decisions regarding student loans.

He previously co-founded GradFin, a student loan platform that worked with thousands of borrowers and advisors before being acquired by KeyBank.

Geoff has spent over a decade focused on simplifying complex student loan decisions—helping borrowers navigate forgiveness programs, repayment strategies, and refinancing options. His work today centers on making that expertise more accessible through technology so advisors and clients can get clear, actionable answers without needing to become experts themselves.

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Your Guide To Student Loans in 2025 with Joe McGrath (Ep. 112)

By wealthstylepodcast | December 15, 2025

Student loans have shifted so many times this year that even well-informed professionals are unsure what rules still apply.

Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl talk with returning guest Joe McGrath of GradFin to help bring clarity to a landscape that feels anything but stable right now. Joe explains what borrowers should understand about the SAVE program pause, why PSLF has become harder to navigate, and how the upcoming RAP program could reshape repayment for years to come.

He also discusses the mistakes that often derail forgiveness and the updated refinancing environment as rates continue to adjust.

What to expect:

A simple breakdown of SAVE, IBR, RAP, and how each affects your path to repayment
Why PSLF rejection rates remain high and how to avoid common pitfalls
When refinancing may make sense again for high earners
Guidance for physicians and professionals facing major policy shifts
And more!

Connect with Iván Watanabe:

Connect with Evan Wohl:

Connect with Joe McGrath:

About Our Guest:

Joseph McGrath presents GradFin’s services to financial advisors from coast to coast about the value of meeting with a student loan consultant to help navigate the perfect repayment plan. In addition to his current role in sales and client management, he has additional experience in both the recruiting and non-profit industries. Joseph currently lives in Philadelphia and is a graduate of Temple University’s Fox School Of Business with a BBA in Marketing.

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Navigating the Student Loan Marketplace — With Joe McGrath

By wealthstylepodcast | March 8, 2021

Are you someone who has applied, or is planning to apply, for a student loan?

Then this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

To bring you greater clarity around student loans, Iván Watanabe sits down with GradFin’s senior business development associate Joe McGrath for today’s episode. Joe explains GradFin’s role around applying, refinancing, and forgiving student loans and shares some must-know insight about this type of loan.

In this episode, you will learn:

How GradFin helps clients with their student loans
Joe’s advice to those applying for student loans
The difference between private and federal loans
About the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
And more!

From refinance to forgiveness, tune in today and learn everything you need to know about student loans in today’s marketplace!

Resources:

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