The loan-vs-invest question. The 1099 tax trap. PSLF eligibility most people miss. These are the three decisions that define the first decade of your career.
The Core Decision
The math is genuinely different depending on your loan rate, your tax bracket, and whether you're doing any 1099 locum work. Most NPs and PAs we talk to have never actually run the numbers side by side.
If you're doing locum shifts on a 1099, you're technically self-employed for that income. That qualifies you for a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) that can shelter up to $66,000 per year — on top of whatever your employer offers. Nobody from HR will mention this.
And if you work at a nonprofit hospital, PSLF may forgive your remaining loan balance after 10 years. The moment you refinance to a private lender, that eligibility is gone — permanently. We check this before recommending anything.
Free Resource
Loan strategy, 1099 tax setup, and the PSLF warning most people only hear about after it's too late.
🎧 Listen to the Podcast OverviewNo email required. Free.
Free Tool
Plug in your loan rate, tax bracket, and available cash. The calculator shows when investing beats payoff — with your actual numbers.
Open the Free CalculatorReady to Begin?
Book a free 15-minute call. We'll talk through your loans, your 1099 tax setup, and answer whatever's on your mind.
Book a Free Call