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by Coin Flip
Financial decisions for people who hate financial decisions. We break down the choices that actually matter - and help you stop overthinking the rest. Hosted by financial planner Derek Wu, each episode cuts through the noise to give you clear, practical takes on money moves without the jargon or judgment.
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- 6 days ago10 min
HSA or FSA? The 2027 Numbers Just Changed the Math
Open enrollment decisions often get stuck on numbers that aren't even final yet. This episode breaks down the difference between the IRS-confirmed 2027 HSA limits and the still-unconfirmed FSA projection everyone keeps quoting, then hands listeners a simple, spreadsheet-free way to choose between an HDHP-plus-HSA setup or a PPO-plus-FSA plan. Derek Wu walks through why the 2027 HSA limits — $4,500 individual and $9,000 family, along with the updated HDHP deductible and out-of-pocket thresholds — are locked under official IRS guidance, while the widely cited $3,500 FSA figure is only a projection from outside reporting, not confirmed law. Rather than comparing the two limits directly, the episode offers a usage-based filter: how often you actually use healthcare should drive your choice, not which number looks bigger. - 2027 HSA limits are finalized under IRS Revenue Procedure 2026-24, including new HDHP deductible and out-of-pocket thresholds. - The $3,500 FSA figure in circulation is an unofficial projection, not a confirmed IRS number, which creates payroll deduction risk if you elect against it. - EBRI research shows most HSA holders spend funds on near-term expenses rather than investing them. - A simple filter: frequent, predictable costs point toward FSA; rare, deductible-tolerant use points toward HSA. - Marketplace-plan listeners should check new ACA Bronze and Catastrophic plan eligibility starting January 1, 2026. Listeners walk away with a clear, practical way to sort themselves into an FSA or HSA lane and finalize enrollment with confidence, no spreadsheet required. Made a decision? That's a win. Subscribe so you're ready for the next one. Got a money choice you're stuck on? Drop it in the reviews, it might just get picked for next week's episode.
- 1 weeks ago10 min
You Picked a Plan. Now You're Stuck in the Queue.
The SAVE exit deadline has passed, but for borrowers who applied for RAP or IBR, waiting is now the real challenge. Derek walks through what happens to your loan while your application sits in the queue, why the 60-day processing window matters more than borrowers realize, and when it's time to stop waiting and start escalating. This episode explains how servicer timelines differ from the federal deadline, what continues to accrue during processing forbearance, and what actually happens if your application isn't resolved within 60 days. Listeners will learn practical steps for tracking their application status and get a clear escalation path if the process stalls. - Nelnet and MOHELA are working through the IDR backlog on different timelines, and recertification deadlines vary by plan rather than following one fixed date. - During the up-to-60-day processing forbearance, no payment is due, but interest keeps accruing; PSLF credit continues as long as employment is certified separately. - On RAP, paying extra automatically advances your due date and forfeits that month's interest waiver and principal match unless you opt out with your servicer. - If your application isn't resolved after 60 days, you're automatically placed into SAVE forbearance without notice; some borrowers report processing times of up to 25 months. - Screenshot and date your IDR application status now, count 60 days independently, and escalate to your state ombudsman first, then the federal FSA Ombudsman, if nothing moves. Made a decision? That's a win. Subscribe so you're ready for the next one. Got a money choice you're stuck on? Drop it in the reviews—might just flip a coin on it next week.
- 2 weeks ago10 min
The Fed's September 16 Verdict: Cut, Hold, or Something Weirder
The Fed's September 15-16 meeting is shaping up differently this time around, thanks to a fresh dot plot and new chair Kevin Warsh, whose untested track record on projections adds real uncertainty. Derek Wu breaks down why Warsh's Jackson Hole remarks pushed hike odds from about 56% to 60.4% according to CNBC, and what that shift means for anyone watching CD rates and high-yield savings accounts. Listeners will learn how hike odds move CD rates well before any official Fed decision, why bank funding needs keep CD yields resilient independent of Fed moves, and how to think through locking in a CD versus waiting or splitting funds between a CD and a high-yield savings account based on their own timeline. - Why Warsh's newness as Fed chair raises the stakes for this meeting's dot plot - How Jackson Hole remarks shifted hike-odds from roughly 56% to 60.4% - Why the June dot plot's even split matters for reading Warsh's lean - How CD rates already reflect much of where September could land - A practical framework for deciding whether to lock, wait, or split funds Made a decision? That's a win. Subscribe so you're ready for the next one, and drop any money choice you're stuck on in the reviews for a future episode.
- 3 weeks ago10 min
Your PSLF Count Just Dropped. Here's What To Do.
Derek Wu goes solo to unpack the Education Department's confirmed rollback of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) payment counts, a change that has already left some borrowers watching years of progress vanish overnight. He traces the story from CNBC's initial report of a borrower whose count dropped from 118 to 94, through the Department's shifting explanation from a vague "data error" to an admitted deliberate correction tied to forbearance and Extended repayment plan miscounts. This episode is essential listening for anyone pursuing PSLF, especially borrowers unsure whether their payment count is accurate or at risk. Derek clarifies how this issue is distinct from the ongoing SAVE plan litigation, examines an advocacy group's unconfirmed warning about forgiven loans potentially being reopened, and lays out exactly what to do tonight to protect your progress. - The Education Department confirmed a rollback of PSLF payment counts affecting some borrowers, separate from the SAVE plan lawsuit. - The Department's explanation shifted from a vague "data error" to an admitted deliberate correction focused on forbearance and Extended repayment plan miscounts. - Advocacy group Protect Borrowers has raised an unconfirmed concern that corrections could extend to already-forgiven loans. - Borrowers should screenshot and date their current payment count, download the MyAid TXT file to cross-check totals, and gather employer certifications and pay records for forbearance or Extended plan months. - The single actionable step: file a reconsideration request directly with Federal Student Aid rather than repeatedly refreshing the dashboard. Made a decision after listening? Subscribe so you're ready for the next episode, and share any money choice you're stuck on in the reviews — it might be the topic of a future coin flip.
- Aug 20, 202611 min
September 29 Is Real: What Happens If You Do Nothing
Derek Wu tackles the ongoing SAVE plan wind-down and clears up the confusion around servicer notices, repayment deadlines, and what comes next for federal student loan borrowers. The episode breaks down what happens if you ignore a ninety-day notice, why the widely cited September 29 deadline isn't universal, and how to decide between the new RAP plan and IBR before a key eligibility window closes. Listeners will learn how missed deadlines trigger income-blind Standard or Tiered Standard repayment, why Nelnet's staggered notice rollout means deadlines vary by borrower, and how a simple two-question framework can simplify the RAP versus IBR decision. The episode closes with an update on the Havens lawsuit and why its outcome likely won't change the practical plan choices borrowers need to make now. - Ignoring a SAVE notice leads to automatic enrollment in income-blind repayment, not immediate default - September 29 is only the earliest possible deadline; each borrower's actual 90-day window starts when their own notice is issued - Nelnet's notice rollout continues through March 2027, but switching plans early is possible anytime at StudentAid.gov - Choosing between RAP and IBR comes down to PSLF status and whether income is above or below roughly $80,000 - The Havens lawsuit remains unresolved, but a 2028 legal deadline means RAP and IBR stay the practical choice regardless of the ruling Have a money decision you're stuck on? Share it in the reviews, and it might be the subject of a future episode.
- Aug 3, 20269 min
The Other September Deadline: The 1% Autopay Discount Nobody Told You About
This episode of Coin Flip breaks down two September student loan deadlines that are just one day apart. Derek Wu explains the widely known SAVE plan exit on September 29 alongside the lesser-known September 30 cutoff to lock in a temporary autopay interest discount, and why the order in which borrowers act can change their financial outcome. Listeners will learn how to size up the real value of the new 1% autopay discount, why it may amount to less than advertised for many borrowers, and how the math shifts for high-balance Grad PLUS borrowers weighing refinancing against staying the course. Derek also walks through a simple two-question decision tree for refinancing decisions and closes with a critical warning about the permanent nature of switching from IBR to RAP repayment plans. - Two September deadlines exist one day apart, and only one is widely known - The new autopay discount may be worth roughly $600 for a typical borrower, less than headlines suggest - RAP payments are income-based, so the discount may not lower the actual monthly bill - A two-question test on PSLF status and interest rate can clarify the refinance-or-wait decision for Grad PLUS borrowers - Switching from IBR to RAP is irreversible and can extend forgiveness timelines for non-PSLF borrowers Made a decision? That's a win. Subscribe so you're ready for the next one, and share any money choice you're stuck on in the reviews for a possible future episode.
- Jul 27, 202610 min
Your SAVE Exit Clock Is Ticking: The September 29 Deadline Explained
Derek Wu flies solo this week to break down the SAVE plan deadline that's been all over the news, and why the date you've heard might not be the date that applies to you. He walks through what happens if you miss your 90-day window, the real differences between RAP and IBR, and a same-night action plan to help you avoid an expensive default outcome. If you have a loan currently in the SAVE plan, this episode explains why servicer notices from Nelnet are rolling out in waves into 2027, what the automatic fallback plan means for your monthly payment and forgiveness timeline, and why switching from IBR to RAP is a one-way door. Derek closes with concrete steps you can take tonight, including an Auto Pay deadline worth knowing about. - The widely-cited SAVE deadline is only the earliest possible date, not a universal one - Missing your 90-day window triggers an automatic plan with higher payments and lost forgiveness progress - RAP offers sliding payments and interest forgiveness, but switching from IBR to RAP can't be undone - You can apply for a new repayment plan at StudentAid.gov without waiting for your official notice - Enabling Auto Pay by September 30, 2026 unlocks a bigger interest rate discount Made a decision after listening? Subscribe so you're ready for the next episode, and drop any money question you're stuck on in the reviews for a chance to have it covered next week.
- Jul 20, 20269 min
The Fed's Coin Flip Just Got Real: Your July 29 Action Plan
Derek Wu digs into a sudden spike in Fed rate hike odds ahead of the July 28-29, 2026 meeting, tracking how expectations jumped from near-zero to nearly 46.5% and what triggered the shift. He then unpacks why the Fed itself looks divided heading into the decision, with a split dot plot, hot inflation data, and a weak jobs report all pulling policy in different directions. This episode matters because the outcome of that meeting ripples into everyday finances, from savings rates to credit card APRs. Rather than trying to predict the Fed's next move, Derek focuses on building a personal money strategy that holds up regardless of which way rates go. - Fed rate hike odds jumped from single digits to nearly 46.5% following recent comments from Fed official Waller - Nine of nineteen Fed officials are now projecting a hike, signaling a genuinely split committee - Hot CPI data, driven largely by energy costs, is adding pressure toward a hike - A weak jobs report is pulling policy expectations in the opposite direction - Derek recommends keeping emergency cash in a high-yield savings account and laddering other savings across short- and medium-term CDs to hedge either outcome Subscribe to stay ready for whatever the Fed decides on July 29, and share your own money dilemmas for a future episode.
About Coin Flip
Financial decisions for people who hate financial decisions. We break down the choices that actually matter - and help you stop overthinking the rest. Hosted by financial planner Derek Wu, each episode cuts through the noise to give you clear, practical takes on money moves without the jargon or judgment.
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