{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-post-tsx","path":"/sofi-student-loan-refinance-review/","result":{"data":{"ghostPost":{"id":"Ghost__Post__6a6910818478e50001eb0eb6","title":"SoFi Student Loan Refinance Review 2026: Is It Worth It?","slug":"sofi-student-loan-refinance-review","featured":true,"feature_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2026/07/SoFi-Student-Loan-Refinance-Review.png","excerpt":"Is SoFi student loan refinancing worth it in 2026? Compare rates, fees, and the federal benefits you give up before you refinance.","custom_excerpt":"Is SoFi student loan refinancing worth it in 2026? Compare rates, fees, and the federal benefits you give up before you refinance.","created_at_pretty":"28 July, 2026","published_at_pretty":"28 July, 2026","updated_at_pretty":"29 July, 2026","created_at":"2026-07-28T20:26:41.000+00:00","published_at":"2026-07-28T20:57:21.000+00:00","updated_at":"2026-07-29T18:04:20.000+00:00","meta_title":"SoFi Student Loan Refinance Review 2026: Is It Worth It?","meta_description":"Is SoFi student loan refinancing worth it in 2026? Compare rates, fees, and the federal benefits you give up before you refinance.","og_description":null,"og_image":null,"og_title":null,"twitter_description":null,"twitter_image":null,"twitter_title":null,"authors":[{"name":"Vanessa Zimin","slug":"vanessa","bio":"Vanessa Zimin writes about practical ways to earn more, build credit, and grow income outside a 9-to-5. She specializes in side hustles backed by real platform data.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2025/01/Headshot-Photo.jpg","twitter":null,"facebook":null,"website":null}],"primary_author":{"name":"Vanessa Zimin","slug":"vanessa","bio":"Vanessa Zimin writes about practical ways to earn more, build credit, and grow income outside a 9-to-5. She specializes in side hustles backed by real platform data.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2025/01/Headshot-Photo.jpg","twitter":null,"facebook":null,"website":null},"primary_tag":{"name":"Cash Advance / Loans","slug":"cash-advance-loans-2","description":null,"feature_image":null,"meta_description":null,"meta_title":null,"visibility":"public"},"tags":[{"name":"Cash Advance / Loans","slug":"cash-advance-loans-2","description":null,"feature_image":null,"meta_description":null,"meta_title":null,"visibility":"public"}],"plaintext":"Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and\nis not financial, legal, or tax advice. Think Save Retire is not a lender and\ndoes not provide loans. This article contains affiliate links, and we may earn a\ncommission if you apply through them, at no additional cost to you.\n\nSoFi is one of the largest and best-known student loan refinancing lenders in\nthe country, offering fixed rates as low as 3.99% APR with autopay, no fees of\nany kind, and a set of borrower protections that most private lenders do not\nmatch, including unemployment protection and free career coaching. But a low\nrate is only half the story. Refinancing the wrong loans at the wrong time can\ncost you far more than it saves, especially in 2026, with the federal Repayment\nAssistance Plan (RAP) now rolling out.\n\nThis review breaks down exactly how SoFi refinancing works, what it costs, who\nit genuinely helps, and the one decision you need to get right before you apply.\n\nWhat Is SoFi Student Loan Refinancing?\nSoFi refinancing\n[https://click.validclick.net/rdr2.php?aff=thinksaveretire&q=SoFi+student+loan+refinance&cmp=125101&ref=[REF]] \nreplaces one or more of your existing student loans with a single new private\nloan from SoFi Bank, N.A., ideally at a lower interest rate or with a monthly\npayment that better fits your budget. Instead of juggling multiple loans and\nservicers, you make one payment on one loan.\n\nThe keyword is private. When SoFi refinances your loans, the new loan is a\nprivate loan, even if the loans you refinanced were federal. That distinction\nmatters more than any interest rate, and we cover it in detail below.\n\nSoFi has been in the refinancing space for over a decade and is one of the more\nestablished names in the category. The entire process happens online, and\nchecking your rate takes a few minutes.\n\nHow SoFi Refinancing Works\nThe process is straightforward:\n\n1. Check your rate with a soft credit pull\nYou enter basic information about yourself and your loans, and SoFi shows you\nthe rates you prequalify for. This step uses a soft credit pull, which does not\naffect your credit score\n[https://thinksaveretire.com/credit-score-for-beginners/]. This is genuinely\nuseful: you can see real numbers before committing to anything.\n\n2. Choose your rate and term\nIf you like what you see, you select a fixed or variable rate and a repayment\nterm. Shorter terms usually carry lower rates and less total interest, but\nhigher monthly payments. Longer terms lower your monthly payment but cost more\nover time.\n\n3. Complete the full application\nOnce you choose to proceed, SoFi requests your full credit report. This is a\nhard credit pull and may temporarily affect your score. You will also submit\ndocumentation to verify income, employment, and your existing loans.\n\n4. SoFi pays off your old loans\nAfter approval and final acceptance, SoFi disburses funds to pay off your\noriginal loans. From that point forward, you make a single monthly payment to\nSoFi.\n\n[https://click.validclick.net/rdr2.php?aff=thinksaveretire&q=SoFi+student+loan+refinance&cmp=125101&ref=[REF]]\n Refinance Your Student Loans With SoFi® \nSee the fixed and variable rates you may prequalify for in just a few minutes\nwith a soft credit pull that won't impact your credit score.There's no\nobligation to move forward. \n\nView Your Rate Today\n[https://click.validclick.net/rdr2.php?aff=thinksaveretire&q=SoFi+student+loan+refinance&cmp=125101&ref=[REF]]\n ✓ Soft credit pull   •  \n✓ No obligation   •  \n✓ Check your rate in minutes \n\nChecking your rate uses a soft credit pull with no impact to your credit score.\nIf you proceed with an application, SoFi will request your full credit report,\nwhich is a hard credit pull. Terms and conditions apply. SoFi refinance loans\nare private loans. Refinancing federal student loans permanently forfeits\nfederal benefits, including income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness\nprograms. Rates and terms are current as of publication and are subject to\nchange. Visit SoFi.com/eligibility for complete eligibility requirements and\nadditional details. \n\nSoFi Refinance Rates and Costs\nHere is where SoFi is genuinely competitive.\n\nInterest rates\nSoFi advertises fixed rates starting as low as 3.99% APR when you enroll in\nautopay. As with every lender, the lowest advertised rate is reserved for the\nmost creditworthy borrowers, so the rate you actually receive depends on your\ncredit profile, income, loan term, and financial history. Variable rates are\nalso available.\n\nFees\nSoFi charges no application fees, no origination fees, and no prepayment\npenalties. That last point matters: you can pay the loan off early without being\ncharged for it.\n\nMinimum loan amount\nSoFi refinances student loans totaling at least $5,000. The loans must have been\nused to fund tuition at an eligible Title IV accredited school where you were\nenrolled at least half time.\n\nThe honest cost caveat\nSoFi's own disclosure says it plainly: you may pay more interest over the life\nof the loan if you refinance. Lowering your monthly payment by stretching to a\nlonger term can increase what you pay in total, even at a lower rate. Always run\nthe numbers on total cost, not just the monthly payment.\n\nWhat Makes SoFi Stand Out From Other Private Lenders\nPlenty of lenders will refinance your student loans. What separates SoFi is the\npackage of protections and perks that come attached to the loan, most of which\ncompetitors do not offer. If you are going to refinance with a private lender\nanyway, these are the extras worth weighing.\n\nUnemployment Protection\nThis is SoFi's most distinctive benefit. If you lose your job through no fault\nof your own, SoFi lets you pause payments in three-month increments, up to 12\nmonths total over the life of the loan, while you look for new work. SoFi also\nprovides job-placement assistance during that time. Interest still accrues while\npayments are paused, so it is not free, but it is a real safety net that most\nprivate lenders simply do not provide. For anyone giving up federal forbearance\nprotections by refinancing, this softens that trade-off meaningfully.\n\nFree career coaching and financial planning\nSoFi members get access to one-on-one career coaching (resume reviews, interview\nprep, job-search help) and complimentary financial planning sessions with\ncredentialed planners, at no additional cost. These are not reserved for a\npremium tier; they come with being a borrower. For younger professionals or\nanyone navigating a career transition, that is genuine added value that a rate\nnumber alone does not capture.\n\nNo fees, anywhere\nSoFi charges no application fee, no origination fee, no late fee, and no\nprepayment penalty. It is one of the cleaner fee structures in the private\nrefinancing market, which means more of your money goes toward the balance\nrather than to the lender.\n\nA full member ecosystem\nBecause SoFi is also a bank, borrowers plug into a broader ecosystem: potential\nrate discounts on other SoFi products, rewards points that can be applied toward\npaying down your loan, and member perks across investing and banking. Existing\nSoFi members may qualify for an additional rate discount on refinancing. If you\nlike the idea of keeping your financial products under one roof, that\nconsolidation has real convenience value.\n\nScale and support\nSoFi is a large, established, publicly traded lender (SoFi Technologies, Nasdaq:\nSOFI) with millions of members, an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, and\nseven-day-a-week customer support by phone, chat, and email. For a decision this\nsignificant, working with a well-established lender carries its own peace of\nmind.\n\nThe honest framing: these perks do not change the core math. A low rate on the\nwrong loan is still the wrong loan. But if refinancing genuinely fits your\nsituation, SoFi's extras make it one of the more borrower-friendly private\noptions available, and that is a fair reason to put it at the top of your list.\n\nThe Most Important Thing to Understand Before You Refinance\nThis is the section most refinance reviews skip, and it is the one that matters\nmost.\n\nWhen you refinance federal student loans with SoFi, you permanently give up all\nfederal loan benefits. Once those federal loans are paid off and replaced with a\nprivate SoFi loan, there is no going back. You forfeit:\n\n * Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)\n * Income-driven repayment plans, including the new Repayment Assistance Plan\n (RAP) rolling out in 2026\n * Federal deferment and forbearance protections\n * Any future federal relief or forgiveness programs\n\nFor borrowers who work in public service, expect to pursue forgiveness, or want\nthe safety net of income-based payments, refinancing federal loans is usually\nthe wrong move, no matter how attractive the rate looks. Under Public Service\nLoan Forgiveness\n[https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service],\nqualifying borrowers can have their remaining federal balance forgiven after 120\npayments while working for an eligible employer, a benefit worth potentially\ntens of thousands of dollars that disappears the moment you refinance federally\nheld loans into a private one.\n\nThe timing matters in 2026 specifically. The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP),\ncreated by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, launched on July 1, 2026, and\nfor anyone borrowing federal loans on or after that date, it is one of only two\navailable repayment options and the only income-driven one. RAP ties your\npayment to your income and waives unpaid monthly interest when you pay on time,\nprotections a private refinance cannot offer. You can review the official\ndetails on the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid\n[https://studentaid.gov/] site before making any move. Refinancing federal loans\naway means walking away from a repayment option you may not fully understand\nyet.\n\nRefinancing makes the most sense when the loans you are refinancing are private\nto begin with, or when you have firmly ruled out federal forgiveness and\nincome-driven plans and simply want a lower rate.\n\nSoFi Refinancing: Pros and Cons\nPros\n * Competitive fixed rates starting as low as 3.99% APR with autopay\n * No application, origination, or prepayment fees\n * Check your rate with a soft credit pull that does not affect your score\n * Fully online, relatively fast process\n * Established, well-known lender (SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC)\n * Single monthly payment replaces multiple loans\n\nCons\n * Refinancing federal loans forfeits all federal benefits and forgiveness\n options, permanently\n * Lowest advertised rates go only to the most creditworthy borrowers\n * You may pay more total interest if you extend your term\n * $5,000 minimum and Title IV school requirement exclude some borrowers\n * Not a fit for anyone pursuing PSLF or income-driven repayment\n\nIs SoFi Refinancing Legit?\nYes. SoFi refinance loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., a Member FDIC\ninstitution (NMLS #696891). It is a well-established, publicly traded company\nand one of the larger lenders in the student loan refinancing space. The\nsoft-credit-pull rate check and no-fee structure are real and consumer-friendly.\n\nLegitimate, however, does not mean right for everyone. The question is not\nwhether SoFi is trustworthy; it is whether refinancing fits your specific loan\nsituation.\n\nWho SoFi Refinancing Is Best For\nSoFi is a strong option if you:\n\n * Hold private student loans and want a lower rate\n * Have already ruled out federal forgiveness and income-driven repayment\n * Have strong credit and steady income (which unlocks better rates)\n * Want to consolidate multiple loans into one payment\n * Have at least $5,000 in qualifying student debt\n\nWho Should Think Twice\nRefinancing federal loans with SoFi is probably not for you if you:\n\n * Work in public service or plan to pursue PSLF\n * Rely on or expect to use income-driven repayment, including RAP\n * Want to keep federal deferment and forbearance protections\n * Have a limited credit history that would not qualify for a low rate\n * Are not certain whether your loans are federal or private (find out first)\n\nSoFi vs. Other Private Refinance Lenders\nIf you have decided private refinancing is right for you, here is how SoFi\ncompares to two other well-known lenders in the space. Rates and terms change\nfrequently, so always verify current numbers directly with each lender.\n\nFeature SoFi Earnest Laurel Road Fees No application, origination, late, or\nprepayment fees No fees No fees Unemployment protection Up to 12 months in\n3-month increments, plus job-placement help Available Limited Career coaching \nIncluded free for borrowers Not a core offering Not a core offering Rate check \nSoft pull, no credit impact Soft pull, no credit impact Soft pull, no credit\nimpact Member ecosystem Full bank: investing, banking, rewards, and product\ndiscounts Focused on lending Strong for healthcare professionals Stands out for \nBorrower protections and member perks Flexible terms and grace period \nSpecialized options for medical and dental fields Where SoFi consistently pulls\nahead is the combination of a clean no-fee structure with real borrower\nprotections, unemployment forbearance, and free career support that go beyond\nwhat most private lenders bundle in. Earnest is often praised for term\nflexibility, and Laurel Road is strong for healthcare professionals, so the\nright pick depends on your profile. But for a broad audience wanting the most\ncomplete borrower-friendly package, SoFi is a strong default.\n\nSoFi Refinance vs. Keeping Federal Loans\nBefore comparing private lenders at all, the more important comparison is\nagainst simply keeping your federal loans.\n\nFactor SoFi Refinance Keeping Federal Loans Interest rate Low fixed and variable\nrates for strong credit Set by federal terms Forgiveness options None PSLF and\nother programs available Income-driven plans None Yes, including RAP Deferment /\nForbearance Unemployment protection for up to 12 months Federal protections Best\nfor Private loans, high earners, and borrowers who do not qualify for\nforgiveness Public service workers, lower-income borrowers, and forgiveness\nseekers The Bottom Line: Is SoFi Worth It?\nSoFi is a legitimate, competitive refinancing lender with real advantages: low\nadvertised rates, no fees, a soft-pull rate check, and a clean online process.\nFor the right borrower, someone with private loans or someone who has\ndeliberately chosen a lower rate over federal flexibility, it is one of the\nstrongest options available.\n\nBut the smartest financial move here is not automatic. Before you refinance,\nconfirm whether your loans are federal or private, and be honest with yourself\nabout whether you might ever need forgiveness or income-driven repayment. If you\nwould, keeping your federal loans is almost always worth more than any rate SoFi\ncan offer. If you would not, checking your SoFi rate costs nothing and shows you\nreal numbers in minutes.\n\nThe best part is that finding out is free and does not touch your credit score.\n\nFAQs\nWhat credit score do I need to refinance with SoFi?\nSoFi does not publish a hard minimum, but the lowest advertised rates go to the\nmost creditworthy borrowers. Strong credit and steady income improve both your\napproval odds and your rate. You can check your rate with a soft credit pull\nfirst, with no impact to your score.\n\nDoes checking my SoFi rate hurt my credit?\nNo. Checking your rate uses a soft credit pull, which does not affect your\ncredit score. A hard credit pull happens only if you choose to move forward with\na full application.\n\nCan I refinance federal student loans with SoFi?\nYes, but you should think carefully first. Refinancing federal loans with SoFi\nconverts them to a private loan and permanently forfeits all federal benefits,\nincluding PSLF, income-driven repayment plans like RAP, and federal deferment\nand forbearance protections.\n\nWhat is the minimum amount I can refinance?\nSoFi refinances student loans totaling at least $5,000, used to fund tuition\n[https://thinksaveretire.com/35-jobs-that-pay-for-college-tuition/] at an\neligible Title IV accredited school where you were enrolled at least half time.\n\nAre there any fees to refinance with SoFi?\nSoFi charges no application fees, no origination fees, and no prepayment\npenalties. You can pay your loan off early without a charge.\n\nExplore Related Guides \nMore resources to help you save money, build credit, and make the most of your\ncollege years. \n\nBest Credit Cards for College Students →\n[https://thinksaveretire.com/best-credit-cards-for-college-students/] 25+ Online\nJobs for College Students →\n[https://thinksaveretire.com/online-jobs-for-college-students/] 35 Jobs That Pay\nfor College Tuition →\n[https://thinksaveretire.com/35-jobs-that-pay-for-college-tuition/]","html":"

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Think Save Retire is not a lender and does not provide loans. This article contains affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you apply through them, at no additional cost to you.

SoFi is one of the largest and best-known student loan refinancing lenders in the country, offering fixed rates as low as 3.99% APR with autopay, no fees of any kind, and a set of borrower protections that most private lenders do not match, including unemployment protection and free career coaching. But a low rate is only half the story. Refinancing the wrong loans at the wrong time can cost you far more than it saves, especially in 2026, with the federal Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) now rolling out.

This review breaks down exactly how SoFi refinancing works, what it costs, who it genuinely helps, and the one decision you need to get right before you apply.

What Is SoFi Student Loan Refinancing?

SoFi refinancing replaces one or more of your existing student loans with a single new private loan from SoFi Bank, N.A., ideally at a lower interest rate or with a monthly payment that better fits your budget. Instead of juggling multiple loans and servicers, you make one payment on one loan.

The keyword is private. When SoFi refinances your loans, the new loan is a private loan, even if the loans you refinanced were federal. That distinction matters more than any interest rate, and we cover it in detail below.

SoFi has been in the refinancing space for over a decade and is one of the more established names in the category. The entire process happens online, and checking your rate takes a few minutes.

How SoFi Refinancing Works

The process is straightforward:

1. Check your rate with a soft credit pull

You enter basic information about yourself and your loans, and SoFi shows you the rates you prequalify for. This step uses a soft credit pull, which does not affect your credit score. This is genuinely useful: you can see real numbers before committing to anything.

2. Choose your rate and term

If you like what you see, you select a fixed or variable rate and a repayment term. Shorter terms usually carry lower rates and less total interest, but higher monthly payments. Longer terms lower your monthly payment but cost more over time.

3. Complete the full application

Once you choose to proceed, SoFi requests your full credit report. This is a hard credit pull and may temporarily affect your score. You will also submit documentation to verify income, employment, and your existing loans.

4. SoFi pays off your old loans

After approval and final acceptance, SoFi disburses funds to pay off your original loans. From that point forward, you make a single monthly payment to SoFi.

\n\n
\n\n \n \n \"SoFi\n \n\n \n

\n Refinance Your Student Loans With SoFi®\n

\n\n \n

\n See the fixed and variable rates you may prequalify for in just a few minutes with a\n soft credit pull that won't impact your credit score.\n There's no obligation to move forward.\n

\n\n \n \n View Your Rate Today\n \n\n \n

\n ✓ Soft credit pull   •  \n ✓ No obligation   •  \n ✓ Check your rate in minutes\n

\n\n \n

\n Checking your rate uses a soft credit pull with no impact to your credit score. If you proceed with an application, SoFi will request your full credit report, which is a hard credit pull. Terms and conditions apply. SoFi refinance loans are private loans. Refinancing federal student loans permanently forfeits federal benefits, including income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness programs. Rates and terms are current as of publication and are subject to change. Visit SoFi.com/eligibility for complete eligibility requirements and additional details.\n

\n\n

SoFi Refinance Rates and Costs

Here is where SoFi is genuinely competitive.

Interest rates

SoFi advertises fixed rates starting as low as 3.99% APR when you enroll in autopay. As with every lender, the lowest advertised rate is reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers, so the rate you actually receive depends on your credit profile, income, loan term, and financial history. Variable rates are also available.

Fees

SoFi charges no application fees, no origination fees, and no prepayment penalties. That last point matters: you can pay the loan off early without being charged for it.

Minimum loan amount

SoFi refinances student loans totaling at least $5,000. The loans must have been used to fund tuition at an eligible Title IV accredited school where you were enrolled at least half time.

The honest cost caveat

SoFi's own disclosure says it plainly: you may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance. Lowering your monthly payment by stretching to a longer term can increase what you pay in total, even at a lower rate. Always run the numbers on total cost, not just the monthly payment.

What Makes SoFi Stand Out From Other Private Lenders

Plenty of lenders will refinance your student loans. What separates SoFi is the package of protections and perks that come attached to the loan, most of which competitors do not offer. If you are going to refinance with a private lender anyway, these are the extras worth weighing.

Unemployment Protection

This is SoFi's most distinctive benefit. If you lose your job through no fault of your own, SoFi lets you pause payments in three-month increments, up to 12 months total over the life of the loan, while you look for new work. SoFi also provides job-placement assistance during that time. Interest still accrues while payments are paused, so it is not free, but it is a real safety net that most private lenders simply do not provide. For anyone giving up federal forbearance protections by refinancing, this softens that trade-off meaningfully.

Free career coaching and financial planning

SoFi members get access to one-on-one career coaching (resume reviews, interview prep, job-search help) and complimentary financial planning sessions with credentialed planners, at no additional cost. These are not reserved for a premium tier; they come with being a borrower. For younger professionals or anyone navigating a career transition, that is genuine added value that a rate number alone does not capture.

No fees, anywhere

SoFi charges no application fee, no origination fee, no late fee, and no prepayment penalty. It is one of the cleaner fee structures in the private refinancing market, which means more of your money goes toward the balance rather than to the lender.

A full member ecosystem

Because SoFi is also a bank, borrowers plug into a broader ecosystem: potential rate discounts on other SoFi products, rewards points that can be applied toward paying down your loan, and member perks across investing and banking. Existing SoFi members may qualify for an additional rate discount on refinancing. If you like the idea of keeping your financial products under one roof, that consolidation has real convenience value.

Scale and support

SoFi is a large, established, publicly traded lender (SoFi Technologies, Nasdaq: SOFI) with millions of members, an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, and seven-day-a-week customer support by phone, chat, and email. For a decision this significant, working with a well-established lender carries its own peace of mind.

The honest framing: these perks do not change the core math. A low rate on the wrong loan is still the wrong loan. But if refinancing genuinely fits your situation, SoFi's extras make it one of the more borrower-friendly private options available, and that is a fair reason to put it at the top of your list.

The Most Important Thing to Understand Before You Refinance

This is the section most refinance reviews skip, and it is the one that matters most.

When you refinance federal student loans with SoFi, you permanently give up all federal loan benefits. Once those federal loans are paid off and replaced with a private SoFi loan, there is no going back. You forfeit:

For borrowers who work in public service, expect to pursue forgiveness, or want the safety net of income-based payments, refinancing federal loans is usually the wrong move, no matter how attractive the rate looks. Under Public Service Loan Forgiveness, qualifying borrowers can have their remaining federal balance forgiven after 120 payments while working for an eligible employer, a benefit worth potentially tens of thousands of dollars that disappears the moment you refinance federally held loans into a private one.

The timing matters in 2026 specifically. The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), created by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, launched on July 1, 2026, and for anyone borrowing federal loans on or after that date, it is one of only two available repayment options and the only income-driven one. RAP ties your payment to your income and waives unpaid monthly interest when you pay on time, protections a private refinance cannot offer. You can review the official details on the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid site before making any move. Refinancing federal loans away means walking away from a repayment option you may not fully understand yet.

Refinancing makes the most sense when the loans you are refinancing are private to begin with, or when you have firmly ruled out federal forgiveness and income-driven plans and simply want a lower rate.

SoFi Refinancing: Pros and Cons

\n\n
\n

Pros

\n \n
\n\n
\n

Cons

\n \n
\n\n
\n\n

Is SoFi Refinancing Legit?

Yes. SoFi refinance loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., a Member FDIC institution (NMLS #696891). It is a well-established, publicly traded company and one of the larger lenders in the student loan refinancing space. The soft-credit-pull rate check and no-fee structure are real and consumer-friendly.

Legitimate, however, does not mean right for everyone. The question is not whether SoFi is trustworthy; it is whether refinancing fits your specific loan situation.

Who SoFi Refinancing Is Best For

SoFi is a strong option if you:

Who Should Think Twice

Refinancing federal loans with SoFi is probably not for you if you:

SoFi vs. Other Private Refinance Lenders

If you have decided private refinancing is right for you, here is how SoFi compares to two other well-known lenders in the space. Rates and terms change frequently, so always verify current numbers directly with each lender.

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
FeatureSoFiEarnestLaurel Road
FeesNo application, origination, late, or prepayment feesNo feesNo fees
Unemployment protectionUp to 12 months in 3-month increments, plus job-placement helpAvailableLimited
Career coachingIncluded free for borrowersNot a core offeringNot a core offering
Rate checkSoft pull, no credit impactSoft pull, no credit impactSoft pull, no credit impact
Member ecosystemFull bank: investing, banking, rewards, and product discountsFocused on lendingStrong for healthcare professionals
Stands out forBorrower protections and member perksFlexible terms and grace periodSpecialized options for medical and dental fields
\n
\n\n

Where SoFi consistently pulls ahead is the combination of a clean no-fee structure with real borrower protections, unemployment forbearance, and free career support that go beyond what most private lenders bundle in. Earnest is often praised for term flexibility, and Laurel Road is strong for healthcare professionals, so the right pick depends on your profile. But for a broad audience wanting the most complete borrower-friendly package, SoFi is a strong default.

SoFi Refinance vs. Keeping Federal Loans

Before comparing private lenders at all, the more important comparison is against simply keeping your federal loans.

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
FactorSoFi RefinanceKeeping Federal Loans
Interest rateLow fixed and variable rates for strong creditSet by federal terms
Forgiveness optionsNonePSLF and other programs available
Income-driven plansNoneYes, including RAP
Deferment / ForbearanceUnemployment protection for up to 12 monthsFederal protections
Best forPrivate loans, high earners, and borrowers who do not qualify for forgivenessPublic service workers, lower-income borrowers, and forgiveness seekers
\n
\n\n

The Bottom Line: Is SoFi Worth It?

SoFi is a legitimate, competitive refinancing lender with real advantages: low advertised rates, no fees, a soft-pull rate check, and a clean online process. For the right borrower, someone with private loans or someone who has deliberately chosen a lower rate over federal flexibility, it is one of the strongest options available.

But the smartest financial move here is not automatic. Before you refinance, confirm whether your loans are federal or private, and be honest with yourself about whether you might ever need forgiveness or income-driven repayment. If you would, keeping your federal loans is almost always worth more than any rate SoFi can offer. If you would not, checking your SoFi rate costs nothing and shows you real numbers in minutes.

The best part is that finding out is free and does not touch your credit score.

FAQs

What credit score do I need to refinance with SoFi?

SoFi does not publish a hard minimum, but the lowest advertised rates go to the most creditworthy borrowers. Strong credit and steady income improve both your approval odds and your rate. You can check your rate with a soft credit pull first, with no impact to your score.

Does checking my SoFi rate hurt my credit?

No. Checking your rate uses a soft credit pull, which does not affect your credit score. A hard credit pull happens only if you choose to move forward with a full application.

Can I refinance federal student loans with SoFi?

Yes, but you should think carefully first. Refinancing federal loans with SoFi converts them to a private loan and permanently forfeits all federal benefits, including PSLF, income-driven repayment plans like RAP, and federal deferment and forbearance protections.

What is the minimum amount I can refinance?

SoFi refinances student loans totaling at least $5,000, used to fund tuition at an eligible Title IV accredited school where you were enrolled at least half time.

Are there any fees to refinance with SoFi?

SoFi charges no application fees, no origination fees, and no prepayment penalties. You can pay your loan off early without a charge.

\n
\n

\n Explore Related Guides\n

\n

\n More resources to help you save money, build credit, and make the most of your college years.\n

\n\n
\n\n \n \n \n Best Credit Cards for College Students\n →\n \n\n \n \n \n 25+ Online Jobs for College Students\n →\n \n\n \n \n \n 35 Jobs That Pay for College Tuition\n →\n \n\n
\n
\n\n \n
","url":"https://admin.thinksaveretire.com/sofi-student-loan-refinance-review/","uuid":"bb206dec-e726-4d35-836c-0ca0c1ccc395","page":null,"codeinjection_foot":null,"codeinjection_head":null,"codeinjection_styles":null,"comment_id":"6a6910818478e50001eb0eb6"},"allGhostAuthor":{"edges":[{"node":{"name":"Vanessa Zimin","slug":"vanessa","bio":"Vanessa Zimin writes about practical ways to earn more, build credit, and grow income outside a 9-to-5. She specializes in side hustles backed by real platform data.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2025/01/Headshot-Photo.jpg","postCount":87}},{"node":{"name":"Tim Yelchaninov","slug":"tim","bio":"CEO at True Finance, Husband, and Father to three beautiful daughters. ","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2023/01/avatar.png","postCount":20}},{"node":{"name":"Dmitriy Kovalenko","slug":"dmitriy","bio":null,"profile_image":null,"postCount":0}},{"node":{"name":"Robot","slug":"robot","bio":"This is a robot we use for building the front-end of the site.","profile_image":null,"postCount":0}},{"node":{"name":"Emma Bowder","slug":"emma","bio":null,"profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/f5c1eb191f879454afa7f8c56948825c?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Arianna Izotov","slug":"arianna","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2025/10/DSC02362-2.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Yanis Bondar","slug":"yanis","bio":null,"profile_image":null,"postCount":0}},{"node":{"name":"James Fletcher","slug":"james","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2025/01/AdobeStock_213793387.jpeg","postCount":140}},{"node":{"name":"Alexandra Harper","slug":"alexandra","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2025/01/AdobeStock_186401109.jpeg","postCount":139}},{"node":{"name":"Nick Andr","slug":"nick","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2024/06/T0KN0UVN2-U045GTNAS4A-dd8b59a58b60-512.png","postCount":88}},{"node":{"name":"Grace Lemire","slug":"gracelemire","bio":"Personal Finance Content Writer, Marketer, & Content Creator 💸","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-28-at-4.47.38-PM.png","postCount":74}},{"node":{"name":"Sean G.","slug":"sean","bio":"Sean is a writer and entrepreneur that has a passion for all things personal finance. When he's not writing about finance, you can find him at the nearest steakhouse.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2019/11/Screenshot_20191119-132003_Instagram-1.png","postCount":23}},{"node":{"name":"Alice Stevens","slug":"alice","bio":"Alice Stevens is an accomplished writer in the finance and insurance space. She's known for her thoughtful research and close attention to detail.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2022/05/Dec2016_StevensFamily_27-2-2.jpg","postCount":2}},{"node":{"name":"Jared Hargrove","slug":"jared","bio":"Jared is a personal finance nerd that believes in a world where the pursuit of financial independence and avocado toast can live together peacefully.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2022/02/Jared-Hargrove.png","postCount":11}},{"node":{"name":"Jesse Cramer","slug":"jesse","bio":"Jesse is the founder of The Best Interest, a financial literacy company based in Rochester, NY, where he lives with his fiancée and their foster dogs. ","profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/e2beeec0ad132e24abcc05f69a1eb587?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Fiona Smith","slug":"fiona","bio":"Fiona Smith is the Founder of The Millenial Money Woman and holds a Master of Science degree in Personal Financial Planning. She is passionate about teaching others to take control of their money. ","profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/7cf4a5f3c5e0afc20c07967ca8c7397b?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Kalicia Bateman","slug":"kalicia","bio":"Kalicia Bateman is a personal finance editor specializing in mortgages. She is passionate about simplifying finance and strives to combine complex information with authenticity & humor when possible.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2021/09/cropped-2-1.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Jessica Larson","slug":"jessica-larson","bio":"Jessica is a serial entrepreneur who wants to support her family while still spending time with them, to serve as a role model for her daughters, and to share what she’s learned with others.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2021/08/JL.jpeg","postCount":2}},{"node":{"name":"Angelica Leicht","slug":"angelica-leicht","bio":"Angelica is a personal finance writer and editor. Her work has appeared in The Motley Fool, The Simple Dollar, Interest, Bankrate, The Spruce, Houston Press, and VeryWell.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2021/07/a-leicht-headshot.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Arthur Goldgaber","slug":"arthur-goldgaber","bio":"I cover personal finance, industry research and corporate communications. You can find my work in Investor's Business Daily, Financial World and the Los Angeles Business Journal.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2021/05/Arthur.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Eric Ferguson","slug":"eric","bio":"Eric runs Mindful Trader, a service that publishes stock picks and teaches the strategies behind them. He spent years doing stock market research to identify historical quantitative trading edges.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2021/05/eric-face-and-neck.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Eric Brotman","slug":"eric-brotman","bio":"Eric D. Brotman, CFP®, AEP®, CPWA® is Chief Executive Officer of BFG Financial Advisors, an independent firm assisting clients with wealth creation, preservation, and distribution.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2021/02/download.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Sarah Thibeau","slug":"sarah","bio":"Sarah is an avid reader, a beer nerd, and a social media guru. Sarah loves all things millennial money. She's working on nailing this \"adulting\" thing, and she's happy to have you along for the ride! ","profile_image":"https://thinksaveretire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/author-1.jpg","postCount":36}},{"node":{"name":"Dakota Butler","slug":"dakota","bio":"Hi! I'm Dakota. I'm a social media & digital marketing intern by day. By night, I coach humans online in strength training. I love all things fitness, content creating, and corgis.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/01/Dakota_image.JPG","postCount":6}},{"node":{"name":"Melissa Goff","slug":"melissa","bio":"Melissa loves content, comedy, and all things West Coast. She is grateful to wake up every day with the chance to bring stories from unlikely sources to life and enable others to design and live the ","profile_image":"https://thinksaveretire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MelissaHollisGoff.jpg","postCount":25}},{"node":{"name":"Tristan Luciotti","slug":"tristan","bio":"Tristan is a foster dad, writer, indie filmmaker, video game creator, and digital marketing wizard. He loves hiking the Oregon coast and is ready to share his financial - and life - survival tips. ","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/07/TL-Headshot-1.jpg","postCount":5}},{"node":{"name":"Kiah Treece","slug":"kiah-treece","bio":"Kiah is a lawyer and sustainability expert with a passion for personal finance, real estate investing, and everything FIRE. She lives in NC where she loves to garden, paint, and cook without a recipe.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/10/Kiah-Treece-Headshot-2020.jpg","postCount":3}},{"node":{"name":"Emily Morgan","slug":"emily-morgan","bio":"Emily Morgan is passionate in helping people understand the basics of financial issues. Her goal is to highlight the pros and drawbacks, thus making it easier for the readers to make smart steps.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/04/emily-morgan.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Valentine Wilson","slug":"valentine","bio":null,"profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/5d817dce37691fdcc851bc61d5aba11d?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Kathryn Casna","slug":"kathryncasna","bio":"Kathryn Casna is a licensed insurance agent, life insurance specialist, and Medicare expert who writes for TermLife2Go.com.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/06/headshot_kathryn_casna.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Kristian Borghesan","slug":"kristian-borghesan","bio":"Kristian is the Director of Marketing at Savology, a financial planning platform helping American households improve their financial well-being by providing access to free financial planning.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/06/Kristian-Borghesan---Headshot.png","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Tina S. Rhodes","slug":"tina","bio":"Tina is a personal finance writer who is passionate about ensuring that financial literacy is accessible to anyone who is interested! In her free time, she enjoys hiking, tacos, and cats.\n","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2021/10/Tina-Rhodes-personal-finance-writer.jpg","postCount":26}},{"node":{"name":"Dock David Treece","slug":"dock","bio":"Dock is a former financial advisor and an experienced real estate investor who loves helping people find ways to build and conserve wealth. He has been featured by CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/03/dock.jpeg","postCount":27}},{"node":{"name":"Kathrine Kofoed","slug":"kathrine","bio":null,"profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/7b994489585ee370c5d2c00991ec2776?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Arkadiy","slug":"arkadiy","bio":"Arkadiy is a master of high-level personal finance. He's founded his own companies, and he knows the ins and outs of being successful in business and in life. ","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-19-at-4.38.13-PM.png","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Jawad Khan","slug":"jawad","bio":null,"profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/df5cba9c6760136180384cbd87d6bf80?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Marques Coleman","slug":"marques","bio":"Marques Coleman is a blog writer at Essay Assistant and specializes in marketing and copywriting. Moreover, he is an avid traveler and always tries to learn something new.","profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/df53fd787439f31c7064c6c78664d97b?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Laura Kim","slug":"laurakim","bio":"Laura is a freelance copy and grant writer. In her mid-40s she swapped her single-with-a-career, living-in-the-city life for a married-with-three-kiddos and self-employed life in Portland, OR.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/04/nine.JPG","postCount":3}},{"node":{"name":"David Freudenberg","slug":"david","bio":"David Freudenberg is a real estate investor in Florida. He writes about real estate investing on his blog, We Buy Houses Florida.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/04/david-freudenberg-profile-picture.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Lynne","slug":"lynne","bio":"Lynne is a trader in Financial markets from Mitrade. Her expertise covers a wide range of topics, including trading strategies, specific analysis, and general finance topics. ","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/04/Lynne-from-Mitrade.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Marc Andre","slug":"marc","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/85a5f01860472fd1f4aac6b85dab0d70","postCount":46}},{"node":{"name":"Matt Lurie","slug":"matt","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/03/IMG_0373.jpeg","postCount":6}},{"node":{"name":"Leo Gutierrez","slug":"leo","bio":"Old-School video games = love. Professionally, a SEO expert, and in my spare time I contribute content to tech and finance sites","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/03/leo.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Darina Murashev","slug":"darina","bio":"Darina Murashev is a freelance writer from Chicago based in SLC. She writes about lifestyle, relocation, and finance. She enjoys traveling, live music, and spending time in the great outdoors.","profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/0f12f968d3d5f1311d3d1e9cfed0b03d?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Brandyn Morelli","slug":"brandyn_morelli","bio":"Brandyn Morelli is CEO of Tilt Metrics, a B2B growth marketing agency. He is also the co-founder of HelloCecil, a video interviewing platform helping businesses make smarter hires.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/02/Onyx-Agency---portraits-30_preview.jpeg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Kristin Savage","slug":"kristin-savage","bio":"Kristin Savage nourishes, sparks and empowers using the magic of a word. Now she works as a freelance writer at and GrabMyEssay. Kristin also does editing work at BestEssayEducation.\n","profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/4c00584b52b79dd008fc83214aaf8c12?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Steven Millstein","slug":"steven","bio":"Steven Millstein is a recognized credit expert and is the Editor in Cheif of CreditRepairExpert.org which is an online resource dedicated to all things credit. ","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/02/Steven-Millstein.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Britt Sharman","slug":"britt","bio":null,"profile_image":"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/11b1cca4171cdece649f3c32a7fb590d?s=250&d=mm&r=x","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Kevin Gardner","slug":"kevin-gardner","bio":"Kevin Gardner an MBA from UCLA. He works as a business consultant for InnovateBTS. He shares his expertise on topics from technology to finance not only with his clients but with his fellow bloggers.\n","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/02/kg.jpeg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Austin @ Minted Millennial","slug":"mintedmillennial","bio":"Austin is the owner and founder of Minted Millennial, a personal finance blog centralized around empowering and inspiring millennial's to reach their wildest financial dreams. ","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/01/IMG_1564--2--1.JPG","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Susan and Boris","slug":"susan-and-boris","bio":"Boris & Susan are experienced Airbnb hosts and real estate investors hosting close to 10,000 guests per year around the country and managing their properties remotely while working full-time. ","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/01/susan-and-Boba-1.png","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Sam Valentine","slug":"sam","bio":"Sam is a devoted RV traveler and a fan of trying new things. She's excited to bring you her honest reviews of all the things she loves to use in her one wild and precious life!","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/01/jurica-koletic-CfUyeAZOWIw-unsplash-1.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Jacqueline B. Storey","slug":"jacqueline","bio":"A writer untethered. Think Save Retire's resident pen name. ","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2019/12/IMG_7577.jpeg","postCount":3}},{"node":{"name":"Frank Stovall","slug":"frank","bio":"Frank is an avid traveler, rock climber, and adventurer. As the PR manager for Fly Xo, where one can book a flight on private jets in an instant, he is able to travel far and wide.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2019/12/frank-stovall.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Morgen Henderson","slug":"morgen","bio":"Morgen is a writer from the beautiful mountains of Utah. She loves writing about personal experiences and when she's not at her computer, you can find her hiking near her home and traveling the globe.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2019/12/profilepic.PNG","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Jenny Smith","slug":"jenny","bio":"Originally from the UK, Jenny traveled extensively abroad before settling down in New Zealand. Over the years she's learned all about achieving financial independence while living a nomadic lifestyle.","profile_image":"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thinksaveretire.com/content/images/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-06-at-2.15.22-PM.png","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Ana-Maria Sanders","slug":"ana","bio":"Ana-Maria is a content writer and marketing manager at Loanstart. In her current role she is responsible for managing the finance and operations of securities. On top of that, Ana-Maria loves writing","profile_image":"https://thinksaveretire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ana-Maria-Sanders.png","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Andrew Herrig","slug":"andrew","bio":"Andrew is a personal finance aficionado who helps others take control of their finances and learn to build generational wealth at his blog, Enoch Omololu is a veterinarian by day and a personal finance blogger by night at ","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/7cc6fb3125907e40a7376d6d3b4043fa","postCount":2}},{"node":{"name":"Fay Shaw","slug":"fay","bio":"Fay is a postdoctoral research associate at the Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach and is serving as Principal Investigator for an NSF SBIR grant","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bea7c09b9bf5465e25aaa0113b55f172","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Financial Wolves","slug":"financial","bio":"Financial Wolves is a blog focused on helping you make more money to achieve financial freedom.","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/bf268aeeb64d52079bc47b63a15ce439","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Fred @ Money With A Purpose","slug":"fred","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d1571b6a2656ffdf77c9ff0f725963ce","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"G. Brian Davis","slug":"g","bio":"G. Brian Davis is a real estate investor and co-founder of SparkRental.com, which provides education and free landlord resources.","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/022d6a7787b01e3b267c66482d107651","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Grant Sabatier","slug":"grant","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a018173d1cb4152aea470ac89f8954e8","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Ingrid","slug":"ingrid","bio":null,"profile_image":"http://thinksaveretire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ingrid.jpeg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Jack Duke","slug":"jack","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/ef63e7e0300dedb6e40fa4725c963528","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Jeff","slug":"jeff","bio":"Dr. Jeff uses his personal six-figure debt experience he had to inspire other doctor and high-income professionals. ","profile_image":"http://thinksaveretire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fincon18_Headshots_Day-2-1207.jpg","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Jessica @ The Financial Graduate","slug":"jessica","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/aa93cf6c9b9fea81af5298f3546fae7e","postCount":2}},{"node":{"name":"John @ How To FIRE","slug":"john","bio":"John and his wife run where they work to educate others, provide valuable resources and share our own journey towards FIRE. ","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4e35fa9597e0ccbf2679000ab78dfd38","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Julie @ Millennial Boss","slug":"julie","bio":"Julie, or J, is a 30-year-old tech professional who lives in Seattle, WA with her husband and dog. She loves anything outdoors, side hustling, and talking FIRE.","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/c8989f9f1a8861e5f7607463f47f10bf","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Justin Song","slug":"justin","bio":"Justin Song is a Product Manager at Value Penguin.","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/9025b2248cc61c9238c5bb3ba2d29b24","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Kara | The Flawed Consumer","slug":"kara","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/c7db014e4ff8e4f1e8de8d04b00f579d","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Kevin @ Just Start Investing","slug":"kevin","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/b4348a5e29e4ed43779ead7e60cc3082","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Kristin Hanes","slug":"kristin","bio":"Kristin Hanes is a journalist and writer who lives on a sailboat in San Francisco.","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/deca7480c9be4a5d68bd740c45dff3e4","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Kyle @ Millionaire Mob","slug":"kyle","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0f1908588689046da825586bf74a688a","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Lily","slug":"lily","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/84c85e1ef17df319bd0f1c2dbf4cf7dc","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"M @ Radical Fire","slug":"m","bio":"I’m M @ Radical FIRE, a 24-year-old financial consultant that is passionate about the Financial Independence and Retire Early (FI/RE) movement. ","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/afec7e1b18aa548daf8c8c9c9b99237d","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Michael @ Your Money Geek","slug":"michael-your-money-geek","bio":"Michael blogs at Your Money Geek where he shares his experience, unique insights, and profiles inspirational FIRE folk.","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4bf8c1b1345c2069bcf816112b60dd38","postCount":3}},{"node":{"name":"Michael Monfredi","slug":"michael","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/5f452887b6787a4d8b3751794fe5697a","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Michael Perrone","slug":"michael-perrone","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/96c7eff358b2b7d4b7ee29a92043d9dd","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Miguel","slug":"miguel","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2b4405ea9cd88c5968b4d6753d6f8b33","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Molly Barnes","slug":"molly","bio":"Molly Barnes is a full-time digital nomad, exploring and working remotely in different cities in the US. ","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/d701f5731964a046c16ed988544946b8","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Patricia Russell","slug":"patricia","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/ad25eb2d8263de811bb45446dd22b3fd","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Penny @ ShePicksUpPennies.com","slug":"penny","bio":"Penny is an educator in her early thirties who lives in the ‘burbs of a big Midwestern city with my husband and baby and writes on her blog at shepicksuppennies.com","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/582bd3655c2c7d1cac09c59fc9b375de","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Peter @ Counting Every Dollar","slug":"peter","bio":"Peter writes about achieving financial independence through career-hacking, online side-hustles, and super-saving. ","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3aba5fecb7116db4f209469ada140f24","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"PK","slug":"pk","bio":"PK is nearing FI and is currently working as a software guy in IT. During his career he has held operational and management roles in addition to his preferred role of writing software. He is currentl","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/8996cf15108de330807f18f0ac19b8a9","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Poor Swiss","slug":"poor","bio":"Mr. The Poor Swiss is the main author behind thepoorswiss.com. In 2017, he realized that he was spending more and more every year, falling into the trap of lifestyle inflation. ","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/2a33c174894add22e71196cf452c420c","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Shelly Strom","slug":"shelly","bio":"Shelly is a writer based in Washington. Since coming out of early retirement from being a volunteer wildlife refuge caretaker in her early 20's, Shelly has written for newspapers, worked in corporate","profile_image":"https://thinksaveretire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Portrait_resume.png","postCount":4}},{"node":{"name":"Steve Adcock","slug":"steve","bio":"Steves a 38-year-old early retiree who writes about the intersection of happiness and financial independence.","profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/ae0b2f8d459bad06e6d287fa4a74b1ea","postCount":773}},{"node":{"name":"Terry","slug":"terry","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/69af05806cf63a5499d0f0970f318e1b","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Think Save Retire","slug":"think","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4ea272b42b0fdeaba24213d79cea10a5","postCount":22}},{"node":{"name":"Thomas Minter","slug":"thomas","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/59b38630fd6fa557f4169e26ae4076f6","postCount":1}},{"node":{"name":"Whitney Nicely","slug":"whitney","bio":null,"profile_image":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3561d1597d9d88b9183c9fa79729e544","postCount":1}}]},"allAuthorsBioFullJson":{"edges":[{"node":{"bio":"Steve is a 38-year-old early retiree who writes about the intersection of happiness and financial independence. Steve is a regular contributor to MarketWatch, CNBC, and The Ladders. He lives full-time in his 30' Airstream Classic and travels the country with his wife Courtney and two rescued dogs.","slug":"steve"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"courtney"}},{"node":{"bio":"PK is nearing FI and is currently working as a software guy in IT. During his career he has held operational and management roles in addition to his preferred role of writing software. He is currently contemplating the start of his own blog.","slug":"pk"}},{"node":{"bio":"Fay is a postdoctoral research associate at the Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach and is serving as Principal Investigator for an NSF SBIR grant developing an Internet of Things STEM product for girls (1746640). She also runs the site Bitwise E-Textiles.","slug":"fay"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"chris"}},{"node":{"bio":"G. Brian Davis is a real estate investor and co-founder of SparkRental.com, which provides education and free tools for landlords and rental investors. Their services include automated rent collection (with an option to deduct rent from the tenant’s paycheck), lease agreements, tenant screening and more. If you’re interested in getting started with rental properties, start with their free mini-course on buying small multifamily rental properties.","slug":"g"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"boisy"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"lily"}},{"node":{"bio":"Kristin Hanes is a journalist and writer who lives on a sailboat in San Francisco. Her blog, The Wayward Home, explores van life, RVing, tiny homes and sailboat living. She hopes to inspire others to live tiny and lead a life of adventure.","slug":"kristin"}},{"node":{"bio":"Bob Clyatt is the author of Work Less, Live More: The New Way to Retire Early, which has sold over 40,000 copies.  After founding two startups which were sold to public companies he retired in 2001 at age 42 to pursue his artistic interests.  Bob’s sculptures will be exhibited during the 2019 Venice Biennale in the pavilion of the European Cultural Center. ","slug":"bob"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"grant"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"kara"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"brenda"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"thomas"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"michael"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"jessica"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"miguel"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"chris-duke"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"jack"}},{"node":{"bio":"Michael blogs at Your Money Geek where he shares his experience, unique insights, and profiles inspirational success stories. When he is not writing about personal finance Michael can be found enjoying a sci-fi book.","slug":"michael-your-money-geek"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"marc"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"cody"}},{"node":{"bio":"Cindy quit her 9-5 job to start living life on her own terms. Her blog, Making Coins Count, empowers others to save, invest and grow their net worth using the same simple strategies that have allowed her to travel the world full-time and become financially independent.","slug":"cindy"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"kyle"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"kevin"}},{"node":{"bio":"I’m M @ Radical FIRE, a 24-year-old financial consultant that is passionate about the Financial Independence and Retire Early (FI/RE) movement. I want to empower YOU to be Financially Independent, if you want it you can achieve it! I am taking you on my journey to be Financially Independent by 35, let’s do it!","slug":"m"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"whitney"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"michael-perrone"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"fred"}},{"node":{"bio":"Penny is an educator in her early thirties who lives in the ‘burbs of a big Midwestern city with my husband and baby and writes on her blog at She Picks Up Pennies. In three years, they paid down over $85,000 worth of debt on two teachers’ salaries, thanks to some serious savings and extra side hustling.","slug":"penny"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"danielle"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"nathan"}},{"node":{"bio":"Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning financial journalist with more than 17 years of experience writing about personal finance. She also is the author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances. ","slug":"cameron"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"robin"}},{"node":{"bio":"Julie, or “J”, is a 30-year-old tech professional who lives in Seattle, WA with her husband and dog. She loves anything outdoors, side hustling, and talking to interesting people on the path to financial independence on her podcast, Fire Drill. She is the creator of the Side Course where she teaches people how to build passive income streams with Etsy printables, blogging, and freelancing.","slug":"julie"}},{"node":{"bio":"Dr. Jeff uses his personal six-figure debt experience he had to inspire other doctor and high-income professionals. He focuses on debt-free living and financial freedom at Debt Free Dr.","slug":"jeff"}},{"node":{"bio":"Mr. The Poor Swiss is the main author behind thepoorswiss.com. In 2017, he realized that he was spending more and more every year, falling into the trap of lifestyle inflation. He decided to cut on his expenses and increase his income. This blog is relating his story and findings. In 2018, he saved more than 40% of his income. He made it a goal to reach Financial Independence. You can send Mr. The Poor Swiss a message here.","slug":"poor"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"patricia"}},{"node":{"bio":"Molly Barnes is a full-time digital nomad, exploring and working remotely in different cities in the US. She and her boyfriend Jacob created the website Digital Nomad Life to share their journey and help others to pursue a nomadic lifestyle.","slug":"molly"}},{"node":{"bio":"John and his wife run How To FIRE where they work to educate others, provide valuable resources and share our own journey towards FIRE. Their mission is to pursue passions outside of a 9-to-5 and without a worry about money!","slug":"john"}},{"node":{"bio":"Peter writes about achieving financial independence through career-hacking, online side-hustles, and super-saving. In the last 2 years using these techniques, the Counting Every Dollar family has doubled their income, increased net worth by over $200,000 and reached an 85% savings rate!","slug":"peter"}},{"node":{"bio":"Ingrid took early retirement from software engineering at 43 to pursue her passions for language learning and travel. Her goal is to learn a new language to fluency every two years. Currently, she speaks English, German, and Spanish, and is learning Portuguese. \r\n\r\nFind out more at her blog Second-Half Travels, or follow along on Facebook.","slug":"ingrid"}},{"node":{"bio":"Chris is a financial blogger who loves to be transparent about money-related issues. He’s paid off massive amounts of credit card debt and is the blog author of Money Stir. His main focus on Money Stir is talking about how money relates to our relationships, personal development, and how to plan for the future we want. He’s been quoted on Market Watch, The Ladders, and other publications.","slug":"chris-roane-money-stir"}},{"node":{"bio":"Enoch Omololu is a veterinarian by day and a personal finance blogger by night at Savvy New Canadians. He has a master’s degree in finance and investment management and his writing has been featured in the Toronto Star, Financial Post, MSN Money, Nest Wealth, The Motley Fool, Rockstar Finance and many other personal finance publications.","slug":"enoch"}},{"node":{"bio":"Justin Song is a Product Manager at ValuePenguin, a consumer research site, covering the small business and loans vertical. Before joining ValuePenguin he was a Senior Consultant at IBM. Justin graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Economics—in his free time he loves using credit card rewards to travel.","slug":"justin"}},{"node":{"bio":"Andrew is a personal finance aficionado who helps others take control of their finances and learn to build generational wealth at his blog, Wealthy Nickel. With a Bachelors degree in Engineering and a Masters in Economics, he is a numbers geek through and through. Andrew has a unique story of building wealth outside his day job through real estate investing, and teaches others to do the same. Andrew’s real estate background, along with growing up enjoying the benefits of his family’s timeshare, gives him a balanced view of the industry to help others make the best decision with their own timeshare.","slug":"andrew"}},{"node":{"bio":"Financial Wolves is a blog focused on helping you make more money to achieve financial freedom. After repaying student loans, I’ve shifted my focus to make more money from side hustles, real estate, freelancing and the online economy. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. ","slug":"financial"}},{"node":{"bio":"Drew writes about maximizing career success, especially for introverts, on FI Introvert. He believes that we can realize at least 80% of the benefits of early retirement by working in HIFI positions – high income, high freedom, and high impact. Through brute force savings and a strong stock market, he and his wife have amassed nearly $1M in invested assets in four years. More importantly, he has a job he loves that allows him to work from home, direct 80% of his time, and see his son during the day.","slug":"drew"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"lana"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"adthrive"}},{"node":{"bio":"Melissa loves content, comedy, and all things West Coast. She is grateful to wake up every day with the chance to bring stories from unlikely sources to life and enable others to design and live the life of their dreams. She is an aspiring #RichGrandma but until then she's happy living in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and rescue cat.","slug":"melissa"}},{"node":{"bio":"Shelly is a writer based in Washington. Since coming out of early retirement from being a volunteer wildlife refuge caretaker in her early 20's, Shelly has written for newspapers, worked in corporate comms and served as comms director for political campaigns. With AI taking over, now seems like the perfect time to bring her writing skills to the FIRE movement.","slug":"shelly"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"think"}},{"node":{"bio":"","slug":"paul"}}]}},"pageContext":{"slug":"sofi-student-loan-refinance-review"}}}