Let’s Flip the Script on Student Debt. Together.

It’s time to do something about those student loans.

Physicians:

SCHEDULE A FREE INITIAL 15-MINUTE CALL: We’ll take a look at your student loan repayment plan and see if there are ways to save you money. No cost. No obligation. You tell us if you’d like to continue working on your personalized plan.

PHYSICIANS - GET A STUDENT DEBT CHECKUP: Use our quiz to take a closer look at your own student debt situation and symptoms. We’ll give you an immediate diagnosis and recommend treatment. (No prescription necessary.)

Read each statement. Does the statement apply to you?

I feel stressed by the amount of student debt I currently have.
I feel pressured to accept the job offer that pays the most—even if it’s not the best fit in other ways—because I need the money to pay off my student loans.
My student debt is influencing my major life decisions, such as whether to buy a house or when to start a family.
The student loan incentives offered by my employer or a recruiter don’t meet my needs.
I wish I had a solid plan for how to pay off my student debt.

Scoring: Give yourself 1 point for every Yes answer. Add up the total number of points.

Score of 0: Congratulations! You’re among the 10% of physicians who feel confident about repaying their student loans. Click here if you’d be willing to co-present with Navigate at your organization to help your colleagues feel just as confident.
Score of 1-3: Making some adjustments to your approach to repaying your student loans would help you feel less stressed and more confident. Click here to set up a free call with Navigate so we can take a look at your specific situation.
Score of 4-5: You deserve to feel confident and optimistic about your student loan repayment plans and your future. Let’s flip the script on student debt together! Run—don’t walk—to set up a free initial call with Navigate.

ASK US A QUESTION: What’s on your mind? Send us an email. We’d love to help.

Leaders:

SCHEDULE A DEMO: We’ll take a look at your student loan repayment plan and see if there are ways to save you money. No cost. No obligation. Just good advice.

SCHEDULE A DEMO

LEADERS - GET A STUDENT DEBT CHECKUP: Use our quiz to assess your organization’s approach to student debt. This could be the start of dramatic gains in recruitment, retention, patient care, and overall financial health.

Join us on the leading edge of talent management—where early adopters see impressive results simply by listening to what adds stress to physicians’ lives and thinking creatively about solutions.

Take Me to the Quiz

ASK US A QUESTION: What’s on your mind? Send us an email. We’d love to help.

We aim to be a trusted guide for our clients, providing the expertise that helps physicians navigate the complex world of student loan repayment. So they can feel prepared and confident. And go back to living life on their terms.

“To be honest, when I first heard about federal student loan forgiveness, I dismissed it as snake oil. Free money from the government sounded too good to be true.

But I discovered that it was indeed real, though incredibly complex. After many hours of research into all the regulations and nuances, I began offering student debt sessions as one of my services as a financial advisor. And every single client who requested a session saved serious money—from $40K to $400K.

By the time I started Navigate, I knew that I wanted to specialize in helping the professionals who shoulder the most student debt: physicians.

Navigate helps physicians take back control of their student loans—and their lives. And we help health systems take better care of their employees. Together, we can flip the script on student debt.

We aim to be a trusted guide for our clients, providing the expertise that helps physicians navigate the complex world of student loan repayment. So they can feel prepared and confident. And go back to living life on their terms.”

– Joy Sorensen Navarre

Joy Sorensen Navarre
President and Founder

Joy Sorensen Navarre is the president and founder of Navigate LLC. A national expert in student loan management, she consults with physicians and health systems across the country.

Joy lives by a powerful core belief: you find your purpose where the world’s greatest need and your greatest joy meet. This is why she built Navigate. She loves doing work that helps everyone—physicians, health systems, and patients.

She’s always flipping the script and spends her free time fishing for panfish with a six-pound test line on an ultra-light pole.

Jon Sorensen
Guide

Jon Sorensen is a Guide at Navigate. An expert student loan advisor, he leads physicians through our process so they understand all the repayment options and feel confident about their financial futures.

He’s usually calm and thoughtful, but he’s got a competitive streak that comes out on the baseball field. It’s a sport he’s played or coached since he was four years old.

Shel Sorensen
Database Administrator

Shel Sorensen is our database administrator. He maintains the security and confidentiality of our client records.
But don’t assume that this techie hides behind his computer—he’s also a popular emcee for high school reunions.

Susmitha Valvekar
Administrative Assistant

Susmitha Valvekar is our administrative assistant. She’s got ninja skills in reporting, invoicing, and much more. In other words, she adds polish and poise to everything we do behind the scenes.

With all that she does, you might wonder whether Susmitha ever leaves her desk. We do keep her busy, but she always finds time to volunteer and spend time in nature.

Cara Martner
Scheduling Specialist/Administrative Assistant

Cara Martner is our scheduling specialist and administrative assistant. She’s the welcoming committee for anyone contacting Navigate for the first time. She’s friendly, she’s fast, and she’s fired up about helping physicians throughout every step of their work with Navigate.

Cara is truly multi-talented, both in and out of the office. An accomplished musician, she studied music business and plans outdoor rock concerts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Navigate different from financial and tax advisors?
We specialize in student loan repayment. This means that we know all the nuances of repayment programs, consolidation, refinance options, deadlines, and regulations. We don’t offer any other financial or tax services, but we will happily work with your financial professionals or introduce you to one.

Another way we’re different is that we specialize in helping physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare practitioners. We know that you’re overwhelmed by more student debt than any other professionals. We know that your career trajectories and finances are unique. We know that you’re busy and need data-driven, straight answers. In short, we know physicians better than anyone.
How is Navigate different from loan servicers?
We are independent advisors, so we offer unbiased opinions. We show borrowers all their options. We use a custom-built calculator to compare a variety of scenarios—even various job offers—and the results clearly lay out which repayment plan is the best option.

In contrast, loan servicers earn money on your decisions. In one case, we saw a loan servicer add long delays when processing a borrower’s application, which cost him over $10K. In another case, we saw a loan servicer advise a borrower to select a certain repayment plan, even though a different repayment plan would lower her monthly payments significantly.

Navigate will always be on your side. We will help you understand what to expect, advise you on the various options, and help you resolve any issues that arise—including when that means jumping on the phone with you and the loan servicer to resolve an issue.
What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program is a free, federal program that allows certain federal student loans to be forgiven after 120 on-time, monthly, qualifying payments. These monthly payments are often lower than in other repayment programs. The program was created in 2007 in an effort to promote employment in the nonprofit sector. In order to qualify for PSLF, you must meet three qualifying factors:
- You must make 120 on-time monthly payments on your Direct Loans starting after October 1, 2007.
- You must make all payments through a qualified repayment plan.
- You must work full-time for a nonprofit or public employer while making each payment.
Is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program a good fit for my situation?
Answer three quick questions:
1. Do you have federal student loans?
2. Is your student loan balance higher than your salary?
3. Do you work for a nonprofit hospital or government institution?
If you answered yes to all three questions, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is worth exploring.
How can I see what I owe in student loans?
Visit the National Student Loan Data System to view a list of your federal loans. Have your Federal Student Aid (FSA) PIN ready. If necessary, you can reset your PIN on this website.
Which loans qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program?
Only two types of loans are eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program: Direct Loans and Direct Consolidation Loans.

Any of the Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL)—including Stafford Loans, Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, and Consolidation Loans—do not qualify. However, borrowers with these older federal loans may consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to qualify for PSLF. (Tip: MyFedLoan.org has a handy quiz to help determine if consolidation is worth exploring.)

But be careful: Consolidating certain loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan may limit PSLF’s impact on your finances. So before consolidating, check with your advisor or loan servicer and explain that you are pursuing PSLF. We’re a phone call away if you need any guidance or support.
Which repayment plans qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program?
The 10-Year Standard Repayment Plan or an income-driven repayment plan qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Income-driven repayment plans include the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan, the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Plan, and the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan.

But be careful: The extended 25-year or 30-year repayment plans do not qualify for PSLF.

Many physicians mistakenly believe that because of their above-average incomes, an income-driven repayment plan will create a high loan payment or disqualify them altogether. But the income-driven formula takes into account loan balance, income, and family size. With PSLF, many physicians find relief in their monthly loan payment and save thousands of dollars on their student loans after 10 years.
What kinds of employment qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program?
To qualify for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, you must be employed by:
- A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization
- A federal, state, or local governmental agency
- A tribal agency
Many hospitals, clinics, and health systems qualify for PSLF. But be careful: Many private, physician-owned groups do not qualify.

(Tip: To determine whether your employer qualifies, enter your employer’s EIN number—which can be found on your W-2 form—into the search bar of the national nonprofit database at Guidestar.org. Or email us, and we can check for you.)

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