So You’re a CCFC? Here’s Why Finology Software Is Right for Your Firm
The CCFC credential tells clients you can advise on college and on student loans. Finology Software is the tool that lets you prove it in every meeting, with numbers computed from the client’s own loan file.
What the CCFC is
The CCFC (Certified College Financial Consultant) credential is issued by AICCFC, founded in 2017, which describes it as “the premier college and student loan advising designation.” Advisors earn it by meeting education, experience and continuing education requirements.
The advice that sets a CCFC apart
Most planning software stops at a payment estimate. A CCFC is expected to tell the client which plan to choose and why. That means comparing the whole cost, not just the monthly number. Here is one recent graduate:
| $90,000 Direct Unsubsidized at 6.5%, single, earning $75,000 | Monthly payment | Forgiven | Est. tax at forgiveness | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 10-year | $1,022 | $0 | $0 | $122,632 |
| RAP | $438 | $72,000 (year 30) | $16,666 | $174,166 |
| IBR (10%) | $426 | $104,880 (year 20) | $24,557 | $126,677 |
| PAYE | $426 | $104,880 (year 20) | $24,557 | $126,677 |
RAP looks almost the same as IBR each month, but it costs about $47,500 more over the life of the loan once the tax at forgiveness is counted. And if the client works in public service, the answer changes completely:
| $120,000 at 6.5%, earning $70,000, 48 PSLF months already counted | Monthly payment | Paid until forgiveness | Forgiven, tax-free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 10-year | $1,363 | (paid in full: $163,509) | $0 |
| RAP | $350 | $25,200 | $116,400 in 6 years |
| IBR (10%) | $384 | $27,636 | $139,164 in 6 years |
“Since the majority of my client base consists of early-career health professionals, I know the anxiety surrounding student loan management is profoundly real and impacts almost every financial decision. Finology helps me present clear solutions, elevates my credibility as a specialist in the field, and allows me to deliver relief on such an emotionally loaded topic.”
Michael MathenyFounder, Stellar Financial Health
Hear Alex on student loans
- Podcast: The New Rules of Student Loan Planning, with Alex Bottom and Ryan Galiotto, CFP®, on Rory Henry’s Holistic Guide to Wealth Management (October 2025): parents and retirees carrying education debt, the new repayment rules and borrowing caps.
- Webinar: Navigating the Current Student Loan Landscape, Ryan Galiotto of Etch Financial with Alex Bottom, recorded for Etch University (March 25, 2026).
- Webinar: Turning Student Loan Rule Changes Into Growth, Alex Bottom with Invent’s Eric Varela on scalable student loan planning.
- Conference: the NCAG Annual Virtual Conference, May 12 and 13, 2025, where Alex Bottom spoke to NCAG members.
More coverage is on our press page.
How Finology fits your practice
- Import the federal loan file. The family downloads the MyStudentData file from studentaid.gov; you drop it in, and every loan, balance, rate and payment count is read in seconds.
- Model every plan the borrower can elect. RAP, the new tiered Standard, IBR, PAYE and ICR, with each excluded plan named and the reason given.
- See the whole cost. Monthly payment, total paid, amount forgiven and the estimated tax at forgiveness, side by side.
- Hand the family a report with your firm’s name on it.
- Ask in your own AI. Connect Claude, ChatGPT or GitHub Copilot with your Finology login and ask about a client in plain language; every number comes from the same verified engine.
CCFC offer
Frequently asked questions
What is a CCFC?
A Certified College Financial Consultant. The credential is issued by AICCFC, which describes it as the premier college and student loan advising designation.
Is there a CCFC discount on Finology Software?
Yes. CCFC holders get 10% off Finology Software. Ask AICCFC or email info@finology.tech to claim it.
What does Finology Software add for a CCFC?
It imports the client’s federal loan file, models every repayment plan the client can elect, including RAP, and shows the payment, total cost, forgiveness and tax side by side, so the recommendation is defensible.
Does Finology Software track PSLF?
Yes. It reads qualifying payments from the federal loan file and projects the forgiveness date and amount under each plan.
Related: RAP vs PAYE vs IBR · Does RAP qualify for PSLF? · How long until student loans are forgiven
- So You’re in NCAG? Here’s Why Finology Software Is Right for Your Firm
- So You’re an NICCP Member? Here’s Why Finology Software Is Right for Your Firm
- So You Trained With the Student Loan Help Network? Here’s Why Finology Software Is Right for Your Firm
- Employer Student Loan Repayment Is Now Permanent. Here Is What It Does to a RAP Payment.
Show every client the plan that saves them the most
Every number sourced, every path compared. Model RAP, the new Standard, IBR, PAYE, ICR and PSLF side by side.
