So You Trained With the Student Loan Help Network? Here’s Why Finology Software Is Right for Your Firm
If you learned student loan advising through the Student Loan Help Network, you already know the hard part is not the theory. It is running the numbers for a real client, fast, without a spreadsheet that breaks every time the rules change. That is what Finology Software is for.
From training to a real client file
The Student Loan Help Network trains advisors to serve clients with student loans. Etch Financial, led by Ryan Galiotto, CFP®, was one of the first RIAs devoted to people with student loan debt, and it uses Finology Software to build its client plans. The same software is open to every advisor the network trains.
Two clients, two answers
A single client earning $75,000:
| $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 |
The same software, a public service client four years into PSLF:
| $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 |
Both answers come from the client’s own federal loan file in minutes, and both update the day the rules change.
“Etch Financial has changed the financial planning landscape by being one of the first RIAs devoted to individuals with student loan debt. A core component of our strategy is leveraging Finology Software to create mini-financial plans for clients and give them confidence they’re making the right choices with their federal student loan debt.”
Ryan S. Galiotto, CFP®Founder, Etch Financial & Student Loan Help Network
Webinars and conversations
Alex Bottom and Ryan Galiotto have talked student loan planning with advisors on a podcast and an Etch University webinar, and Alex has presented to Invent and NCAG audiences:
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Student Loan Help Network?
A network that trains advisors to serve clients with student loans.
What software does the Student Loan Help Network use?
Etch Financial, led by Ryan Galiotto, CFP, uses Finology Software to create its client plans. Finology Software is available to every advisor, with a 7-day free trial.
Can Finology Software replace a student loan spreadsheet?
Yes. It imports the federal loan file, models every plan the client can elect, and keeps up with rule changes, so the numbers stay current without rebuilding a spreadsheet.
How much does Finology Software cost?
$99 a month per advisor, or $89 a month billed annually, with unlimited clients and a 7-day free trial.
Related: How to choose student loan repayment software · Does RAP qualify for PSLF? · RAP vs PAYE vs IBR
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- 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.
