SoFi Blog

SoFi’s Guide to Adulting covers all things money, career and relationships, and how to win at each. Excelling at all three ain’t easy, but with a little guidance, you’ll be well on your way. We kick things off with a topic that merges them all — building stronger connections with complete strangers who can make a big difference in your life. We promise: it’s not that scary.

In our next 3 People story, we meet three professionals from diverse backgrounds, cities and careers, who open up about their finances, careers and overcoming student loan debt. Each person’s financial picture, student loans, and repayment strategy differs; however, each refinanced their student loans through SoFi to take control of student debt and pay off their loans faster.

Americans currently owe over $1.3 trillion in student loan debt, according to the Federal Reserve. And when the amount is broken down, its significance becomes even clearer.

CBS News reported in May that the average 2016 undergrad student loan debt is $37,172. But that’s nowhere near what grads of top tier b-schools and law schools face: six-figure student loan debt. Grads of Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management leave campus saddled with average student loan debt of $115,048. Head west to the University of San Francisco Law School, and the average climbs to $162,434.

I thought of a dozen clever ways to kick off this blog post, but instead I think I’ll just cut to the chase: You’re probably underpaid.

Editor’s Note: This new series on Financial Fitness comes from personal finance expert, and SoFi content partner, Dr. Tony Pennells, founder of The Freedom Club. Using proven tools and systems, Dr. Tony demystifies “financial freedom” with common sense solutions to help people create true wealth (the type that makes money that you don’t have to work for!). Click here for earlier stories in the series. 

On July 27, SoFi hosted one of its popular community member events in New York City. Held at Interface, an intimate creative space and lounge in North Chelsea, the evening featured Matt Bachmann, co-founder of Wandering Bear Coffee, and Ben LeBlanc, founder of Good Stock Soups. Ainsley O’Connell of Fast Company moderated the lively panel discussion titled “MBA to CEO.”