Ameritech Financial: Dentists, Like Many Americans, Have High Student Loan Debt-to-Income Ratio

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Aug 22, 2018, 08:00 ET

ROHNERT PARK, Calif., Aug. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dentists have some of the worst student loan debt-to-income ratios of any advanced degree. On average, dentists pay nearly 12 percent of their monthly income toward student loan debt and take nearly 15 years to pay it off. The high cost of pursuing higher education and the ease of taking student loans can be seen as a national crisis — nearly 45 million individuals owe more than $1.5 trillion. The debt is increasing by $2,800 every second nationally. Though dentists have much higher expected incomes than most Americans, their struggles are similar because the ratio of debt to income is comparable to others struggling with student debt. Ameritech Financial, a document preparation firm, can help those overwhelmed by their student loan debt find the right solution for them, such as a federal income-driven repayment plan (IDR).

"Many Americans are struggling with student loan debt and this even includes dentists, a profession often associated with success and high income," said Tom Knickerbocker, executive vice president of Ameritech Financial. "For those who are really having difficulty keeping up with their payments, an IDR can possibly lower that monthly payment based on income and family size and might just create some financial breathing room."

Dentists and all students taking on loans in pursuit of degrees and licenses associated with higher incomes and improved financial outcomes should be very cautious about how much debt they are taking on relative to the amount of money they can make. The median loan balance for a dentist is $236,739 with a median income of about $150,000. Generally, financial advisers warn against taking out more debt than a borrower expects to make in a year. Further, advisers suggest that paying back 10 percent of monthly disposable income per month usually allows borrowers to comfortably pay off their loans in 10 years. However, borrowers should take into account cost of living and income for their geographical area.

Like many Americans, dentists have higher-than-optimal student loan debt to income ratios and this makes them more vulnerable to sudden economic downturns or family financial stresses such as illnesses or work-related disabilities. When challenging loan payments become unbearable, due to economic and family stresses, IDRs might make sense for certain borrowers. If navigating the sometimes-complicated process of finding and securing an IDR proves difficult, Ameritech Financial can assist borrowers in applying for and maintaining enrollment in these programs that might help them through challenging times.

"There's no denying that your income will affect how difficult it'll be to keep up with your payments," said Knickerbocker. "If you run into trouble, we can guide you through the process of finding the right repayment option and help you dot all the i's and cross all the t's in the application process."

About Ameritech Financial

Ameritech Financial is a private company located in Rohnert Park, California. Ameritech Financial has already helped thousands of consumers with financial analysis and student loan document preparation to apply for federal student loan repayment programs offered through the Department of Education.

Each Ameritech Financial telephone representative has received the Certified Student Loan Professional certification through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA).

Ameritech Financial prides itself on its exceptional customer service.

Ameritech Financial Newsroom

Contact

To learn more about Ameritech Financial, please contact:

Ameritech Financial
5789 State Farm Drive #265
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
1-800-792-8621
[email protected]

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Dentist Working on a Patient
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SOURCE Ameritech Financial