EPISODE · Apr 16, 2026 · 43 MIN
Helping Employees Lower Student Debt Burdens with Damon Thompson
from Good Morning, HR · host Mike Coffey, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
In episode 248, Coffey talks with Damon Thompson about how student loan debt impacts employees and how employers can help reduce that burden through benefits programs and federal subsidies. They discuss the history and evolution of federal student loan programs before and after the Affordable Care Act; rising college costs and lack of borrowing caps driving massive student debt growth; financial stress and productivity loss caused by high monthly loan payments; how income-driven repayment and federal subsidy programs reduce employee loan obligations; employer-sponsored student loan repayment benefits under Section 127 tax advantages; complexities and low success rates navigating Department of Education programs independently; public service loan forgiveness eligibility and long-term debt elimination strategies; how personal circumstances influence repayment calculations beyond income alone; the role of third-party services in optimizing loan subsidies and compliance; and the connection between student debt, employee retention, and delayed life milestones. For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP248 Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com. If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest: After graduating from Austin College (Sherman Texas) in 1979 Damon immediately began his career working directly with the owners of closely held businesses and their H.R. teams. Understanding the needs of both the employer and the employee he knows that not all employee benefits are “insurance” benefits needing employer funding. Being familiar with Comprehensive Major Medical, Workers Compensation as well as Administration systems & software has allowed him to develop unique solutions for owners of those closely held companies and their HR teams. This has also led to many speaking engagements in organizations such as Texas A&M Graduate School of Business, Work with Texas Legislators & Attorney General, Private Equity Association Convention (PEG-aplooza), and Numerous Chambers of Commerce across Texas. Damon Thompson can be reached at https://www.finnita.com/ About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth. Learning Objectives: Understand how federal student loan programs evolved and why debt has increased significantly Identify the impact of student loan debt on employee productivity, retention, and financial wellbeing Evaluate employer strategies, including tax-advantaged benefits, to help employees manage student loans
What this episode covers
In episode 248, Coffey talks with Damon Thompson about how student loan debt impacts employees and how employers can help reduce that burden through benefits programs and federal subsidies. They discuss the history and evolution of federal student loan programs before and after the Affordable Care Act; rising college costs and lack of borrowing caps driving massive student debt growth; financial stress and productivity loss caused by high monthly loan payments; how income-driven repayment and federal subsidy programs reduce employee loan obligations; employer-sponsored student loan repayment benefits under Section 127 tax advantages; complexities and low success rates navigating Department of Education programs independently; public service loan forgiveness eligibility and long-term debt elimination strategies; how personal circumstances influence repayment calculations beyond income alone; the role of third-party services in optimizing loan subsidies and compliance; and the connection between student debt, employee retention, and delayed life milestones. For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP248 Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com. If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest: After graduating from Austin College (Sherman Texas) in 1979 Damon immediately began his career working directly with the owners of closely held businesses and their H.R. teams. Understanding the needs of both the employer and the employee he knows that not all employee benefits are “insurance” benefits needing employer funding. Being familiar with Comprehensive Major Medical, Workers Compensation as well as Administration systems & software has allowed him to develop unique solutions for owners of those closely held companies and their HR teams. This has also led to many speaking engagements in organizations such as Texas A&M Graduate School of Business, Work with Texas Legislators & Attorney General, Private Equity Association Convention (PEG-aplooza), and Numerous Chambers of Commerce across Texas. Damon Thompson can be reached at https://www.finnita.com/ About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth. Learning Objectives: Understand how federal student loan programs evolved and why debt has increased significantly Identify the impact of student loan debt on employee productivity, retention, and financial wellbeing Evaluate employer strategies, including tax-advantaged benefits, to help employees manage student loans
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Helping Employees Lower Student Debt Burdens with Damon Thompson
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