The Moneyist: Do I resist refinancing my $160,000 federal student loan at a lower rate in the hope there will be loan forgiveness? What are the chances it will happen?

United States

Dear Quentin,

I graduated from college in 2017 with more than $ 210,000 in federal student-loan debt thanks to out-of-state tuition, a master’s program, and not fully understanding this cost at that time. I’ve chiseled away at the debt since, often making greater than the minimum payment.

The student-loan pause during the pandemic also greatly benefited me — I was fortunate enough to keep my job and continue to make payments, at this point all toward principal, and I’ve saved tens of thousands by taking…