Secrets of a Student Loan Sherpa

This week I learned the importance of community.

While in New York City for a work trip, one of my Instagram followers offered to meet in person. I was flattered and super nervous. I thought to myself, what if she meets me and it’s like that moment in “The Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy and her crew realize that the wizard is a fraud?

But then I remembered all of the wonderful people that I have met through this platform. One of my first Money Memories guests was Warren Gosling. Thanks to Instagram, I was able to connect with him and eventually meet in person in London. Recently, I met up with another personal finance creator in Stockholm. Someone who I now consider a good friend was also once a creator who appeared on my podcast.

Each time I have met with a follower, I have thought to myself, “Wow, my followers are so cool and global!” I’m really flattered and honored that such dynamic, thoughtful, kind, forward-thinking individuals take the time to engage. Creating content can feel lonely, and when your follower count isn’t in the millions, it can be easy to question what the purpose of all this is.

So I want to take this time to thank you so much for being part of this beautiful community. Thank you for seeing something in my writing, my podcast, my content, that resonates with you. It’s the reason I look forward to writing this newsletter for you and continue to spotlight voices and topics in finance that I think don’t get enough recognition.

I’d love to put together in-person events to meet with more followers and foster this sense of community, so stay tune for more!

📝 My Latest Written Pieces: Work in Progress

April is around the corner, so I am brainstorming content ideas for Forbes. I try to write about 2 articles per month. One potential topic: lessons investors can learn from the fallout of the beleaguered fintech Frank. The founder was recently convicted of $175 million in fraud for, among other things, completely falsifying the number of active users.

If you have topic ideas or want me to write about something that you’ve had a question about or want to explore more, send me an email!

🎙️ On the Podcast: Lessons on Resilience

• Latest Episode: Student loan expert Michael Lux, founder of The Student Loan Sherpa and featured in The Wall Street Journal breaks down key policy shifts, smart repayment strategies, and what borrowers need to know now. Listen here and don’t forget to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts!

• Upcoming: Adam Silver, CEO and co-founder of Plural Energy, will be discussing how innovations in financing are revolutionizing the energy transition.

💡 Stat of the Week: Women’s Sports

Everyone watches women’s sports. Especially Nike.

Nike is making moves in the field by teaming up with Togethxr, the brand co-founded by sports legends Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Chloe Kim, and Simone Manuel. Their “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” apparel is already a hit, and now, with Nike’s backing, it’s set to reach an even bigger audience.

This partnership is just one example of the booming interest in women’s sports. From record-breaking attendance at women’s basketball games to the rapid growth of girls’ wrestling programs nationwide, the momentum is undeniable. Brands are finally catching on, realizing that women’s sports aren’t just having a moment—they’re here to stay.

Here’s three takeaways from this announcement:

✅ Nike’s Strategic Bet on Women Sports – Nike’s partnership with Togethxr signals a growing recognition of the commercial power of women’s sports. With the U.S. market for women’s sports merchandise estimated at $4 billion, this collaboration aligns with Nike’s push to revitalize sales by tapping into emerging consumer demand. I previously wrote about this momentum in women’s sports—read it here.

✅ Market Validation – Co-founded by sports icons Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Chloe Kim, and Simone Manuel, Togethxr has quickly gained traction, generating $6 million in sales from its “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” apparel line in just a year. Nike’s decision to co-brand with the startup highlights how mainstream brands are leveraging the success of niche, athlete-driven companies.

✅ A Playbook For a Turnaround? – This marks Nike’s second major collaboration with a women-led brand in recent months, following its February deal with Skims. As Nike faces declining sales, its new leadership is focusing on fresh partnerships to regain momentum. These moves suggest that legacy brands increasingly see partnerships with emerging players as essential for staying relevant in evolving consumer markets.

🔗 Other Interesting Reads & Listens

📌 Doctors Told Him He Was Going to Die. Then AI Saved His Life - A beautiful story that introduced me to a new application of AI that I had never considered. Also shout out to the incredible work my alma mater, Penn, is doing in this field.
📌 Apple TV Plus is on a Hot Streak - I got sucked into Severance this year. I’m still so mad at innie Mark. I think that HBO and FX are still the gold standard for prestige television content, but if Apple continues to hit gold with shows like Severance, it could be in the conversation.

If you like what you read, forward this newsletter to a friend!

Until next time,

Ilona