Note from the CEO & Co-Founder
Summer Overview
Government leaders and employers can unlock the biggest savings for student loan borrowers with Summer Core
Unlock savings
Summer Core
Help employees or residents succesfully navigate loan assistance programs and put more money in their pockets.
Manage Debt
- See which federal and state student loan assistance programs you are eligible for and digitally enroll
- Access step-by-step guidance to navigate default
- Access in-app support and 1:1 consultations with student loan experts
Plan for College
- Search 529 plans based on your unique situation
- Calculate the cost of college to create a savings plan
- Search over 30,000 scholarships to reduce the cost of college
Employers can enhance their support to create even greater impact
REDUCE PAYMENTS
Employer Student Loan Contribution
Decrease employees' student loan debt through direct contributions1.
- Contribute up to $5,250 per person per year
- Tax-favorable under IRS Code Sec 127
FOSTER GROWTH
Tuition Reimbursement
Support employees' continuing education by reimbursing tuition expenses.
- Contribute up to $5,250 per person per year
- Tax-favorable under IRS Code Sec 127
SAVE FOR THE FUTURE
Retirement Match
Match employees' student loan payments with retirement contributions.
- Secure 2.0 Act compliant
- Boost retirement plan participation
Customer Spotlight
1. What challenge were you trying to solve for your employees before partnering with Summer?
We knew that the employees of our non-profit clients were deeply committed to mission‑driven work, but they were navigating increasingly complex financial pressures, including student loan repayments. Many of their employees are eligible for programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), yet the rules, application process, and frequent policy changes made it extremely difficult to navigate without expert help. As a partner to non-profits, we wanted to remove that burden and ensure employees weren’t leaving significant financial support on the table simply because the system was confusing or overwhelming. Partnering with Summer allowed us to give our non-profit clients and their employees trusted, one‑on‑one guidance to help them make informed decisions and access the benefits they’ve earned through public service.
2. How did student loan debt show up in your workforce or organization before you addressed it directly?
Student loan debt was a persistent source of stress across our non-profit clients’ workforce. Financial stress can impact or delay major life decisions, including how employees save for retirement, buy homes, or start families. While employees knew forgiveness programs existed, many experienced difficulty navigating the landscape or even rejection from programs the qualified for due to administrative mistakes.
3. What has changed since you introduced Summer to your employees?
The proof is in the numbers: employees of our non-profit clients have collectively saved over $1M since we launched the program. Summer’s data show that they can turn a 90%+ PSLF rejection rate into a 90%+ PSLF approval rate.
Lastly, employees have clarity and personalized support to navigate the continuously changing landscape, including the shift away from the SAVE program. We know employees are well-supported in lowering their monthly payments, paying off debt faster, and maximizing the best combination of federal loan repayment and forgiveness programs that they’re entitled to.
4. Why do you believe student loan support has become a necessary benefit, not a nice-to-have?
Student loan debt is unique in that it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it strategy, nor is it easy to navigate with general education. Each employee must understand their options, work through the administrative process of applying for federal programs, and keep up with the rapidly changing public policies in order to stay on track. Student loan debt impacts monthly budgets, which in turn impacts overall total rewards strategy.
By offering student loan guidance through Summer, we’re not only helping employees save money, but also supporting retention, equity, and long‑term financial stability. In a competitive labor market, this kind of support signals that we understand the real pressures our employees face and are committed to helping them succeed both professionally and personally.
The Summer Team
Coming together in person
A new home base
Team Spotlights
Jan Singelmann
Chief of Staff
Jan Singelmann joined Summer as Chief of Staff in January. He brings over 15 years of expertise in financial regulation, consumer protection, and public policy. Most recently, he served as Chief of Staff at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where he oversaw strategic operations and advised on policy, external engagement, and organizational performance.
Prior to that role, Jan was Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, advising on consumer finance law and policy. He also served as an enforcement attorney at the CFPB and began his career as a litigation attorney at law firms.
What drew you to Summer’s mission and this role?
Summer feels like a natural extension of my work at the CFPB: providing tangible help to people struggling under the weight of student debt. There are options that can ease that burden—better repayment plans, loan forgiveness programs, and other relief—but they’re often hard to find and feel out of reach. Summer connects people to the support they need, and that mission deeply resonates with me.
Summer is also a certified B Corp with a consumer-aligned business model. We don’t charge borrowers. Instead, cities, employers, and membership organizations partner with us to offer our services as a benefit to their communities.
You've spent your career working on consumer financial protection. Where does student debt fit into that bigger picture?
Student debt is one of the most pressing affordability challenges today, with 42 million borrowers holding more than $1.8 trillion of outstanding debt. That burden doesn’t just strain monthly budgets, it also prevents people from buying a home, starting a family, launching a business, and fully participating in the economy. It’s not fair for student debt to be a lifelong burden, and I’m excited to join a company that gives borrowers the resources and support they need to find a way out.
What's the disconnect between existing resources and what borrowers actually need to navigate their debt successfully?
Borrowers don’t have a clear path through the tangle of 150+ federal and state programs and repayment options, and it’s not their fault. Federal and state rules and guidance can be incomplete, inaccurate, or just confusing, and there’s a long record of borrowers being steered into more costly repayment plans. I’ve experienced this confusion firsthand: during most of my time in federal service, I was in the wrong repayment plan and missing out on eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.Summer helps borrowers navigate this complicated landscape by providing personalized guidance and end-to-end enrollment support, unlocking thousands in potential savings.
What does it take to build programs that actually move the needle for people dealing with student debt?
Summer feels like a natural extension of my work at the CFPB: providing tangible help to people struggling under the weight of student debt. There are options that can ease that burden—better repayment plans, loan forgiveness programs, and other relief—but they’re often hard to find and feel out of reach. Summer connects people to the support they need, and that mission deeply resonates with me.
Summer is also a certified B Corp with a consumer-aligned business model. We don’t charge borrowers. Instead, cities, employers, and membership organizations partner with us to offer our services as a benefit to their communities.
Sarah Faltin
Principal Product Manager
Sarah Faltin joined Summer as Principal Product Manager last October. She is based just north of Boston with experience building consumer products in fintech and healthcare. Sarah has led product initiatives at Hims & Hers across Hair, Sexual Health, and Weight Management, and previously worked at Credit Karma on Core product experiences focused on member retention and early credit-building. Earlier roles at AvidXchange, AIG, Liberty Mutual, and Monster shaped her ability to operate across complex, regulated spaces and deliver products that help people navigate high-stakes financial and health decisions. Sarah is driven by building clear, empathetic products for moments that are often confusing or overwhelming for users.
What drew you to Summer’s mission?
I was drawn to Summer’s mission because it directly addresses a problem I’ve personally experienced and deeply relate to. As a young adult navigating student loans without a cosigner or clear guidance, I remember how isolating and confusing the experience felt. Later in my career, building early-credit products at Credit Karma reinforced how powerful it can be to give people clarity and confidence during pivotal financial moments. Summer’s focus on helping people understand and manage their student loans aligns closely with the kind of impact I’ve always wanted my work to have.
What impact are you most proud of helping create this year?
Since I joined in October, I have focused heavily on unlocking student loan data through our TransUnion integration, building the connective tissue between external credit data and Summer’s product ecosystem. This work enables highly personalized borrower experiences while establishing a scalable data asset that can be used across teams to inform product strategy, operations, and long-term growth. There’s so much to come this year!
What excites you most about where Summer is headed next?
I’m most excited about Summer’s opportunity to deepen its impact by becoming a long-term partner in members’ financial lives—not just a point-in-time solution. As the product continues to evolve, I’m energized by the chance to scale thoughtful, empathetic experiences that help more people make confident decisions, while building a platform that can grow alongside users as their student loans financial needs change.
Summer in the Wild
Notable Press
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