Not every employee experiences student debt in the same way. A recent graduate navigating repayment options faces a very different reality than a mid-career professional trying to balance loans with saving for retirement. Yet many employers still underestimate how widespread and complex student debt is across their workforce.
That’s the challenge Lindsay Vale Clark is working to address.
Following a recent TPSU program at Penn State Great Valley, TPSU Founder and CEO Fred Barstein spoke with Clark, Chief Borrower Advocate and Director of External Affairs at SAVI. Clark emphasized that student loan support is no longer a niche benefit—it’s a critical component of overall financial wellness.
SAVI partners with employers, plan sponsors, unions, and associations to provide tools and guidance that help employees better navigate student loan repayment. But according to Clark, what sets SAVI apart is its hands-on, guided approach. Rather than offering a simple tool, SAVI delivers a personalized experience that helps borrowers understand their options and make informed decisions at every step.
Despite this, one of the biggest barriers to adoption is perception. Many employers believe student debt isn’t a significant issue within their workforce—often because they lack clear visibility into their employees’ financial challenges. Clark noted that even when solutions are offered at no cost, organizations may still pass, assuming the need isn’t there. That assumption, she suggests, is often incorrect.
Read the Full Transcript Here:
Fred Barstein: This is Fred Barstein, Founder and CEO of TPSU, TRAU and 401kTV, here on the campus of Penn State Great Valley, where we just completed a TPSU program. And I’m here with Lindsay Vale Clark. Did I have that right?
Lindsay Vale Clark: Yes, you did.
Fred Barstein: Usually I can only remember two names and I got three, so welcome. Okay if we ask you a few questions?
Lindsay Vale Clark: Sure.
Fred Barstein: Very good. So tell our audience a little bit about you and SAVI.
Lindsay Vale Clark: Sure. So my name is Lindsay Vale Clark. I’m the Chief Borrower Advocate and Director of External Affairs at SAVI. And SAVI is one of the nation’s leading student loan benefits providers. We work with employers, plan sponsors, unions, membership associations—you name it—to provide our tools and resources to their community of employees and help everyone achieve the best outcome possible when it comes to their student loans.
Fred Barstein: Great. So what’s the number one reason why employers use SAVI?
Lindsay Vale Clark: I think they recognize that SAVI understands student loans better than anyone. We were founded by student loan advocates and experts who have been fighting on behalf of borrowers for more than two decades. And our approach is not just providing a simple tool, but really a navigational experience with guidance at every touch point. That shows we understand the nuances and complexities of not only the student loan world, but how to best serve people who are struggling with it. And I think that comes through in everything—from how much education we do to the great partners we’ve been able to work with who truly believe in SAVI’s mission.
Fred Barstein: Right. So what’s the number one reason why people say, “No, I’m not going to do this”?
Lindsay Vale Clark: I think the number one reason is because they have a flawed perception of the impact of student debt on their employee population. You can roll SAVI out at absolutely no cost, so for a company to pass on even that level of guidance and education means they don’t see student loans as an issue for their workforce. I think that’s misguided. We see it frequently—employers don’t always have as strong a pulse on their employee population as they think. If they did, they would realize how significant of an issue this really is.
Fred Barstein: Right. So final question—this was your first TPSU. Why should a plan sponsor attend?
Lindsay Vale Clark: This was my first, yeah. To me, it feels like a think tank for something very specific, and the people who occupy those roles delivering services to participants. It’s like attending a one-day, supercharged class where I can walk away with insights and learnings that not only help me in my role, but also help my community of employees—all in about five hours. It’s a great combination of thought leadership, education and forward-thinking ideas about how to build the ideal plan sponsor and push things forward.
Fred Barstein: Great. Well, thank you for your time.
Lindsay Vale Clark: Of course, thanks.
Fred Barstein: And thank you for watching 401kTV. If you have employees who are struggling or have student debt, we highly recommend that you talk to SAVI. They are a leading student loan repayment provider in the industry, work with many recordkeepers, and it’s certainly worth having a conversation. So thank you again. Thanks for watching 401kTV.
