Meet Gabriel – Navicore’s 2023 Client of the Year

Gabriel is an academic at a public university where he works as a translator of Norwegian poetry. He enjoys many hobbies with a close group of friends including unicycling, kettlebell workouts, Brazilian jiujitsu, whitewater kayaking, backcountry backpacking and bikepacking.

Gabriel began to struggle with debt after he endured a series of health crises and financial difficulties. “I simply got hit with a lot of misfortune at once and for a while, it was a real struggle at home and at work. I was at the end of my rope emotionally and medically,” he says.

“A huge blow to me was when I feared the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program would not provide relief from my student loans. In 2017, I became eligible to have all of my remaining student debt waived because I had served the public for ten years as an academic at a public university. And, I had been planning for that PSLF relief for a decade, since 2007 when the program was first put in place,” he remembers. Gabriel’s initial application for this relief was denied despite meeting all of the requirements. “I was already struggling financially by that point, and I really began to emotionally spiral. Fortunately, between the help from Navicore and my subsequent PSLF application being honored, I have been able to find my footing again.”

After a customer service advisor at a credit company recommended he call Navicore, Gabriel found the financial relief he needed. “The plan your counselors created for me, after carefully and kindly assessing my financial situation, was clear and reasonable. From the intake interview back in 2018 to the exit call in July 2023 when I finished paying down the last of the debt, Navicore’s people were nothing but careful and decent and patient. It's obvious you hire quality people and it's clear you train them well.” 

Navicore’s compassionate counseling and Debt Management Plan offer more than just a way to pay down debt, there is a clear improvement in the mental health and well-being of our clients. “Your non-profit wasn't just key to my being able to recover my footing, you gave me the breathing room to revitalize my health, my career, and my relationships with my family and friends,” Gabriel says. “People rightly give credit to churches and mosques, community groups, universities and hospitals for improving the quality of life for everyday people. But, we seem to have a curious reluctance to acknowledge the impact of financial assistance on personal well-being and public health.”

Gabriel’s life has changed for the better in many ways since he started his Debt Management Plan. “Navicore has allowed me to really start saving for retirement, and they have helped me start thinking again about buying a house (which I lost in 2015), and volunteering in my community. In the last few years, I have been able to fully return with vitality and joy, not simply to my research and teaching at the university, but to my hobbies also. This year I finished paying down my entire debt after five years -- over $50,000.”

“I am beyond grateful to your organization. Moreover, every single time I called your customer service department, your advisors were kind and caring and thoughtful. Your organization does more than simply help people with their checkbooks and bank accounts. You help us remain secure in ourselves and, in turn, you help our families and our neighborhoods. I have nothing but good things to say about Navicore. Thank you to every single worker at Navicore, from the very bottom of my heart. You pulled me up from a very dark place.”

“I am just very grateful to all of you. I know people might think that Navicore is ‘just’ a financial company, but those of us who have been your clients know better.”

Congratulations to our new Client of the Year and best of luck on your financial journey, Gabriel!

Navicore has provided financial education and support to individuals and families just like Gabriel for over 30 years. Take the step to get your finances back on track. We are here to help.