Guides
Everything we know about paying loans off, written for humans — honest about trade-offs, dated where facts can age, and linked to the documented math throughout.
Are biweekly mortgage payments worth it?
Where biweekly savings really come from, why paid conversion programs are unnecessary, and the DIY version that captures the whole benefit for free.
How loan amortization actually works
Why early payments are mostly interest, how the payment formula works, and how to read an amortization schedule — explained with one worked example.
Mortgage recast vs refinance (vs just paying extra)
Three ways to change your mortgage math — recast, refinance, extra payments — what each actually does, what each costs, and which problem each one solves.
Pay extra on the mortgage, or invest the money?
The honest payoff-vs-invest debate: guaranteed return vs expected return, liquidity, taxes, and the order of operations most advisers agree on.
Prepayment penalties, explained
When can a US lender charge you for paying a loan off early? The 2014 CFPB mortgage rules, the auto and personal loan picture, and checking your note.
Principal-only payments, done right
Extra payments only work if the servicer applies them to principal. How to send them correctly, verify they landed, and fix misapplied payments.