Learning Center
Title Insurance Shopping: The Often-Missed Way to Save Thousands on Your Home Purchase
Most homebuyers know to negotiate purchase price and hunt for the best mortgage rate, but there's another way to save thousands at closing that most people miss: shopping around for title insurance. This required closing cost can vary dramatically between providers...
How a College Graduate Uses FinLocker to Manager Her Student Loan Debt
My name is Alex Elliott, and I graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in May 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Mediated Communications and a minor in Digital Storytelling. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to attend college...
How to Avoid Student Loan Debt Impacting Your Future Financial Plans
Student loan debt is often tremendous burden for recent college graduates trying to start the next chapter of their life. In 2021, 44.7 million Americans have student debt adding up to $1.71...
Prepare for Education Expenses With a 529 Savings Plan
If you have children, you probably have concerns about saving for their education while also paying for your household expenses and achieving your personal and family financial goals. College education can be very costly, especially if you have more than one child...
Comparing Snowball Method and Avalanche Method to Pay Off Debt
Paying off all your debt can seem like an impossible task, especially if you can only manage to pay the minimum required amount each month. Fortunately for you, there are multiple strategies to help you pay off that balance. Two of these strategies are the snowball...
How to Start and Build Your Emergency Fund. The Benefits of Being Financially Prepared.
If your car unexpectedly broke down tomorrow, and you were faced with a $1000 repair bill, would you be able to pay the total amount from your savings? If your answer is No, you're not alone. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Americans would be unable to cover an...
10 Key Players in the Home Buying Process
Once you've decided to become a homeowner, it is time to start the home buying process. If this is the first time you've bought a home, the whole process might seem intimidating, but you are certainly not alone. You will encounter numerous professionals along the...
7 Activities to Avoid Between Mortgage Pre-approval and Closing on Your New Home
You have successfully been pre-approved for a mortgage loan due to sensibly handling your finances. Jeopardizing your hard work with a few careless activities before closing on your new home would be a mistake. Avoid doing any of these activities until you have the...
Types of Homeowners Insurance, What It Does and Doesn’t Cover
Your home is probably your biggest investment. A Homeowners insurance policy will protect your investment and the people and possessions on the property. Before you can close on your mortgage you must provide you mortgage lender proof that you have...
Buying and Selling a Home Before School Starts
If you want to sell your home, you might be wondering if you should do it before or after the school year. If you do it before school returns for a new year, there are plenty of benefits as families will want to get settled before the back-to-school rush hits....
The Importance of Knowing Your Net Worth
Net Worth is the sum of your assets minus your liabilities. It is often considered an indicator of financial success. To build net worth, most people accumulate assets as they age by buying a car, home, adding to their savings and retirement accounts, and...
How to Avoid Having Your Mortgage Application Denied
Getting approved for your first mortgage loan can be challenging. More than a third of respondents to the Maxwell 1H 2022 Millennial and Gen Z Borrower Sentiment Report had been previously denied a mortgage. By being prepared, you can reduce the odds of having your...
7 Tips to Find Your First Home
If you're looking to find your first home in a city or neighborhood with a low inventory of affordable starter homes, how do you decide what you want and what you need, and buy that home for a price you can afford? Check out these tips to find a home you'll love –...