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Reyna Gobel

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About

Reyna Gobel, M.B.A. and M.J., is a financial and physical fitness journalist, author, and course instructor who’s published on reuters.com, weightwatchers.com, and theatlantic.com. Her CliffsNotes books on repaying student loans and paying for college were picked as book of the month by Michelle Singletary in The Washington Post three times. She co-created the 30 Day Immune System Challenge at 30ichallenge.com.

  • When Is Your First Mortgage Payment Due After Closing?

    Once you close on your home, setting up your first and future mortgage payments is next on your to-do list. While it seems like a simple task, there are a few things you’ll need to know—like when your first mortgage...
    When Is Your First Mortgage Payment Due After Closing?

  • What Is A Mortgage Origination Fee?

    When you take out a home loan, you pay the lender an origination fee to cover the cost of processing the loan. This is typically a combination of fees for underwriting, processing and issuing your loan. Here’s what you need...
    What Is A Mortgage Origination Fee?

  • How Many Times Can You Use A VA Loan?

    For veterans, service members and eligible family members, taking out more than one Veterans Affairs (VA) loan can be a good option for financing a home after selling another one or if you’re assigned a new military base and have...
    How Many Times Can You Use A VA Loan?

  • What Are The VA Loan Limits?

    Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans offer an easy way for service members, Veterans and their spouses to buy a home without saving up for a down payment or paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI). The maximum VA loan limits you...
    What Are The VA Loan Limits?

  • VA Loan Closing Costs: Everything You Should Know

    Veterans Affairs (VA) loans don’t require down payments, but that doesn’t mean you can borrow without having to pay anything. One of the costs you’ll have to pay for a VA loan is closing costs. Here’s everything you need to...
    VA Loan Closing Costs: Everything You Should Know

  • 14 Costly FAFSA Mistakes To Avoid

    Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the most important step in securing money to pay for college. Schools use the data they receive from this form to determine the student’s eligibility for university grants and...
    14 Costly FAFSA Mistakes To Avoid

  • 21 Answers To The Biggest FAFSA Questions

    All questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can generally be answered in an hour or so, but some of the questions may be a bit confusing. And answering a question wrong can delay processing of the...
    21 Answers To The Biggest FAFSA Questions

  • CSS Profile: How It Could Impact Your College Financial Aid

    The CSS Profile is an additional student aid application beyond the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) required at hundreds of private and public schools to be considered for institutional scholarships and grants. If you complete the CSS Profile, you’re...
    CSS Profile: How It Could Impact Your College Financial Aid

  • Use The FAFSA4caster To Estimate Your Financial Aid

    The FAFSA4caster is a free financial aid tool from the federal government that allows you to practice filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and estimate the financial aid you could receive based on student and family...
    Use The FAFSA4caster To Estimate Your Financial Aid

  • Coverdell Education Savings Accounts: How And When To Use Them

    If you’re looking to invest in order to save for future education expenses, you may consider using a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA). These are most beneficial for people looking to spend the funds on K-12 expenses and who wish...
    Coverdell Education Savings Accounts: How And When To Use Them

  • Why Paying Off Undergraduate Loans Before Grad School Could Be a Mistake

    Paying off your undergraduate loans before grad school could mean forfeiting your access to potentially money-saving federal programs, such as faster student loan forgiveness and interest subsidies on certain federal loans. If you don’t pay off federal undergraduate student loans...
    Why Paying Off Undergraduate Loans Before Grad School Could Be a Mistake

  • 529 Plans: Should You Use Them For K-12 Education?

    In 2019, changes to federal law made it possible for 529 plans, tax-advantaged education investment accounts, to be used for up to $10,000 each in student loan repayment and K-12 education, in addition to college costs. Cash-strapped parents may feel...
    529 Plans: Should You Use Them For K-12 Education?

  • Missed A Student Loan Payment? Here’s What Could Happen

    Federal and private student loans have more options for skipping payments when you experience a financial hardship than most other types of loans. However, you can still face penalties, such as a damaged credit score, if you don’t let your...
    Missed A Student Loan Payment? Here’s What Could Happen

  • How To Make (Or Ask For) A 529 Plan Gift Contribution

    Making a gift contribution to a 529 plan—an education investment account that offers tax benefits to help families save for college—is so common that many plans offer electronic codes, printable gift certificates and links for donating to students’ accounts. Here’s...
    How To Make (Or Ask For) A 529 Plan Gift Contribution

  • 8 Benefits Of A 529 Plan

    529 plans are education investment accounts with special rules and tax benefits that help families save for college—and even for K-12 tuition. These plans come in multiple forms: a prepaid tuition plan or a savings plan that allows after-tax contributions...
    8 Benefits Of A 529 Plan

  • Dependent Vs. Independent Student: Which One Am I?

    When you go off to college, especially if your parents aren’t chipping in to pay for tuition or room and board, you may feel like you’re independent. Still, the federal government and your school may not see it that way—at...
    Dependent Vs. Independent Student: Which One Am I?

  • Your Guide To Military Student Loan Repayment Programs

    Military service members and veterans may qualify for loan repayment plans that could lead to partial or total forgiveness of their student loans. The forgiveness value differs greatly depending on how much you owe, the type of student loans you...
    Your Guide To Military Student Loan Repayment Programs

  • How A Net Price Calculator Can Help You Pick A College

    The cost of college should always be part of the equation in choosing one. After you narrow down your college choices by major, career services and where and how you learn best, use the net price calculators on college websites...
    How A Net Price Calculator Can Help You Pick A College

  • Your College Has Closed: How To Get Your Student Loan Discharged

    If your school closed down before you were able to earn a degree, it’s possible you may not have to repay your federal student loans. Applying for a closed-school loan discharge can lead to some or all of your federal...
    Your College Has Closed: How To Get Your Student Loan Discharged

  • FSA ID Questions: What You Need To Know To Secure Financial Aid

    Before you can apply for federal financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you’ll need to get a Federal Student Aid ID, or FSA ID, to be able to log into the FAFSA portal. Students and...
    FSA ID Questions: What You Need To Know To Secure Financial Aid

  • How To Get A Student Loan Co-Signer Release

    If you are applying for a private student loan and don’t qualify on your own based on credit or income, you may need a co-signer. A co-signer is a person who agrees to be responsible for the loan if you...
    How To Get A Student Loan Co-Signer Release

About

Reyna Gobel, M.B.A. and M.J., is a financial and physical fitness journalist, author, and course instructor who’s published on reuters.com, weightwatchers.com, and theatlantic.com. Her CliffsNotes books on repaying student loans and paying for college were picked as book of the month by Michelle Singletary in The Washington Post three times. She co-created the 30 Day Immune System Challenge at 30ichallenge.com.