Loan guides

These articles explain how fixed-rate loans work, how extra payments reduce interest, and how to read an amortization schedule. Each guide includes practical examples and links to the calculator so you can apply the ideas to your own loan.

• How loan amortization worksUnderstand principal, interest, and why your balance drops slowly at first on a fixed-rate loan.
• Extra payments on a mortgageSee how paying even a modest amount toward principal each month can save tens of thousands in interest.
• Monthly vs. annual extra paymentsSame total extra cash per year can produce different savings depending on when you pay.
• The loan payment formula explainedA plain-language walkthrough of the math behind your monthly payment.