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Sally Herigstad

Sally Herigstad

Sally Herigstad is a personal finance writer at BestMoney.com, specializing in student loans. She has been writing about personal finance since 1998 and is the author of Help! I Can’t Pay My Bills. A licensed real estate broker in Washington state and a retired CPA, Sally combines decades of experience with practical insights to help readers navigate financial challenges.

Posts by Sally Herigstad

Earnest Student Loan Review

With Earnest, you can apply and see student refinancing rates you qualify for in as little as 2 minutes. They are a direct lender, so your loan is funded by Earnest as well as serviced by them. Earnest also has programs to help you manage student loan repayments, such as the ability to skip one payment per year.
Read ReviewSep 2, 2025
earnest

CIT Bank Review

CIT Bank is an online bank that allows you to access banking services securely and conveniently, without leaving home. CIT Bank’s streamlined service model allows it to offer higher interest rates on savings accounts and lower service fees than many of its competitors. CIT Bank is a division of First Citizns Bank.
Read ReviewAug 11, 2025
cit-bank-platinum-savings

XE Money Transfer Review

XE has been in business since 1993. The company is part of Euronet Worldwide (NASDAQ: EEFT), which processed $115 Billion last year as the third largest money transfer business in the world. XE has built a reputation with years of experience. XE lets you make online international money transfers anytime, to over 190 countries and in 139 currencies.
Read ReviewJun 25, 2025
xe

CIT Bank Review

CIT Bank is an online bank that allows you to access banking services securely and conveniently, without leaving home. CIT Bank’s streamlined service model allows it to offer higher interest rates on savings accounts and lower service fees than many of its competitors. CIT Bank is a division of First Citizns Bank.
Read ReviewJun 19, 2025
cit-bank-platinum-savings

How to Send Your Kid to College Without Breaking the Bank

You want to help your kids through college, but what’s the best way? You could give them money, or co-sign on a student loan. Or just offer advice on how to pay for college.
Read MoreMay 16, 2025
Pay for kids college

What Is No Exam Life Insurance

It’s easy to put off buying life insurance, even when you know how important it is. The requirement by some insurers that you have a medical exam before you are approved can be just one more obstacle in the way. Scheduling an exam and taking off work can take too much time.
Read MoreApr 1, 2025
No-Exam Life Insurance

Citizens Review

Citizens makes it easy for you to refinance one or more student loans in as little as fifteen minutes. Their loans are made by Citizens, a fully insured bank. You can refinance your student loans to remove a cosigner, consolidate multiple loans, or lower your interest rate. The average Citizens customer who refinances student loans to take advantage of a lower interest rate saves $2,628 per year.
Read ReviewMar 9, 2025
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Credible Review

Credible is an online student loan refinancing marketplace. You can use Credible to fill out a quick, simple form and see persoanlized prequalified rates from top lenders in minutes, without sending your information directly to lenders or affecting your credit score. If you like a rate, you can apply and get your final offer in as little as one business day.
Read ReviewFeb 24, 2025
credible

Bankrate Review

Bankrate has a strong reputation as a financial industry educator, helping borrowers of all types of loans find answers. It offers mortgage and refinance loans with a range of calculators to assist users in getting the right rates.
Read ReviewFeb 5, 2025
bankrate

CIT Bank Review

CIT Bank is an online bank that allows you to access banking services securely and conveniently, without leaving home. CIT Bank’s streamlined service model allows it to offer higher interest rates on savings accounts and lower service fees than many of its competitors. CIT Bank is a division of First Citizns Bank.
Read ReviewFeb 4, 2025
cit-bank

Bankrate Review

Bankrate is one of the oldest, biggest and most comprehensive financial services news and knowledge hubs. Its comparison tool lets you quickly compare personal loans from different lenders. Bankrate’s aggregator uses a “soft pull” to check your credit, which does not affect your credit score.
Read ReviewDec 25, 2024
bankrate

SoFi Review

SoFi is an online student loan refinancing company, with over 375,000 members who have refinanced over $30 billion in student loans. SoFi offers approval within minutes and funding of your current loans within 7 to 15 days. Student loan refinancing is recommended for borrowers who qualify for lower interest by refinancing than on their current loans.
Read ReviewNov 19, 2024
sofi

Is Now a Good Time to Refinance My Mortgage?

With the consistent rise in interest rates, people are considering refinancing to keep rates low. But is it the right time for you? Homeowners refinance for many different reasons, including changes in their financial situation and long-term goals. While refinancing might be a good idea for some people, it doesn’t mean that it’s the right time for everyone.
Read MoreSep 12, 2024
Is it the right time to refinance?

How to Choose a Mortgage Lender for a First-Time Home Buyer

To first-time home buyers, the mortgage application process may seem like a whole new world, with different terms and rules to learn, and so many decisions to make. Home buyers not selling a home tend to have smaller down payments, and less-established credit histories. On the other hand, they may qualify for government programs to help them get into a home.
Read MoreNov 21, 2023
Enjoy Your Own Home With the Best Mortgages for First Time Borrowers

How to Send Your Kid to College Without Breaking the Bank

You want to help your kids through college, but what’s the most ideal way? You could give them money, or co-sign on a student loan. Or just offer advice on how to pay for college.
Read MoreMar 19, 2023
Pay for kids college
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