Finance, Explained for Real Life
Clear guidance across every major money decision
Money Growths Plan brings together education, checklists, and personalized support so you can compare options, understand tradeoffs, and choose what fits your goals.
From credit and loans to insurance, auto, health, home warranty, and long‑term planning, we focus on simple steps that help you move forward with confidence.
Explore Finance Topics
Jump to the category you’re working on right now—then follow the checklist to move from uncertainty to a clear decision.
Smart Steps, Not Guesswork
Use a simple framework to compare options across any finance category.
Know Your Cash Flow
Start with what comes in, what goes out, and the minimum you need to feel stable.
Compare Total Cost
Look beyond the monthly payment—fees, deductibles, interest, and risk all matter.
Use a Checklist
Follow clear steps so you can commit to a decision and move on confidently.
A clear plan beats a perfect plan
Pick one category, apply a checklist, and take one next step this week. Momentum compounds.
- Gather your numbers and current policies
- Compare two or three options side‑by‑side
- Choose based on total cost and risk, not hype
- Set a reminder to review annually
Happy Customers
“The entire process was incredibly smooth and timely. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, caring, and professional.”
John Smith
“I thought buying a home was out of reach for me…Money Growths Plan made it possible.”
Christine Aguilar
“With less-than-perfect credit scores, Money Growths Plan still worked with us to help us achieve our dream of purchasing our forever home.”
Robert Spears
Frequently Ask Questions
Why should I refinance my mortgage?
Here are some of the most common reasons you might consider refinancing, which is replacing the mortgage you have with a new one.
1. Use your home’s equity to take cash out. Equity is the difference between what your home is worth, and what you still owe.
2. Change the length of your mortgage. If you want to be mortgage-free faster and pay less interest, you could change your 30-year loan term to a 15-year.
3. Consolidate debt. If you have a lot of high-interest credit card debt, you can use your home’s equity to pay it off.
4. Change your loan type, such as go from FHA to a conventional loan.
Whatever you goal, we can help you understand the costs of refinancing and whether it makes sense for you.
How does refinancing a mortgage work?
Refinancing the mortgage on your house means trading in your current mortgage for a new one. Usually refinancing changes your interest rate and your monthly payment. We use the new mortgage to pay off the old one.
Refinancing isn’t very different from getting a mortgage to buy a home. You’ll apply, provide documents, get an appraisal, and close on your loan. The fees and costs will be similar too. You may be able to close right from your own home.
What factors determine my refinance rate?
Mortgage refinance rates are determined by multiple factors that fall into two categories.
1. Economic: Factors like the stock market, the Federal Reserve, inflation and the housing market all affect mortgage rates.
2. Personal: Your credit profile, how much debt you have compared to your income, and how much you’re borrowing are all examples of details that
3. determine your mortgage rate.
What’s a mortgage rate lock?
A mortgage rate lock keeps your interest rate from changing for a period of time. Rate locks usually last between 15 and 60 days.
How do I lock in a rate?
Your first step is to apply online or talk to a Home Loan Expert and see what your personalized rate could be. After getting approved for a loan, we’ll help you lock your rate.
How often do refinance rates change?
Mortgage rates can change daily, sometimes more than once a day. If you’re watching refi rates, it’s helpful to know 0.25% (a quarter of a percentage point), roughly equals a $30 change in the interest added to your mortgage payment.
How are today’s refinance rates calculated?
Current refinance rates are calculated using a set of details called assumptions. They can include the following:
1. A loan amount
2. Points paid at closing to get a lower interest rate
3. A debt-to-income ratio
4. A credit score
The closer your details are to assumptions – you have the same credit score, the same DTI, the same loan amount -- the more likely it is you’ll get a similar rate. Just like rates, assumptions can change. And assumptions differ from lender to lender. So it’s a good idea to check assumptions when you’re comparing rates. To see ours, select the View Legal Disclosures link under where rate are displayed.