Insights, guides, and updates to help you navigate loans and agreements.
How to write a promissory note for a family loan: the 9 terms it needs, who signs, a worked $30,000 example, and what to do once it is paid off.
How long should a family loan be? A $20,000 loan costs $1,257 over 3 years or $2,964 over 7. Use the 3-clock test to pick a term that fits.
A family loan to pay off a car loan can beat your bank's rate by double digits. See the real math, the lien step people skip, and when to walk away.
A family loan to pay off IRS tax debt can beat the IRS's payment plan cost of nearly 10% a year. See the Q4 2026 math, the AFR floor, and the gift tax risk.
Lending money to a sibling risks more than repayment. Learn the inheritance rule, the written-note steps, and what happens if either of you dies first.
Family loans and gifts from grandparents no longer count as FAFSA income since 2024, but asset timing and CSS Profile rules still can affect aid.
401(k) loan vs family loan compared: borrowing limits, true interest cost, job-loss tax risk, and mortgage impact, with current IRS figures.
Rates dropped since you set up your family loan? Here is when you can legally refinance it to a lower rate, and the AFR gift tax trap to avoid.
A family loan to pay off a mortgage can save six figures in interest, but only a recorded lien keeps your deduction. The real math and the risks.
A family loan to pay off student loans can beat federal rates, but it costs the $2,500 tax deduction and sometimes PSLF eligibility.
A family loan prenup keeps money from parents separate in a divorce, but only if the loan paperwork comes first. Here is how to structure both.
Reverse mortgage vs. family loan for an aging parent: real 2026 HECM fees, IRS AFR rates, and a decision framework before you tap the home equity.