Erica Sandberg

Finance Expert
Erica Sandberg

About the Author

Erica Sandberg is a consumer finance expert and journalist whose articles and insights are featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, MarketWatch, Forbes, and MSN Money. An experienced media host, she's led many financial programs, including her podcast, "Adventures With Money." She's appeared on Fox, CNN, "EconTalk" and "The Dr. Drew Podcast," and has been the resident money and credit authority for KRON-4 News in San Francisco for more than 10 years. She's the author of "Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families" and recipient of the 2024 Financial Literacy and Education in Communities (FLEC) Award for National Excellence.

Latest Posts

53 posts written/edited to date

Guide

13,636 views

11 min read

What is a Billing Cycle? Understanding the Basics of Credit Card and Loan Statements

How Billing Cycles Work For Loans and Credit Cards

When you open a credit card or loan, the financial institution will send you a monthly statement showing a lot of information pertaining to your... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 12/11/24

Guide

30,191 views

9 min read

What is Your Credit Utilization Ratio? Why the Percentage is So Important to Lenders

What is Your Credit Utilization Ratio?

Your credit utilization ratio is an important consideration to lenders, so it is a major factor in your credit scores. Over the years, I have had... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 12/11/24

Guide

21,570 views

11 min read

What is FICO? The Influential Credit Scoring Model that Can Determine Your Approval For Financing 

What is FICO and How Does Its Scoring Model Work?

If you’re like me, being judged fairly and objectively is important to you. That includes how a potential lender might assess an application for... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 11/26/24

Guide

48,045 views

9 min read

What is a Credit Score? How the Number Shows Your Creditworthiness and Impacts Your Lending Options

What is a Credit Score? How the Number Shows Your Creditworthiness

It may seem a bit strange to take your credit history and reduce it to a three-digit number, but that number is your credit score, and it... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 9/30/24

Guide

91,024 views

11 min read

What is a Balance Transfer? How to Benefit & Save Money on Interest

How to Avoid Interest With a Balance Transfer

Shifting existing debt from one or more credit card accounts to a different credit card is called a balance transfer. You will owe and send your... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 7/8/24

Guide

89,401 views

11 min read

What is a Credit Check?

What is a Credit Check?

A credit check consists of reviewing your consumer credit reports and the credit scores derived from the information found on those files. When a... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 5/9/24

Study

100,000+ views

7 min read

The Average Student Loan Debt By State (2024)

The Average Student Loan Debt By State

The cost of higher education in the United States is daunting for many Americans. In 2023 the average total cost of attendance for a student... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 3/26/24

Study

100,000+ views

7 min read

The Average Student Loan Debt By Year (2013-2023)

The Average Student Loan Debt By Year

The amount of money students borrow to attend college has been increasing year over year. Tuition, room and board, books and materials as well... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 3/26/24

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