Zina Kumok

Contributing Expert
Zina Kumok

About the Author

Zina Kumok is a personal finance writer, certified financial health counselor, and student loan counselor. She works as a money coach helping people one on one at ConsciousCoins.com. Her advice has been featured in Lifehacker, FoxBusiness, Time Magazine, Investopedia, Forbes, and several other major financial brands. She paid off $28,000 worth of student loans in three years. She's a three-time Plutus Awards finalist for Best Personal Finance Contributor and a three-time speaker at FinCon, the premier financial media conference.

Latest Posts

Worked On 9 Articles To Date

Study

15,930 views

11 min read

31 Eye-Opening Global Poverty Statistics (2025)

Eye-Opening Global Poverty Statistics

If you’re living in the U.S., you may be aware of rising poverty levels. However, you may not know the scale of poverty across the world — and... read more »

By: Zina Kumok • 3/31/26

Guide

100,000+ views

9 min read

What is a Grace Period? How the Term Applies to Credit Cards & Loans

What is a Grace Period? How the Term Applies to Loans and Credit Cards

You’ve heard the phrase “timing is everything,” and that is especially true with your finances. Just ask those who locked in 2.65% mortgage... read more »

By: Zina Kumok • 11/25/24

Guide

100,000+ views

11 min read

What is Creditworthiness? How Lenders Determine Your Risk Level

What is Creditworthiness? How Lenders Determine Your Risk Level

When people ask me what part of personal finance they should care about, I always tell them: your creditworthiness. Being creditworthy is like... read more »

By: Zina Kumok • 10/1/24

Guide

100,000+ views

9 min read

What is a Credit Freeze? How Securing Your Credit Report Can Prevent Identity Theft

What is a Credit Freeze and How Can it Prevent Fraud?

When the credit bureau Equifax was hacked in 2017, I was worried that my information would be compromised — or someone would open a new credit... read more »

By: Zina Kumok • 9/19/24

Guide

100,000+ views

15 min read

What is an Installment Loan? How Fixed-Term Financing Works

What is an Installment Loan? A Guide to Fixed-Term Financing

An installment loan is a loan with a fixed repayment term, meaning that there is a specific end date to the loan. When you sign up for an... read more »

By: Zina Kumok • 6/13/24

Study

100,000+ views

9 min read

Average Credit Score by Precise Age

The Average Credit Score by Exact Age

Credit scores are one of the most important financial barometers. A good credit score opens doors to lower interest rates and better loan... read more »

By: Zina Kumok • 9/27/23

Guide

100,000+ views

11 min read

Low-Income Home Loans for Bad Credit in 2026

Low-Income Home Loans for Bad Credit

They say buying a home is the ultimate American dream, and it’s true! But if you’re dealing with a low income and poor credit, the path to... read more »

By: Zina Kumok • 8/8/23

Guide

100,000+ views

11 min read

15 Secrets for Getting a Higher Credit Score

15 Secrets For Raising Your Credit Score

If you’ve ever struggled with the consequences of poor credit, you may feel like everyone except you seems to know some higher credit score... read more »

By: Zina Kumok • 2/1/21

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