Transcribe your podcast
[00:00:00]

Between summer vacations and going to the beach and having the hot girl or guy summer of your dreams, this season can be a little hard on our wallets. A chime checking account helps you reach your financial goals while still enjoying the summer. You can take back your finances with features like fee free overdraft up to dollar 200 with Spotme or getting paid up to two days early with direct deposit. Learn more@chime.com mnn and you know I hate overdraft fees. One time I overdrafted buying a latte, which was so embarrassing at the time.

[00:00:29]

But hey, it happens to the best of us and I got charged $35 for a $7 latte. But chime allows you to overdraft up to $200 with no fees, and you can get temporarily increased overdraft limits with boosts from friends. Live it up this summer and make progress toward your financial goals with chime. Open your account in minutes@chime.com. mnn that's Chime.com mnn.

[00:00:51]

Chime feels like progress banking services and debit card provided by the Bank Corp. Bank na or Stride bank na members FDIC spot meet eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Boosts are available to eligible chime members enrolled in SpotMe and are subject to monthly limits. Terms and conditions apply. Go to chime.com disclosures for details.

[00:01:11]

Okay, I get it. When it comes to pursuing your money goals, the financial system can feel complicated. With so many options out there, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. That's why I'd like to thank intuit credit Karma for well, first sponsoring this ad. Thanks guys.

[00:01:25]

But more importantly for giving you everything you need to outsmart the system. So understanding and navigating those choices around your money feels less like walking on broken glass and more like a walk in the park. Credit Karma's tips, tools and recommendations are meant for you. Yes, you as impersonalized for your financial situation. You know I love me some personalized attention and credit karma is so much more than a credit score app.

[00:01:47]

With credit builder, you could raise a score of 619 or lower in less time than you think, all while saving money at the same time. Simple credit karma can also help you find the right credit card offer for you, giving you more confidence when applying. And the best part? You can do all of this while walking your dog in the park or your cat. If that's more your style, I won't judge.

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So take a walk down the sunny side of your finances. Check out all these great features and more on the free to download credit Karma app. Visit creditkarma.com moneyrehab to learn more and for full terms. Credit builder plan is serviced by credit Karma Credit builder and requires a line of credit and savings account provided by Cross river bank member FDIC. I'm Nicole Lapin, the only financial expert.

[00:02:26]

You don't need a dictionary to understand it's time for some money rehabilitive have you always wanted to be the bank? Did you know you actually could be there's a system offered by some financial platforms called peer to peer lending where people like you and me could lend and borrow money from other people. And if you not only want to be the bank, but you don't want to use a bank to borrow money, this could be a fit for your lending needs as well. Today I'm going to break down what peer to peer lending is, how it works, and the pros and cons for both the lenders and the borrowers. Peer to peer lending is a way of financing that allows people to borrow and lend money without using an official financial institution as an intermediary.

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So think of it as the uber for your finances. There is a platform that connects people with money to lend directly to those looking to borrow money. These transactions are facilitated through peer to peer lending platforms, which handle the nitty gritty details of matching lenders and borrowers, assessing risk and processing the payments. For people looking to make money on peer to peer lending, this money move offers potentially higher returns compared to traditional savings accounts or bonds. For borrowers, it provides access to money that might be unavailable through traditional bank loans, often at more favorable interest rates.

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Getting started with peer to peer lending is straightforward. As a potential lender, you would have to sign up on the platform, deposit money, and then browse available loan listings. Each listing provides details about the borrower, including their credit rating, the purpose of the loan, and the interest rate offered. You can choose to fund the entire loan or just a fraction. Funding a few different loans fractionally is a common move because it allows lenders to diversify investments across multiple borrowers to spread out that risk.

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If you're thinking about investing in peer to peer lending, here are four things you should think about. Number one, fees. Most platforms charge service fees, which can range from one to 5% of the loan repayment. So that's not the interest rate that you'll be making as a lender. That's the fee you'll be charged by the platform.

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It's really important to understand these fees as they can impact your overall returns. Number two, risk the biggest risk in peer to peer lending is borrower default. If a borrower fails to repay the loan, you could lose your investment. Platforms mitigate this risk by providing detailed credit information and sometimes offering collections services, but there is always some level of uncertainty. Number three, benefits potential for high returns is a big perk here.

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Interest rates on peer to peer loans can range from five to 36%, depending on on the borrower's creditworthiness. Also, peer to peer lending allows for portfolio diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds, and we love diversification. Number four, the platform before signing up, shop around at different peer to peer lending platforms and evaluate the platform's reputation, fee structure, borrower screening process, and historical performance data. Look for platforms that offer robust risk assessment tools and have a solid track record. Now let's talk about the borrowers.

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If you're interested in borrowing from a peer, the process involves creating a profile, submitting a loan application, and waiting for approval. Once you're approved, your loan is listed on the platform for potential investors to review. If your loan gets fully funded, you receive the money and start making payments according to the agreed terms. As a borrower, you can look to peer to peer lending for anything you want a personal loan for, like debt consolidation, which is where you basically consolidate high interest rate debt into one single loan with a lower interest rate, or home renovation projects so you can get more money to play with without tapping into your home equity. You can also get a peer to peer loan for personal expenses, like covering medical bills, wedding expenses or major purchases, or even startup costs for your side hustle.

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If you need a loan and are considering peer to peer borrowing, here are four things you need to think about. Number one, fees. Borrowers typically pay an origination fee, which is a percentage of the loan amount, usually one to 8%. This fee is deducted from the loan before you get the money, meaning if you took out $1,000 loan with a 1% origination fee, you would only receive $990. Also, late fees or repayment penalties might apply, so please read the fine print.

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Number two risks. While peer to peer loans can offer lower interest rates, they can also come with strict repayment terms. Failing to make timely payments can negatively impact your credit score and result in higher overall costs due to late fees. So just because you're borrowing from a peer doesn't mean you're borrowing from a friend that's going to let it slide if you start falling behind on payments. Peer to peer lenders have pretty much all the same rules as banks, so don't go in thinking that this is NBD.

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It can be a very bd if you don't have a foolproof repayment plan. Number three benefits. Peer to peer loans have lower interest rates compared to credit cards or other high interest rate loans. They can also be a lifeline for individuals with moderate credit scores who might not qualify for traditional bank loans. And number four, the fine print.

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Evaluate the total cost of the loan, including interest rates and fees. Understand the repayment schedule and any potential penalties for late payments or early repayment. Choose a platform with a transparent application process, and good customer service is a must. Net peer to peer lending is transforming the financial landscape by connecting borrowers directly with investors, offering a win win solution in so many cases that traditional banks can't always provide. For investors, it's an opportunity to earn attractive returns and diversify their portfolios.

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For borrowers, it offers accessible financing options, often at lower rates than those of conventional loans. For today's tip, you can take straight to the bank. If you're looking for a loan, it probably feels like you're the one being evaluated. But don't forget that you have just as much power to evaluate your potential lender to don't be afraid to ask for what you want, and don't be afraid to try to negotiate rates. There are a lot of lenders out there, and the worst thing they can say is no.

[00:08:39]

And if they do, well, thank you. Next while you're binging the pod, how about a little bonus tip as a starting place for your investment allocation that you can, of course, tailor? Depending on your goals, pros recommend making your bond allocation your age. How about a second bonus? When you want to invest in bonds, use public, the modern brokerage for investors looking for a simple yet sophisticated investing experience, public is truly the only place I buy bonds legit because every other app or site I've tried to use is so complicated.

[00:09:08]

But on public, I can buy a bond on my iPhone in less than 5 minutes. This is a major upgrade because most investing platforms that offer bonds design their user experience before the iPhone was even invented. I'll let that one sink in, and you can use public for more than your bond investments. Public is the brokerage I use for all my investing needs, whether I'm looking for stocks, ETF's, high yield cash account options and other assets, even music royalties. To build the multi asset portfolio of your dreams, go to public.com moneyrehab one more time because trust you will thank me.

[00:09:38]

Public.com moneyrehab this is a paid endorsement for public investment. Full disclosures and conditions can be found in the podcast description. Okay, I get it. When it comes to pursuing your money goals, the financial system can feel complicated. With so many options out there, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

[00:09:54]

That's why I'd like to thank intuit credit Karma for well, first sponsoring this ad. Thanks guys. But more importantly for giving you everything you need to outsmart the system. So understanding and navigating those choices around your money feels less like walking on broken glass and more like a walk in the park. Credit Karma's tips, tools and recommendations are meant for you.

[00:10:12]

Yes, you as impersonalized for your financial situation. You know I love me some personalized attention and credit karma is so much more than a credit score app. With credit builder, you could raise a score of 619 or lower in less time than you think, all while saving money at the same time. Simple credit karma can also help you find the right credit card offer for you, giving you more confidence when applying. And the best part?

[00:10:33]

You can do all of this while walking your dog in the park or your cat. If that's more your style, I won't judge. So take a walk down the sunny side of your finances. Check out all these great features and more on the free. To download credit Karma app, visit creditkarma.com moneyrehab to learn more and for full terms.

[00:10:49]

Credit Builder plan is serviced by credit Karma Credit builder and requires a line of credit and savings account provided by Cross river bank member FDIC. Money Rehab is a production of Money News Network. I'm your host, Nicole Lapin. Money Rehab's executive producer is Morgan Lavoie. Our researcher is Emily Holmes.

[00:11:06]

Do you need some money rehab? And let's be honest, we all do. So email us your money questions. Money rehaboneyoneyoneynewsnetwork.com to potentially have your questions answered on the show or even have a one on one intervention with me and follow us on Instagramoneynews and Tiktokoneynewsnetwork for exclusive video content. And lastly, thank you.

[00:11:26]

No, seriously, thank you. Thank you for listening and for investing in yourself, which is the most important investment you can make.