On the surface, an interest rate is just a number. How that number applies to debt or equity opens up a world of possibilities. The first consideration is always whether it’s simple interest vs.

Simple interest is paid only on the principal, e.g., a $10,000 investment at 5% yields $500 annually. Compound interest accumulates on both principal and past interest, increasing total returns over ...

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Lenders charge interest in two main ways — simple or on an amortization schedule. In an amortizing loan, the part of your payment that goes toward interest decreases over time and the part that goes ...

Calculating the interest rate on a personal loan can be difficult. Most lenders use simple interest rather than compound interest, though, which makes the job a little easier. To calculate how much ...

Steven Nickolas is a freelance writer and has 10+ years of experience working as a consultant to retail and institutional investors. Amy is an ACA and the CEO and founder of OnPoint Learning, a ...