About Lindsay VanSomeren
Current Role
Personal finance writer
Expertise
- Mortgages
- Personal Loans
- Student Loans
- Auto Loans
- Banking
- Budgeting
- Debt
- Insurance
- Credit Cards
- Credit
Degrees
- Bachelor's and master's degree in wildlife biology and conservation from the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Personal Finance Experience
Lindsay doesn't come from a traditional personal finance background, having originally trained to be a wildlife biologist in Alaska. She changed course after being driven nearly to bankruptcy from a combination of poor money management skills, a low income, and buying a home that turned out to be a lemon.
Happily, she's turned her financial life around and recently purchased a new home (the right way) in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Today she dedicates her time to helping other people learn how to manage their money better, too, whether that's through explainers, guides, company reviews, and more. Her work appears widely around the internet, and she's written more than a thousand personal finance articles for over 60 different websites.
Latest from Lindsay VanSomeren
How Does a HELOC Work?
Home equity lines of credit—or HELOCs, as they’re more commonly known—are one of the most popular tools that homeowners use to borrow against...
Best Virginia HELOC Lenders and Rates [2025]
If you’re a homeowner in Virginia, tapping into your home equity with a HELOC can be a smart way to fund home improvements,...
What to Do If You’re Denied a Student Loan With a Cosigner
Private student loan lenders have strict requirements most students can’t meet on their own, meaning...
Personal Loans for Investments
It’s often best to avoid personal loans for investing because the risks are high, and it makes little financial sense. But can it...
Carputty Auto Loan Review
Carputty Flexline offers a line of credit up to $250,000 that can be used to purchase cars, refinance loans, or buy out an...
How to Rehabilitate Student Loans
Unpaid student loans can haunt you forever. We’ll help you learn how to rehabilitate student loans so you can find a way out.
Student Loans for Physical Therapy School
DPT degrees aren’t cheap, but you can use federal and private student loans to help turn your dreams into reality.
Student Loans for Veterinary School
If you're considering student loans for veterinary school, it's important to understand your options, how to apply, and how to pay them off.
Can You Use Student Loans for a Car?
You can’t use federal student loans to buy a car, but private student loan lenders may allow it depending on your contract. Even...
Income-Based Student Loans
Income-based repayment has only been available for federal loans—until now. Find out how private income-based student loans work, and if they're a better...