About Zina Kumok
Current Role
Personal finance writer
Expertise
- Student Loans
- Credit Scores
- Personal Loans
- Banking
- Education Planning
Achievements
- Three-time Finalist For Best Personal Finance Contributor At The Plutus Awards
Degrees
- Bachelor's degree in journalism from Indiana University
Personal Finance Experience
Zina has been a personal finance writer for almost a decade. In that time, she has written for prestigious publications and household brands.
She has also worked as a financial coach helping real consumers tackle their loans. She paid off her student loans in three years and documented the progress on her blog.
Latest from Zina Kumok
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...
College Ave vs. Ascent: Student Loan Comparison
In this comparison, we’ll compare College Ave and Ascent private student loans and tell you...
Supplemental Student Loans
There are two main kinds of supplemental student loans you can use. We explain the differences and similarities, below.
Sallie Mae vs. Ascent: Student Loan Comparison
In this comparison, we review loan terms, repayment options, and more to find out if...
How Much Can You Take Out in Private Student Loans?
Learn about private student loan limits and why you shouldn't always borrow as much as...
How to Choose Student Loans
When choosing a student loan, you should maximize all federal options before seeking private loans. Here’s how to get started.
How Many Student Loans Can I Take Out?
Before taking out student loans, understand both the annual and total limits of both federal and private student loans.
Does Refinancing Student Loans Hurt Your Credit?
Refinancing your student loans can lower your credit score, but the potential savings and temporary...
Best Small Student Loans
Small student loans can be used for various reasons like buying books, getting a new laptop, covering living expenses, and more.
Current Student Loan Interest Rates
The Department of Education’s current student loan interest rate is a fixed rate between 4.99% and 7.54%. Private lenders, which offer fixed and...