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Kate Wood
Senior Writer/Spokesperson
Expertise
Mortgages•
student loans•
personal loans
How I Think About Money“Personal finance isn't one-size-fits-all. I love breaking down confusing topics so people can feel empowered to make decisions that work for them.”
6+Years of Experience
100+Articles Written
15.1M+Readers Reached
Previous experience
This Old House
Education
B.A. in sociology from Vassar College
M.A. in sociology from UC San Diego
Awards
National Association of Real Estate Editors: 2025 Silver Award Best Online Residential Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story
Credentials
CSLC (Certified Student Loan Counselor)
CFHC (Certified Financial Health Counselor)
Kate Wood is a lending expert and certified financial health counselor (CHFC) who joined NerdWallet in 2019. With an educational background in sociology, Kate feels strongly about issues like inequality in homeownership and higher education, and relishes any opportunity to demystify government programs. Prior to NerdWallet, she wrote about home remodeling, decor and maintenance for This Old House.
Buying a home is never super easy, but today's high prices and interest rates can make it feel downright impossible. Make sure you've looked into the different ways that you could save money.