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

14.4M+ 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.

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5 Ways to Stretch Your Homebuying Dollar

05:24

Featured video

5 Ways to Stretch Your Homebuying Dollar

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.

Kate's picks

Adult, Female, Person

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January is ‘Divorce Month’ — 5 Questions to Ask About Your Home

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Adult, Female, Person

Locked Out: Can Congress Fix the Housing Crisis? A buzzy bipartisan bill promises more homes and lower prices. Will it deliver?

By Abby Badach Doyle

Person, Walking, Clothing

Student Loans in 2026: What Borrowers Need to Know Numerous changes enacted by Congress and the White House will come into play. They have important implications for both new and existing borrowers.

By Rick VanderKnyff

Head, Person, Face

January is ‘Divorce Month’ — 5 Questions to Ask About Your Home Divorce comes with a laundry list of tough decisions, including what to do with your home.

By Taylor Getler