Lauren Hayes
Financial Literacy Editor · Austin, TX
About Lauren
Lauren is a Certified Financial Planner who grew up in a household where money was never discussed. She was a first-generation college graduate who had to figure out student loans, credit cards, and budgeting entirely on her own, often learning through expensive mistakes. That experience shaped her career. She became a CFP specifically because she wanted to be the person she wished she had access to at 19: someone who could explain how money actually works without making you feel stupid for not already knowing. Lauren writes for the person who feels behind, overwhelmed, or like personal finance was a class nobody ever offered them. She breaks complex concepts into small, logical steps and uses relatable everyday scenarios that make abstract financial ideas click. Her goal with every article is the same: the reader finishes feeling capable, not lectured.
Areas of expertise
Credit fundamentals, budgeting, building credit from scratch, student loans, first-time borrowers, and financial wellness for millennials and Gen Z.
Articles by Lauren (5)
30-Day Credit Score Sprint: Week-by-Week Plan Before Applying for a Loan
Your Credit Score Is Not One Number: Why Lenders See a Different Score Than You
Credit Union Loans for Bad Credit: How to Join and Borrow at 18% APR or Less
Co-Signer for a Bad Credit Loan: What Both Sides Need to Know
