Allison Martin

Allison Martin

Allison Martin is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), syndicated financial writer and author. She teaches the essentials of personal finance through seminars and workshops.

Expertise: Insurance, mortgages, personal finance, budgeting

Experience: Allison’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, ABC, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, Fox Business, Investopedia, The Simple Dollar and a host of other publications.

Popular articles from Allison

Young man signing a lease, with a guarantor beside him. A female real estate agent sits nearby.

What Is a Guarantor for an Apartment and Do I Need One?

A guarantor can help you get approved for an apartment. Learn about the role of a guaranto...

Oct 17, 2025Rentals

How Many Times Can I Get an FHA Loan?

Sep 3, 2020Mortgage

How to Use a Contactless Debit Card Safely

Oct 14, 2021Personal finance

How to Stop Scammers From Calling an Elderly Parent

Mar 7, 2022Prevention

What Is Budget Billing for Utilities?

Jul 27, 2021Budgeting

What You Need to Know About Mortgage Default

Jan 6, 2022Foreclosure

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Apr 28, 2022Health insurance

Does a Disability Affect Life Insurance Costs?

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Apr 19, 2022Life insurance

What Is Return of Premium Life Insurance?

A return of premium life insurance policy is a form of term coverage that offers a refund ...

Jan 25, 2022Life insurance

Should You Buy Life Insurance for Children?

There's value in buying life insurance for children, but is it a smart financial move for ...

Jan 11, 2022Life insurance

What Is Lender-Paid Mortgage Insurance?

Lender-paid mortgage insurance (LPMI) is an alternative to monthly PMI payments. The lende...

Oct 24, 2021Mortgage

How to Compare Mortgage Rates

Before you shop for a new home, compare mortgage rates and terms to find the best pricing ...

Sep 6, 2021Mortgage

What Are Mortgage Overlays?

Mortgage overlays protect lenders but could make it tougher to get approved for a home loa...

Aug 13, 2021Mortgage

What Is an Appraisal Contingency?

An appraisal contingency allows the prospective buyer to back out of the deal without cons...

Aug 3, 2021Mortgage

When Should You Buy Life Insurance?

Life insurance protects your family from financial hardship if you pass away. Consider buy...

Jun 12, 2021Life insurance

How to Apply for a Parent PLUS Loan

Parent PLUS loans can help cover your child's higher education costs when financial aid aw...

May 5, 2021Student loans

How Is Passive Income Taxed?

Passive income is taxed whether it's generated from rental, business or trade activities y...

Mar 19, 2021Taxes

How Long Does It Take to Get a Secured Credit Card?

It doesn't take much time to get approved for a secured credit card, and your score could ...

Feb 26, 2021Credit cards