Everyone asks, “What’s the rate?” But very few people ask the more important question: “What’s the total cost?”

In this episode of The Intelligent Borrower, Todd Stichler breaks down the true meaning of interest rate and how it impacts borrowers over time. Using a simple car loan example, he explains the three components that determine the real cost of borrowing — balance, rate, and time — and shows how small adjustments, like making extra principal payments, can dramatically reduce the total amount paid.

If you want to stop thinking like a consumer and start thinking strategically about debt, this episode will shift how you evaluate every loan going forward.

This episode of The Intelligent Borrower breaks down the uncomfortable truths most people never hear about debt, taxes, and lending. We unpack why borrowing doesn’t cause financial problems — it exposes them — and how the system quietly trains people to think like desperate borrowers instead of strategic decision-makers. From why tax refunds aren’t the “win” they’re sold as, to the brutal question every borrower should ask themselves before taking on debt, this episode challenges how you think about money, approval, and responsibility. It’s not motivational — it’s clarifying.

Episode 3 dives into Credit Scores — what they are, why they matter, and how they directly impact the cost of your borrowing. We break down why people often think their credit is “good” until a lender pulls it, what makes up your score, and why different lenders see different numbers. You’ll learn the Five Pillars that shape every credit score, the difference between FICO and VantageScore, how government policies like the COVID student loan pause affected millions of borrowers, and how your behavior becomes data that decides your risk — and your interest rate. If you want to understand how your credit score can cost or save you thousands, this episode is your foundation for becoming an intelligent borrower.