You might have heard people use the term compound interest, but if you can’t answer the question “What is compound interest?” then you’re missing out on how compound interest affects your finances.

Simple interest calculates earnings or payments based solely on the initial principal, while compound interest grows by calculating interest on both the principal and the accumulated interest over ...

Once a principal balance earns interest, that interest becomes a part of the principal and continues to earn more interest—that is the magic of compounding. What Is Compound Interest? How Does It Work ...

Editor's Note: APYs listed in this article are up-to-date as of the time of publication. They may fluctuate (up or down) as the Fed rate changes. Select will update as changes are made public. Some ...

Interest can be charged when you borrow money or earned when you save. When you charge something on a credit card or take out a loan from a financial institution (student loan, auto loan, mortgage, ...

On the surface, an interest rate is just a number. How that number applies to debt or equity opens up a world of possibilities. The first consideration is always whether it’s simple interest vs.

Compound interest is a powerful force for consumers looking to build their savings. It creates a multiplier effect on your money that can help it grow more over time. Knowing how it works and how ...

Steven Nickolas is a writer and has 10+ years of experience working as a consultant to retail and institutional investors. Suzanne is a content marketer, writer, and fact-checker. She holds a Bachelor ...

Liliana Hall was a writer for CNET Money covering banking, credit cards and mortgages. Previously, she wrote about personal credit for Bankrate and CreditCards.com. David McMillin writes about credit ...