Michael Chen

About Michael

Michael Chen is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who spent 10 years working on the other side of the lending industry before becoming a consumer advocate. He started his career as a loan officer at Wells Fargo, where he processed over 2,000 personal loan and mortgage applications. That experience gave him an insider's view of how lending decisions are really made—and what consumers can do to improve their odds.

After earning his CFP certification in 2015, Michael transitioned to financial education. He believes that too much financial advice comes from people who've never actually worked in the industry they're writing about. His articles draw on real conversations with loan officers, underwriters, and credit analysts to give readers practical insights they won't find elsewhere.

Michael is particularly passionate about helping people dig out of high-interest debt. His own family experienced a medical bankruptcy when he was in college, which shaped his understanding of how quickly financial stability can unravel—and how important it is to have accurate information when you're trying to rebuild.

Articles by Michael