Writers & Reviewers

Every SB Loan article is written by a qualified author and undergoes a final check from an independent expert reviewer (AFC®, CFP®, JD, or an NMLS-licensed lender). Their credentials are always verifiable; individual license and certification IDs are found on the writer's specific profile page.

A key editorial policy. Authors are never the ones who approve their own content. Each finance article and state guide features two names: the creator and the verifier.
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Andre Vargas, AFC®
Senior Financial Educator

Lead Financial Educator at SB Loan. An Accredited Financial Counselor bringing eight years of experience from nonprofit credit counseling and financial coaching — specializing in explaining small-dollar loans and their alternatives in everyday language.

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Rachel Nakamura, CFP®
Editorial Reviewer

Content Reviewer at SB Loan. A CFP® and an ex-Pacific Northwest business journalist responsible for verifying all finance pages and state guides for correct cost data, APR figures, and repayment details.

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Roman Okafor, JD
Consumer Law Reviewer

Consumer Law Reviewer at SB Loan. A consumer-rights lawyer educated at Berkeley and a member of the California Bar — examines legal citations and compliance details on state guides, financial content, and advice for payment challenges.

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Andre Underwood
Senior Personal Finance Writer

Principal Finance Writer at SB Loan. A journalist from Missouri with a decade of reporting on subprime auto financing, overdraft fees, and BNPL plans — first on the business desk of a St. Louis paper, then for a consumer news outlet in Chicago.

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Victor Mensah, AFC®
Military & Veterans Editor

Military & Veterans Editor at SB Loan. A USMC veteran, Texas A&M NROTC alum, and AFC® providing seven years of financial-readiness guidance for the military — oversees MLA-compliance checks and creates content for servicemembers and veterans.

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Diego Delgado
Licensed Lender Reviewer

Licensed Lender Reviewer at SB Loan. An NMLS-licensed consumer lender with 15 years in underwriting and credit policy at a Southwest community bank — and a part-time teacher of consumer finance at a community college in New Mexico.

How we build our editorial board

All contributors are required to supply a confirmable professional credential — such as a license, certification number, or institutional link. Each one signs SB Loan's ethics pledge and reveals any financial ties to lenders, lead generators, or debt-settlement companies. Individuals with active consumer-protection cases are ineligible to contribute.

View our complete procedure in the Editorial Policy and Ownership Disclosure.