Interest is quite possibly the most complex bit of math that the average person has to use everyday. Like the Force, it can be used for good, for evil, and it binds the galaxy together. When interest ...

Whether you are paying interest or being paid interest, it's important to fully understand how that interest is calculated. There are two basic types of interest: simple and compound. How each type is ...

Simple interest is paid only on the principal, e.g., a $10,000 investment at 5% yields $500 annually. Compound interest accumulates on both principal and past interest, increasing total returns over ...

Elvis Picardo is a regular contributor to Investopedia and has 25+ years of experience as a portfolio manager with diverse capital markets experience. Suzanne is a content marketer, writer, and ...