Episode 4: Think Like a Lender

Episode 7: Borrower Beware- False Promises

In this episode of The Intelligent Borrower, Todd Stichler dives into one of the most common, and costly, traps borrowers fall into: believing promises that aren’t actually documented. From “starter loans” to verbal guarantees about future funding, Todd unpacks how lenders can use the idea of “phase two capital” or “graduation funding” to get borrowers into loans that may never lead anywhere else. He explains the critical difference between what is suggested versus what is contractually guaranteed, and why intelligent borrowers must make decisions based on structure, documentation, and certainty — not hope or sales language. This episode is a reminder to slow down, ask the right questions, and understand exactly what you’re agreeing to before signing anything.

Episode 6: Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Lending

In this episode of The Intelligent Borrower, Todd Stichler breaks down the key differences between traditional bank financing and non-traditional lending options. From SBA loans to alternative funding sources, he walks through how small businesses actually access capital today—and what borrowers need to understand to choose the right path. It’s a practical, no-fluff look at how financing really works beyond the surface.

Episode 5: What Is Interest Rate? And What It’s Really Costing You

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.

Episode 4: Think Like a Lender

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: Credit Scores- What Are They and Why You Should Care

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.