Ray Castellano

Editor, Home, Auto & Money

Ray Castellano edits Moneystretching's coverage of homeownership, car costs, debt and taxes. That means insurance renewals and claims, escrow and mortgage insurance, car loans and dealer add-ons, credit card math and IRS notices. He works from primary sources such as the CFPB, the FTC, the IRS, state insurance departments and published rate data, lists them at the end of every article, and updates a piece when the rules or the numbers change. He doesn't sell financial products and doesn't recommend specific lenders or insurers.

33 articles

Stories by Ray Castellano

An auto loan interest summary on a desk with the line "Interest paid, first 12 months: $2,700" highlighted and a note reading "Deductible?". Taxes The plant code in your VIN now matters at tax time A car loan statement on a desk with the interest rate line "10.40%" highlighted and a sticky note reading "7.97% now?". Debt & Credit Your car loan had a second interest rate you never saw A dealer trade-in worksheet on a desk with the line "Negative equity added to new loan: $6,884" highlighted. Debt & Credit The $167 a month you pay for a car you traded away Illustrated car loan contract on a desk with the itemization of amount financed showing a $2,100 service contract highlighted, GAP and credit insurance lines below it, and a sticky note reading "Cancel these?". Debt & Credit Find the "Itemization of Amount Financed" box on your car loan contract Illustrated settlement offer letter on a desk showing a $4,000 payment and a signature deadline, with the line "Release of all claims: Required" highlighted and a sticky note reading "Bills: $6,300". Insurance The adjuster wants to record your call. What you can say Illustrated total loss valuation report on a desk showing a settlement offer of $11,200 highlighted, with a sticky note reading "Listings: $13.9K". Insurance Your totaled car's value comes from a report you can request Illustrated auto policy coverage summary on a desk showing collision and comprehensive premiums of $900 a year next to a maximum payout of $3,000, with a sticky note reading "Worth it?". Insurance Multiply two lines on your car policy by 10 before you renew A consumer disclosure report on a dark desk listing trips recorded, hard braking events and late-night trips for one vehicle, with the hard braking line highlighted and a sticky note reading "Who saw this? Insurance You can request the driving file a data broker keeps on you A car insurance quote comparison sheet on a desk showing the same driver and vehicle priced at $2,277 with good credit and $3,831 with poor credit, with a sticky note reading "+$1,553 a year? Insurance Your insurer must name the credit bureau it used to price you An auto policy renewal summary on a desk showing the six-month premium rising from $1,118 to $1,308 with zero claims and zero violations, and a sticky note reading "+$380 a year? Insurance Your renewal letter shows the new premium, not which rating factor changed