SmartHelping / Loan Repayment Planning / Excel
Loan Payback Optimizer
See how extra principal payments change the cost and timing of repaying up to 12 loans. Compare the original amortization schedules with an accelerated repayment plan, rank the loans in two ways, and review projected interest savings and monthly payments.
Immediate download after purchase. By purchasing, you agree to the Terms of Service.
Video walkthrough & spreadsheet preview
See how extra principal changes the repayment schedule.
Review the walkthrough and screenshots to follow the loan ranking, extra payments, and comparison with the original schedules.
Original payments versus extra principal
Build an accelerated repayment scenario.
The original scenario follows the standard loan schedules without extra payments. The modified scenario adds extra principal to the ranked repayment plan.
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Enter the loan assumptions
Set the current month and enter the current balance, interest rate, payments per year, and remaining years for up to 12 standard principal-and-interest loans.
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Set the extra amount and start month
Specify the extra monthly cash to apply toward principal and choose the month those additional payments begin.
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Choose the repayment order
Rank loans by total interest or by interest rate to determine which loan receives the extra payment first.
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Review the modified schedule
Compare the timing and amount of debt service with the original repayment schedules, then review projected savings over the life of the loans.
Two ways to prioritize the loans
Compare ranking by total interest and by interest rate.
The selected order determines which loan receives the fixed extra principal payment and which loan is next in line.
Highest total interest first
Rank loans from the largest total interest amount to the smallest, then review how that order affects the modified repayment schedule.
Highest interest rate first
Rank loans from the highest interest rate to the lowest and compare the resulting payment timing and projected savings.
How the extra payment moves
The fixed extra principal amount moves to the next loan.
When the loan receiving the extra payment is paid off, that fixed extra amount moves to the next loan in the selected order.
The model does not automatically add the paid-off loan's regular payment to the extra amount going toward the remaining loans. The extra payment stays at the amount you define.
Payment timing, savings & visual comparisons
See the effect across the full repayment plan.
Review how the extra principal changes the amount paid each month and the accumulated difference from the original schedules.
Interest savings & payoff dates
Review total interest saved, the original and modified payoff dates, and the reduction in days until the modeled debt is repaid.
Monthly payments by loan
See the actual modeled payments for all loans side by side in the monthly debt service schedule.
Monthly & cumulative differences
Follow the difference between original and modified payments each month and the cumulative change across the repayment period.
Charts & totals
Use the visual comparisons and totals to review the effect of your extra-payment amount and selected loan ranking.
Extra principal can increase payments in the early months. Review the monthly cash differences alongside total interest savings and payoff timing.
Choose a model that matches the debt
Built for standard principal-and-interest loans.
Defined rate, term & payment schedule
Use the template for loans with a set interest rate, term, and payment frequency that repay both principal and interest.
Credit cards & interest-only loans
The existing model is not designed for credit card debt or interest-only loans. Those repayment structures would require changes to the model.
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Explore the plannerQuestions before you buy
A few useful details.
What does the model compare?
It compares the original repayment schedules, with no extra principal, against a modified scenario that applies additional principal to loans in the selected order.
How many loans can I model?
The template supports up to 12 loans. Inputs include each loan's current balance, interest rate, payments per year, and remaining years.
How can I rank the loans?
You can rank them from highest total interest to lowest or from highest interest rate to lowest.
What if two loans have the same interest rate?
The highest-rate ranking requires distinct interest-rate inputs. The workbook includes a setup note explaining the minimal adjustment used to separate matching rates for that ranking method.
What happens when the loan receiving the extra payment is paid off?
The fixed extra principal amount moves to the next loan in the selected ranking.
Are regular payments from paid-off loans automatically rolled into the next loan?
No. The model transfers the fixed extra principal amount. It does not automatically add the normal payment from a paid-off loan to that amount.
Can I use this for credit cards or interest-only loans?
The existing template is built for standard principal-and-interest loans with a set rate, term, and payment schedule. Credit cards and interest-only loans would require changes to the model.
How do I get the template?
The Excel template is available to download immediately after the $45 one-time purchase.
Plan your extra principal payments
See how a different repayment plan changes the numbers.
Get the Loan Payback Optimizer for Excel. Have a question? Contact SmartHelping.
