Investing and saving money involves more complexity than simply making a deposit, but financial experts say understanding key products can help consumers make better decisions.

Private mortgage insurance, commonly known as PMI, often catches first-time homebuyers off guard as an unexpected monthly expense.

"This is a very common question. Not everybody understands when they're stepping into homeownership, that this is an additional fee that they're paying for every month," a financial expert explained.

However, alternatives exist. "There are programs out there that are non-PMI programs. And so, it might be a great opportunity to shop your local credit union to see what kind of mortgage options they have," the expert said.

Certificates of deposit offer better interest rates than traditi

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