Credit

Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your financial life. It affects everything from your ability to get a loan or credit card to the interest rates you'll pay on those loans or cards. Understanding how your credit score is calculated can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be! Today, join us as we explore all of the questions you might have for decoding your credit score.  

Adults, we can all agree, establishing good credit at a young age is extremely important. As a parent, it can be a challenge to introduce a credit card, build good credit, and explain how it can affect them later in life. Keep reading to learn some tips and tricks for getting your young adult started with a credit card to begin building good credit. 

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Just by glancing at a single number, lenders can determine how financially responsible you are and decide whether to lend you money or not. Your credit score determines other important things like interest rates as well, which is why it’s so important to make sure your score is good. If you don’t have the greatest credit score, here are some basic ways you can improve it.   

In the modern world, almost everyone holds a credit card. Reportedly, 7 in 10 American’s have at least one credit card and there are 364 million open credit card accounts in the U.S. as of November 2018.

The reach and popularity of credit cards have made it a major target of fraudsters out there. Many fraud schemes target credit cards, such as skimming (copying the credit card details electronically and duplicating the card), card theft, identity theft, phishing, vishing (voice...

Many Millennials, who graduated during a time of job scarcity and enormous student debt, are more than a little skittish about financial matters. After all, in addition to their own challenges, many saw their parents’ generation struggle with layoffs, stock market losses, and the housing crisis. Still, there’s a lot that today’s 20-somethings can do to build a brighter financial future.

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With the home prices stabilizing and even rising in some cities, many people are wondering if now might be the right time to take the plunge into homeownership. Real estate conditions and individual personal financial situations vary dramatically, so there’s no simple yes or no answer. But here are some issues to consider that can help you decide whether buying or renting is best for you:

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If used carefully, credit can be a helpful financial tool. For example, using credit to purchase a home now, rather than trying to save up the whole purchase price, makes financial sense. The home provides a place to live that will perhaps increase in value and the mortgage interest offers a tax deduction. Credit may also help you deal promptly with costly emergencies.

Many consumers turn to credit when faced with unexpected home or auto repairs, as well as medical emergencies. And credit...