There are very few things that are as ubiquitous as the credit card. This little rectangle of plastic can give us so much convenience, but to the unwary can also bring so much misery. Credit cards may be the easiest way to get a standby line of revolving credit, always available when you need it, but it can also be the fastest way to get mired in credit card debt. People may complain about credit card debt but everyone agrees that despite the risks, there are too many drawbacks to not having a credit card.


Credit cards as we know them today are relatively new and are continuously evolving. The major laws protecting consumers’ rights involving credit were passed in the mid-seventies. It may be timely that Congress is currently considering added measures to enhance consumer protection. Yet, for a long time, people were using credit cards as a convenience product rather than as loans. Many people paid their entire balance each month. Credit cards were not as essential then as they are now.


Banks do not make money if people did not carry balances since a grace period for purchases, where no interest is charged for one month, is usually standard. As far as banks are concerned, the best credit card customer is one who carries a balance each month after remitting the minimum payment on time. Credit card issuers got really creative and have managed to make credit cards a necessary part of daily living. They worked to have credit cards accepted in more and more establishments, and to have credit card holders understand the many benefits and conveniences that they stood to gain from using their credit cards.


In our times, credit cards no longer a luxury. If you travel, you need your credit card to book flight reservations and reserve hotel rooms. You also need credit cards to rent cars, to purchase gas, and buy products by telephone or online. Being without credit cards today would make your life as difficult as traveling by horse and buggy. Without our even being aware of it, credit cards have become a business standard.


A credit card is one of the quickest ways to build a credit history. When you apply for a credit card and you still have no history, there are credit card issuers that you can approach. These issuers specialize in providing credit card products to customers who, because they are still attempting to establish or expand their credit history, are generally evaluated as higher credit risks. Many college students, for example, fall into this category, along with those who have limited employment income, or otherwise have poor credit history.


Today, having credit is a necessity. An inexpensive, reliable new car costs thousands of dollars, and although most people may want to pay in cash, the reality is they will need a loan. The rates and terms of that loan will be determined by your credit history, which is easily obtainable from the credit bureaus throughout the country. If you have used credit wisely in the past and repaid previous loans on time, you will be in a favorable position. If not, the result will be a more costly loan with higher interest rates.


The use of the credit card as a source of loans is illustrated by the fact that overall credit card debt now runs several hundred billions of dollars. Credit card debt has risen quickly to unimaginable proportions, and still banks continue to compete heavily for your business. Every year, billions of credit card flyers with invitations to transfer to another card issuer are sent out. The average American credit card holder is now in possession of almost a dozen credit cards, with average debt of $13,000. The credit card has indeed become a cornerstone of everyday living. Other than its necessity in making flight and hotel reservations, credit cards help the credit card holder with:

• “Cashless” transactions that avoid the risk of carrying around too much cash

• An interest-free loan from the time of purchase until the payment is due

• Cash advances from an ATM, in emergency cases

• The ability to shop by telephone or online

• The ability to purchase items when cash is not sufficient

• The ability to withhold payment when dissatisfied with a purchase or to dispute erroneous billings

• An instant source of credit that is available without filling out forms or undergoing further credit checks.


Cash, when it gets lost, is irretrievable; unlike cash, if you lose your credit card you can get a replacement no matter where you are. You also get protection against fraud or unauthorized use, which means you have minimal or even zero liability. Credit cards can be a resource in case of emergencies, such as a large car repair bill or an unforeseen expense.


Credit card companies normally provide the card holders with copies of their monthly statements. These statements list down in detail all charges that have been made against your credit card account. The monthly statements can thus serve as a complete financial record which, to the prudent credit card user, can become a guide for budgeting and controlling expenses. If the card user is a student, the monthly statements can become a tool for learning financial responsibility. Indeed, for personal finances and small businesses, credit cards have become a necessary financial tool.


There is also the prospect of being able to save money on future transactions because the usual credit card offers a number of rewards privileges that include frequent flyer miles, cash rebates, discounts or free telephone calls, points that go towards reduction of the cost of airplane tickets and hotel stays, points that can be redeemed as consumer products or gift certificates. All of the major credit cards — Visa, MasterCard, American Express — offer a multitude of card products with endless permutations on rewards, benefits and privileges that you can enjoy to maximize the value you get from your credit cards.


Ownership of a credit card entails certain responsibilities on your part. If these responsibilities are not exercised dutifully, you could unwittingly put yourself in a difficult situation where you lose your credit card privileges and suffer the drawbacks of not having credit cards. Your primary responsibilities as a credit card holder include the obligation to pay your bills on time, to stay within your pre-set spending limit, and to maintain the worthiness of your credit.


The convenience of having credit cards may tempt you to live beyond your means. You need to remember that excessive credit card debt and late payments will impair your credit rating and make it more difficult and costly to obtain credit in the future. Remember it is very easy to lower your credit ratings, but painfully slow to raise it.


It is now more important than ever to be effective at managing credit card debt. This is particularly true for people living from paycheck-to-paycheck and who must dip into their credit sources to make ends meet. If you are able to plan your credit spending and payments to your account, you will be rewarded with higher lines of credit and better rates. Otherwise, if you’re not efficient and disciplined with your credit card, you’ll have very few options available.



Drawbacks Of Not Having A Credit Card

Personally - 5 Tips to Check How Healthy Is Your Credit


There’s only one way to discover the “health” of your credit.  You need to examine your credit report.  Your credit report is your “consumer identity” that potential lenders will use to judge your credit worthiness.

Use these tips to give your credit profile the “tune-up” it needs: 

Tip #1- Check for Errors

Your credit report or profile is more than just a collection of who your creditors are and how much you owe them or have paid them.  

The first thing you need to do is carefully check that your credit report is accurate.  Nearly 70% of credit reports contain errors.

These errors may be as simple as an incorrect middle initial or address.  Or it could be as serious as a creditor reporting that you were late with a payment when in fact you were not late at all.  

This error might not seem like a big deal to you.  However,to a future lender like a mortgage company it makes a big difference !

Carefully examine your credit report and if you find an error contact your creditor and the credit bureaus.  Catchand correct these errors now before it hurts your chances of securing credit in the future.


Tip #2 - Correcting Errors

The two most common errors contained in credit reports are: 

1) wrong account information 

2) incorrect recording of late payments.


If you find an account reported that does not belong you, you need to contact the credit grantor or issuer immediately.  Remember, finding accounts that you have not personally opened is a sign of possible identity theft.

Hopefully you’ll discover that this error is nothing more than an oversight and not an identity theft problem.  Most often this occurs when they report an account belonging to a family member or someone with a similar name on your credit report.  

If your problem is an error in reporting a late payment you will need proof to back up your case before this error can be corrected or removed.  The most common error occurs when a payment is reported as “late” when it was actually a current or “on time” payment.

In either case, the problem can and should be corrected.  You will need to correct the error in writing.  Keep a journal or log of all calls and correspondence.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires the credit bureaus and the agency reporting the information to the credit bureau to correct inaccurate information in your credit report.  Therefore, it is important that you contact both the credit bureau and the creditor whose information is in dispute.

A sample letter is included here to help you in correcting your credit profile.  Make sure that you clearly identify the information that you dispute, include copies of receipts or documents that support your position.  Then request that the information be corrected or deleted from your file.

Send your letter by certified mail and request a return receipt from the recipient.  Keep all correspondence that you mail out.  Give the agencies involved 30 days to begin their investigation.  You can call them but be aware that phoning them does not protect your consumer rights!  You must notify them in writing to protect your rights.

They must notify you of the results of their investigation.  Although the process will take time, it’s important to do it.  This is your credit profile, your “consumer identity” that is at stake.  Don’t expect an error to correct itself.

At your request, the credit bureaus must send notices of corrections to your credit profile to anyone who has requested your report in the last six months.  If you applied for a job and were turned down because of inaccurate information in your credit report, you can have the corrected report mailed to anyone who received a copy in the past two years.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sample Dispute Letter

Date


Your Name

Your Address

Your City, State, Zip Code


Complaint Department

Name of Credit Reporting Agency

Address

City, State, Zip Code


Dear Sir or Madam:


I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute are also encircled on the attached copy of the report I received. (Identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.)


This item is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information.


Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please reinvestigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.


Sincerely,

Your name


Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)


Originally Posted at http://www.ftc.gov/


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Tip #3 - Budget Planning

You can also use your credit report to help you plan and implement a personal budget.  Your credit report will show you where you are spending your hard earned dollars.  While the credit card balances may not be completely current, you’ll still see which of your cards has the highest balance outstanding.

If you have more than one major credit card you should compare the annual percentage rate (APR) you are paying on each account.  If you are working on a budget to “pay 

down” your credit cards, start by paying down the one with the highest APR or interest.

Once that credit account is paid off, move toward paying off the account with the second highest APR.  Using this method you will be able to concentrate your efforts toward paying down your outstanding credit obligations.  

You should also check with your credit card company to see what’s the best annual percentage rate (APR) they can offer you.  If you are a good customer, you can often qualify for a lower rate than what you are currently being offered.

Caution:  Ask if the new rate you are getting is a “promotional” rate or a “contract” rate.   A promotional rate will expire at the end of the promotional term, for example 6 months.  A contract rate does not have an “expiration” as long as you continue to meet the terms outlined by your creditor for that rate.


Tip #4 - Making a major purchase

If you are considering a major purchase such as a car or a home, checking your credit report gives you the chance to see what a potential lender sees and uses to judge your credit worthiness.  

You want to make sure that your credit report is accurate before you apply for that sports car or new home.   Errors or problems can be corrected before your lender can use 

those against you and deny your credit request.  You’ll also have a better idea of what type or rate of credit you should expect from a potential lender.


Tip #5 - Check your credit report regularly

Check your credit report regularly.  Guard your “consumer identity” as you would anything else you treasure.  Use your credit wisely, along with these tips, and you will enjoy the benefits that your good credit and your good name deserve now - and for years to come.


If you're curious about the latest Tech & SaaS Solution, please kindly visit https://www.techvarieties.com to get the latest  news about software and technology. 

equifax credit score experian credit check transunion credit score my credit check get credit score apple card credit score check your credit score check my credit score for free credit bureau report my free credit report credit history my fico score soft credit check discover credit scorecard creditchecktotal credit boost credit score check free online business credit score get my credit score credit karma credit report experian credit boost free credit score report my credit score free free fico credit score credit score report my annual credit report boost credit score best way to check credit score improve credit score ways to build credit experian business credit report credit check companies fico score 9 credit score for apple card best free credit score vantagescore 3.0 experian free credit score fastest way to build credit increase credit score experian business credit soft pull credit cards build credit fast check your credit score free business credit report my fico score free equifax credit bureau credit score needed for apple card chase credit score credit card score apple credit card credit score credit cards to help build credit get credit report find my credit score equifax credit free equifax credit score equifax score get free credit report check fico score credit karma loans free credit report credit karma fix my credit score boost credit score fast fico score 2 get my credit report loans for fair credit ways to build credit fast credit score for american express check my credit report fix credit score dun and bradstreet credit report request credit report credit cards for 600 credit score nerdwallet credit score most accurate credit score hard credit check raise credit score score credit free credit check report build credit score equifax business credit check my fico score transunion free credit score consumer credit report experian credit score check best credit report service fix your credit credit inquiry best free credit report best personal loans for fair credit tenant screening report starting credit score myfreeannualcreditreport fast credit repair annual credit tri merge credit report credit cards for 650 credit score get free credit score lexisnexis credit report build my credit free business credit report

5 Tips to Check How Healthy Is Your Credit

Personally - 2 Proven Techniques to Increase your Credit Score


Most consumers are aware that negative items on their credit report can be disputed with the three major credit reporting bureaus. Often, this process can lead to a significant improvement in credit score through deletion of the damaging items that were lowering the score.


However, to achieve excellent credit, it's not enough to just remove negative entries. Why? Because a lack of positive payment history is also an obstacle to having good credit. You need to demonstrate a record of on-time payments in order to raise your credit score.


In this article I will describe two simple techniques for rapidly ADDING good credit entries to your file.


THE CO-SIGNER TECHNIQUE

All that is necessary to add years of excellent credit history is the love and trust of a friend or family member who has good credit.

Credit card companies are always willing to have their best customers add extra cards for family members. By adding your name to one or more of their accounts, they will actually cause a new credit card to be issued in your name. The "catch" is that they will be the co-signer on the account, meaning that they are responsible if you miss payments.

Of course, you never want to risk the credit rating of a friend or family member, so simply have them use their own address on the application for the extra card. That way, the card will be mailed to them, and even though it has your name on it, the card will remain in their possession. They can even cut it up if they want to.

The simple beauty of this approach is that the new card will show up on your credit report, and normally it will show the opening date of the original card (not just the application date for the extra card), as well as the entire credit history of that card! It's like getting years of good credit added to your file with the stroke of a pen.


THE PASSBOOK SAVINGS LOAN TECHNIQUE

The "Passbook Savings Loan Technique" is a great way to add positive payment history to your credit file. It will also give you an excellent credit reference to use for most types of financial applications. This technique does require some cash – at least $500 to $1,000. However, this amount will be held in a savings account as loan collateral, and the total out-of-pocket cost to complete this technique should be well under $50.

Here is the Passbook Savings Loan Technique in detail, so you can see exactly how everything works.


STEP 1 – Locate a Small Bank that Meets Your Requirements

I recommend that you work with smaller community banks and not the major chains. The smaller banks are more likely to have the exact type of account that you will need to open, and they are more likely to work with you and be flexible. Savings & Loan institutions and Credit Unions can also be used, provided they meet the requirements. The product you want is called the "Passbook Savings Account," which is basically just a simple savings account. And the type of loan you will take out is a "Passbook Savings Loan." This is the easiest type of loan to get because it is totally secured with your own cash. Most banks are only willing to loan you 85% of the amount you have on deposit, so there is always some reserve money in the account.

Your target bank will be suitable for this method if it meets the following three requirements:


  • The bank must have a Passbook Savings Account product with NO MONTHLY FEE on balances of $500 to $1,000.


  • You must be able to borrow up to 85% of your balance on a 12-month loan schedule. This is typically called a Passbook Savings Loan.


  • CRITICAL: The bank MUST report activity on this account to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax).


If the bank product does not meet these requirements, then do NOT use that bank. There are thousands of small banking institutions throughout the country, so it should be fairly easy for you to find an appropriate one in your local area.


STEP 2 – Open a Passbook Savings Account

Go to the bank you've chosen and open a Passbook Savings Account for $1,000 or less---depending on what you have to work with. Take your Passbook home and wait a week or so, because you don't want it to look like you opened the account only for the purpose of taking the loan.


STEP 3 – Obtain a Passbook Savings Loan

Return to the bank and ask to see a loan officer. Look your best, be courteous, and explain that you wish to take out a Passbook Savings Loan for $850 (or 85% of whatever amount you actually deposited).

When you take out your loan, your savings account is frozen. However, every time you make a payment you unfreeze an amount equal to your payment, less a few dollars for interest. Be sure to ask that the loan term be for at least one year, with minimum monthly payments. Do not get a simple one-year loan with no payments. This will not benefit you at all, because you are trying to establish a history of payments.

You will not be turned down for this type of loan no matter what your previous credit history and in most cases it will not even be checked. If you have bad credit, make sure you tell your loan officer before he or she pulls your credit history. Tell the bank representative you are trying to re-establish your credit and that a good credit rating is very important to you now.


STEP 4 – Make Your Payments

Assuming an interest rate cost of 6%, your monthly payments on the $850 loan will be $73.16. (Remember, this is a secured loan, so the interest rate should be fairly low.) Since you have "borrowed" $850 in cash, you will use that money to keep the payments going on the loan. Be sure to make your payments well before the due dates. Always pay EARLY in order to be on the safe side in establishing good payment history.


STEP 5 – Pay Off the Loan Early

After six months, pay off the loan early. At this point, you will have approximately $980 remaining from your original $1,000 deposit, part of it as cash on-hand, and some remaining in the savings account. You will have paid a whopping $20.31 in interest (assuming the rate was 6% for the secured loan). I'm sure you will agree that $20 is a small price to pay for adding six months' worth of good payment history to your credit report!


STEP 6 – Make Sure the Loan Shows on Your Credit Report

After you have paid off the loan, obtain fresh copies of your credit reports to verify that the loan payment history is showing correctly. Since you selected a bank that reports regularly to the big three credit bureaus, everything should show up correctly. But mistakes do happen. If the loan is not reported correctly, ask the bank directly to fix the omission or ask the credit bureaus in writing to add the credit reference to your report.


In Conclusion

The Passbook Savings Loan Technique is a simplified version of the more complicated "Three Bank Technique." Basically, the concept is to use the secured loan proceeds from one bank to open up another account at a second bank, and then to repeat the process for a third bank. The math is a lot more complicated, but the principle is the same, with the added benefit of having three simultaneous loans adding positive payment history to your credit report. This approach costs a little more in interest expenses, and involves a lot more work, but can really turbo-charge your positive credit history.


If you're curious about the latest Tech & SaaS Solution, please kindly visit https://www.techvarieties.com to get the latest  news about software and technology.

credit score discover credit scorecard my credit file credit score needed for apple card credit score for american express credit score to buy a house 2021 nerdwallet credit score hard credit check experian boost reddit credit inquiry annual credit home loan with bad credit perfect credit 662 credit score equifax consumer passbook account factual data on credit report 654 credit score no credit score 757 credit score 742 credit score 747 credit score 758 credit score 732 credit score lowest possible credit score chase freedom credit score 731 credit score credit score needed for discover card 753 credit score 761 credit score personal loan for fair credit score apple card minimum credit score 706 credit score chase credit card credit score discover credit score card credit karma accuracy experian 800 number hard pull credit 778 credit score 772 credit score checking a credit report is a good way to coaf credit inquiry discover credit report samsung financing credit score experian 1800 number 587 credit score card score government credit report chase credit card score needed equifax 800 number 798 credit score rocket credit scores legit credit report gov thin credit file inquiries on credit report tri merge discover it credit score credit score without credit card credit karma not updating klarna affect credit score credit score after bankruptcy bad credit house loans subprime credit score 0 credit score credit score required for apple card bureau score 840 credit score fix bad credit credit score for amex 809 credit score ultra fico discover credit card credit score credit rating report paying off collections credit score proper credit monitoring 813 credit score credit karma not accurate zero credit score trw credit report cic credit report discover it credit card credit score free credit report commercial calculate my credit score clark howard free credit report bankruptcy on credit report transunion dispute status student loans affect credit score credit score reddit credit cards to improve credit score equifax credit rating transunion business hours equifax near me sagestream credit report bank of america credit report fnb omaha on credit report gofreecredit which banks use transunion wells fargo credit report experian report access experian dispute status experian denied credit discover credit monitoring experian tenant check residential mortgage credit report cic credit inquiry discover card free credit score a credit report is credit report repair credit removal equifax online credit report charter communications on credit report credit score information credco credit pull free credit score gov credco credit check find my credit rating mid america bank and trust on my credit report joint credit report annual credit report reddit capital one credit bureau

2 Proven Techniques to Increase your Credit Score

Personally - 29 Tips on Creating Surplus Cash For Savings and Investments


You know you need to be saving money but you never seem to have enough at the end of the month or worse, you are further in debt.

Living below your means is more a matter of self-discipline. A few adjustments here and there could be all it takes to have the necessary funds available for saving and investing.

Some mutual funds can be opened up for as little as $200 with minimum contributions around $50.


Here’s 29 Tips to Save Money by Spending Less.

Open up bank accounts that have little or no service fees. Keep a cushion to avoid accidental bounced checks. These can eat you alive. Be sure to maintain your minimum balance to avoid service charges.

1.     Try to avoid banks that charge you a transaction fee for using their debit cards. If you have no choice, plan how much money you will need in a given period and then withdraw it all at once to avoid too many transaction fees.

 

2.     Compare credit cards. Look for the ones that have little or no annual fees. It’s not too hard to find those with no annual fee.

 

3.     Avoid specialty store charge cards as they often have interest rates six or seven points higher than major credit cards.

 

4.     Never choose a card based solely on incentives or reward programs. These include auto reward points and air travel miles. These cards may lead you to spend more money over time than you can afford.

 

5.     Most importantly, avoid unnecessary interest charges by paying off the complete monthly balance. You can avoid hundreds of dollars in interest expenses on an annual basis.

 

6.     When you buy a car, consider buying one that is one to three years old. A one-year old car will be about 20% to 30% less than a new car. A three-year old car is a good buy because it could be around half the price of a new car. A car depreciates the most in its first three years. After that the depreciation levels off and it will lose less of its value. 

 

7.     Another good saving when buying a used car is you will pay less for the insurance.

 

8.     When going on vacation, consider staying in your home state instead of long distance trips or even international travel. It's often cheaper to travel within your own borders, that way, you avoid visa and passport costs, border hassles, currency exchanges, tropical shots, medication, and additional health insurance. Frequently, people travel thousands of miles to see sights not nearly as spectacular as what's next door.

 

9.     You should consider off-season vacations. Travel at a time when everyone else is at work or school, and the staff will actually be glad to see you. You may also save 50% or more on the usual travel expenses.

 

10.  Avoid large cities and tourist traps; you'll save a ton by avoiding these places, where you pay more to eat, drink, sleep, and travel. If you do decide to visit a big city, consider accommodations in a smaller town close by.

 

11.  If you have a lot of credit card debt at high rates, look into consolidating your debt at a lower rate.

 

12.  Refrain from making impulse purchases. Exercise self-discipline. 

 

13.  Refinance your mortgage or debt at a lower rate.

 

14.  Refinance your car loan at a lower rate.

 

15.  Shop around for cheaper car insurance rates. There can be a big difference.

 

16.  Lower your phone bill by using self-control on long distance calling.

 

17.  Use a phone card for long distance or international calls.

 

18.  Use coupons when you shop.

 

19.  Don't buy things just because they are on sale.

 

20.  Wait for things to go on sale before buying them. Keep a record of when things go on sale. Some items will seasonally go on sale. Ask stores when certain things will go on sale.

 

21.  Buy generic, or non-name brand merchandise. Most times the quality is just as good.

 

22.  Stop smoking. This habit is extremely expensive.

 

23.  Contribute the maximum each year to your 401K or to an IRA.

 

24.  Remember, paying down debt is also a way to save money. If you can make extra payments on your mortgage or go for a 15 year mortgage instead of a 30 year mortgage. The savings are enormous.

 

25.  Reduce the number of times you eat out. Oftentimes eating out at a restaurant involves paying a lot of money for over-priced and over-sized meals.  For healthy meals and to save money, eat at home.

 

26.  Watch videos or DVDs at home instead of going to the movies. Pop your own popcorn instead of paying a lot for theater popcorn.

 

27.  Evaluate your entertainment and recreational activities. Many are very expensive to participate in. There are many others that are just as fun and entertaining that are at the fraction of the cost.

 

28.  Don't try to compete with your friends and neighbors. Sometimes, an apparent prosperous lifestyle can be an illusion. Those illusions come with a lot of debt. It’s much better to have peace of mind.

 

29.  Be alert. There are always ways to save money. Soon you will yourself with money you never knew you had. The key is to put that money to work for you instead of spending it.

If you're curious about the latest Tech & SaaS Solution, please kindly visit https://www.techvarieties.com to get the latest  news about software and technology.

personal finance money manager personal finance management personal finance club moneyspire simplifi by quicken simplifi quicken financial plans quicken simplifi personal finance websites cnbc personal finance see finance reddit financial advice personal finance management app personal finance advice home finances personal cash flow robo financial advisors reddit financial planning online personal budget personal capital budgeting personal financial specialist forbes personal finance finance experts finance manager app personal finance investing certified financial advisor near me zeta money manager individual financial planning online money management personal finance sites personal budget management personal expense manager personal financial planning app manage your finances app best way to manage personal finances best app for personal expenses budget spending tracker free money management simple money manager a plan for spending and saving money the mint financial nerdwallet best budgeting apps best money management websites free personal expense tracker best personal finance budget app online budget manager personal capital budgeting app personal finance apps for couples personal spending plan best personal finance manager free personal budget planner personal spending app moneydance budget personal budget management app best online budget tracker free online money management personal accounts app best money management sites buddi personal finance personal capital for budgeting build a personal finance app dave ramsey budget website mint personal budget online personal finance app personal finance and budgeting apps personal finance forecasting app personal capital expense tracking help manage my money

 

29 Tips on Creating Surplus Cash For Savings and Investments

Personally - Term Life Insurance - Save Money the Smart Way

What is Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is the easiest type of life insurance to understand. To put it simply, the insured person pays a minimal premium per thousand dollars of coverage on an annual, semi annual, quarterly or monthly basis. If he or she dies within the term of the policy, the life insurance company will pay the beneficiary the face value of the policy.
To put it simply, the insured person pays a minimal premium per thousand dollars of coverage on an annual, semi annual, quarterly or monthly basis.

Distinctive Features of Term Life Insurance

To better understand some of the distinctive features of term life insurance consider the following points:

1. Term life insurance is "pure insurance" because when you purchase a term insurance policy you are only buying a "death benefit". Unlike with other types of  "permanent  insurance" such as whole life, universal life, and variable universal life, there is no additional cash value built up with this kind of policy. Term insurance only gives you a specific death benefit.


2. The coverage is for a defined period of time (the "term") such as 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, and so on. Once the policy is in force, it only remains in force until the end of the term -- assuming you pay the premiums, of course.


3. Most term insurance policies are renewable at the end of the term. With what is known as "Level Term Life Insurance", the death benefit remains the same throughout the term of the policy, but since the insured person is getting older, the premium will gradually increase. As time goes by the cost of a level term insurance policy may become greater than you are willing to pay for a simple death benefit. An alternative is the "Decreasing Term Life Insurance" policy in which the premium remains the same, but the death benefit goes down as time goes by.

4. Most term policies can be converted to permanent policies within a specific number of years. If you decide it is important to retain the insurance coverage, converting may be something you should plan for. You can anticipate the accelerating cost of term insurance premiums and convert your policy before the premiums become prohibitively high. It is true that in the short term the premium will usually be higher than if you stayed with the term policy. But over the long term this difference will decrease because of the rapid acceleration of the term insurance premium as you get older. A permanent policy also accumulates cash value which increases the total death benefit paid to your beneficiary.

Popular Uses of Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is most appropriate whenever you want to protect your beneficiaries from a sudden financial burden as the result of your death. Here are some of the most common uses of term life insurance.

  • Personal Costs Due to Death - When a spouse or family member dies there will be immediate costs. Many people purchase a relatively small term life insurance policy to cover these costs.
  • Mortgage Insurance - Banks and financial institutions often insist that mortgage holders retain a term life insurance policy sufficient to pay out their mortgage. Such policies make the bank the beneficiary of the policy. If the mortgage holder should happen to die before the mortgage is paid off, the insurance policy will pay it out. This is also a great benefit to a spouse whose earning power will likely be decreased due to the death of his or her partner.
  • Business Partner Insurance - Term insurance is also used by business people to cover outstanding loans with their bank, or to purchase a deceased partner's shares on death, if they had an agreement to do so. Most partnerships have an agreement of this sort, and the policy premiums are paid by the business. 
  • Key Person Insurance - When a company loses key individuals due to death, this can often result in hardship to the company. Key person insurance is purchased by the company for any individual it deems to be "key". The company itself is made the beneficiary of the policy. So when a "key" person dies, the company receives a cash injection to handle the problems associated with replacing that person.

Things to Look for When Getting a Quote for Term Life Insurance

1. The cheapest rate today will not be the cheapest rate tomorrow. For instance, the cheapest premium today will likely be for a Yearly Renewable Term policy. This policy is renewed every year at which time your premium is also adjusted upwards. This is fine if you intend to convert to a longer term solution (permanent insurance) in a year or two, or if you have a very short term requirement for insurance. But if you think you will need this insurance for a longer period, you would be better to commit to something like a Ten Year Term Policy. This locks your premium and death benefit in for ten years. Your rates will not increase until you renew.

2. Compare coverage and premium projections for different policies. Think about the long term and get the coverage that saves you money in the long run.

3. Make sure you completely understand the conversion options built into the different policies you are considering. Most policies will let you convert part or all of your term insurance into permanent insurance within a specific period of time, and without the need of a medical examination.

4. For some situations you should consider options such as Decreasing Term Life Insurance in which the death benefit decreases as time goes by. This makes sense if the policy is being used to cover a mortgage or business loan.

Term life insurance is not the answer to all life insurance requirements, but it should be part of a sound plan for every person's financial future.

If you're curious about the latest Tech & SaaS Solution, please kindly visit https://www.techvarieties.com to get the latest  news about software and technology.

decreasing term life insurance term life insurance no medical term insurance policy term insurance with return of premium online term plan buy term insurance decreasing life insurance extended term insurance level term insurance premium term life insurance term life insurance policy quotes renewable term life insurance term life rates term insurance for senior citizens term insurance premium online term insurance annually renewable term insurance level premium term life insurance policies instant life insurance quotes premium life group term insurance cheap life insurance quotes term life insurance quotes online long term disability insurance quotes buy term life insurance online level term family term insurance term policy premium level term policy term insurance coverage 20 year term life insurance policy term life insurance coverage 15 year term life insurance life insurance for over 70s increasing term life insurance top term insurance renewable term insurance term life insurance premiums family term life insurance long term disability insurance companies group term life insurance policy best whole life insurance companies 2020 term insurance and life insurance mortgage life insurance quote best term variable term life insurance 25 year term life insurance 30 year level term life insurance term life insurance prices term insurance riders long term disability insurance rates term policy with return of premium life insurance term insurance cheap term life insurance quotes instant term life insurance term to 100 insurance top term insurance companies yearly renewable term insurance extended term life insurance short term life insurance policy term life cover level premium life insurance annual renewable term life insurance instant term life insurance quote 20 year term life insurance rates level term life insurance rates affordable life insurance for smokers discount term life insurance no exam life insurance for smokers good term insurance plan term quotes instant issue life insurance term life insurance quotes without personal information international term life insurance no exam life insurance rates long term insurance products 10 year term insurance permanent life insurance rates cheap life insurance online whole life insurance quotes for seniors level term life supplemental life coverage term life insurance for smokers life insurance rate quote no medical term affordable life insurance quotes whole life insurance quotes online instant life insurance coverage term term 10 life insurance level term life insurance policy cheapest life insurance rates get whole life insurance quote online whole life insurance quotes online no medical exam instant whole life insurance quotes term insurance monthly premium best insurance for life insurance term insurance price affordable term life insurance no medical exam group term life insurance plan reducing term life insurance affordable term life insurance quote mortgage decreasing term insurance top 10 term life insurance companies free term life insurance quotes good term insurance credit term life insurance simplified term life insurance decreasing life insurance policy term for life best term life insurance for diabetics level term life insurance quotes top rated term life insurance best life insurance for seniors over 50 guaranteed renewable term life insurance life insurance without medical exam for seniors 10 year term life insurance policy low price life insurance the cheapest life insurance option is cheap term life insurance no medical exam cheapest term life insurance rates cheapest life cheap term life insurance policies affordable whole life insurance for smokers affordable term life insurance rate term life insurance lowest rates cheap term life insurance no exam

Term Life Insurance - Save Money the Smart Way

Personally - Retiring or leaving the company and How to Properly do an IRA Rollover?

Choose Your Retirement Plan

Whether you are retiring or changing jobs, you need to know what to do with your employer sponsored retirement plan before your leave. Once you leave a job for whatever reason, you can choose to: 
  • Rollover the money into an IRA (ira rollover)
  • Take the lump sum and pay the income tax and potential penalties
  • Leave the money at the company if the company offers that as an option
  • Rollover the money into your new employer's plan, if that plan accepts rollovers

Realize that the above are options offered by IRS. However, your employer's rules may be more restrictive and if so, there's nothing you can do. For example, if you have a pension plan that offers payout options over your lifetime or jointly over the lifetime's of you and your spouse, but there is no option to rollover a lump sum to an IRA (ira rollover), than the rollover option isn't available to you. In other words, the "summary plan document" rules. You may want to get a copy of that now and have your financial advisor review it so that you know what options you have.

So the starting point is to get the information from your employer plan as to the options available to you.

What is an IRA Rollover?

IRA rollover means to move money from a retirement plan such as a 401(k), 403b (tax sheltered annuity) or 457 (municipal deferred compensation) into an IRA or other plan. If you receive a payout from your employer-sponsored retirement plan, a rollover IRA could be to your advantage. You will continue to receive the tax-deferred status of your retirement savings and will avoid penalties and taxes. 

There are two reasons that rollovers are favored over other options:

  • You have virtually unlimited investment selections. Unlike your employer's plan which may have six investment options or even 50 investment options, in a self-directed IRA, you can choose any stock, any mutual fund and a host of other options listed later.
  • Company plans often can restrict choices for non-spouse beneficiaries. Specifically, they may not be able to stretch IRA distributions over their lifetime. The benefit of this "stretch" is it defers taxes and allows the funds to potentially grow longer and larger in a tax-deferred environment.

The reason to leave your retirement plan with your company (if they permit this) is because your company plan is covered by ERISA and is protected from creditors. However, under the new Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, the creditor protection will follow the money if it is rolled into an IRA and not commingled with other IRA money (from annual contributions).

Combining with Other Retirement Accounts

The rollover IRA is usually funded by the eligible distributions from a company sponsored retirement plan. These distributions can be combined with your existing IRA(s) or placed into a separate IRA, but see the new creditor protection rule mentioned above. In fact, the IRS permits these funds to be combined with other types of retirement accounts. For example, say you have been self- employed and you have a one-person profit sharing plan (often referred to as Keogh plans), you could rollover the employer-plan assets into your profit sharing plan. Or, if you have a second job and that employer has a 403(b) plan and also accepts IRA rollover contributions, you could rollover your 401(k) balance into that 403(b) plan.

Completing your IRA Rollover

When it's time to retire, you have a few options on moving the money from your employer's plan. 

  • Direct IRA Rollover: Your employer can directly rollover your retirement plan payout into a Rollover IRA and you will avoid the 20% IRS withholding tax. This is exactly what you should do by providing your employer the name, address and account number for your new Rollover IRA custodian. For example, you give your employer instructions to send your retirement account to ABC securities, account #8889999. Funds are sent directly to the IRA account and you never touch them. This is the preferred method of moving retirement funds.

  • Payout by Check: If your employer hands you a check for your retirement funds, the employer must withhold 20% for potential taxes. You can avoid the 20% IRS withholding tax on a payout by check from your employer if you deposit the check plus 20% into a rollover IRA within 60 days. In order to complete the tax free rollover, you now have 80% of your IRA rollover in your hand and you must take the other 20% out of your pocket so that you have a completely tax free rollover (you will get the 20% income tax withheld as a refund after you file your tax return). Don't allow your employer to give you a check, as this requires you to take money out of your pocket to complete your rollover.

  • Taking a lump sum distribution: This is typically not a wise option because you will pay income tax on the distribution and a 10% penalty if under age 59 ½. However, there may be reasons to take a taxable distribution. If you are set on buying a $300,000 boat and spending the rest of your life floating about the globe, then you may need to take your retirement funds now and pay tax. However, if you can avoid using these funds currently, you'll hopefully have a nest egg when you're old.

If you're curious about the latest Tech & SaaS Solution, please kindly visit https://www.techvarieties.com to get the latest  news about software and technology.

retirement planning near me charles schwab roth ira charles schwab ira schwab roth ira merrill lynch retirement mydcplan betterment roth ira jp morgan retirement link fidelity solo 401k fidelity 401k rollover roth ira reddit vanguard rollover jh401kadvisor adp totalsource voya best roth ira reddit vanguard ira rollover backdoor roth ira fidelity employer sponsored retirement plan retirement planning advice fidelity inherited ira td ameritrade solo 401k fidelity roth 401k 401k fidelity netbenefits fidelity custodial roth ira insperity retirement services american funds roth ira schwab rollover ira reddit roth ira andersen401k fidelity go roth ira fidelity roth conversion charles schwab rollover ira fidelity self employed 401k vanguard individual 401k multiple employer plan individual retirement arrangements intuit 401k transfer roth ira to fidelity 2021 roth ira principal roth ira retirement plan advisors tpa 401k fidelity convert traditional ira to roth personal retirement plan transfer ira to fidelity 401k specialist coinbase 401k trinet 401k schwab 401k rollover fidelity investments netbenefits charles schwab solo 401k charles schwab 401k rollover roth 401 k plans bloomberg401k john hancock 401k advisor fidelity recordkeeping fee 401k plan sponsor best fidelity 401k funds transfer roth ira to vanguard retirementlink jpmorgan intuit401k fidelity self directed 401k fidelity 401k brokeragelink fidelity individual 401k schwab individual 401k etrade roth conversion wood401k guideline401k 401k custodian tsp rollover to vanguard 401k target date funds fidelity 401k rollover to ira transfer ira to schwab transfer roth ira to td ameritrade rollover from vanguard to fidelity fidelity transfer ira vanguard roth ira rollover betterment rollover moving roth ira to another broker transfer ira to td ameritrade fidelity roth ira rollover fidelity direct rollover fidelity in plan roth conversion transfer roth ira to schwab td ameritrade rollover fidelity ira to roth conversion irs rollover fidelity transfer roth ira rollover into tsp rollover to fidelity rollover roth 401k to roth ira fidelity rollover ira to roth ira fidelity fidelity ira conversion move roth ira to fidelity merrill lynch rollover fidelity ira transfer fee fidelity in service rollover fidelity rollover ira to roth transfer tsp to fidelity rollover simple ira to traditional ira 1099r rollover convert traditional ira to roth ira fidelity transfer simple ira to traditional ira fidelity go rollover ira rollover ira reddit etrade ira conversion transfer roth ira to etrade etrade ira to roth conversion ally rollover ira rollover roth ira to fidelity roll over account roll over roth ira to another roth ira rollover from fidelity to vanguard fidelity roth rollover move ira to fidelity fidelity rollover traditional ira to roth ira empower retirement rollover to fidelity best gold ira rollover convert sep ira to traditional ira fidelity convert rollover ira to roth fidelity 60 day rollover convert roth ira to traditional ira fidelity rollover tiaa to fidelity fidelity transfer 401k to ira transfer sep ira to traditional ira transfer traditional ira to 401k fidelity ira rollover to another company tsp direct rollover fidelity traditional to roth conversion self directed ira rollover sep ira rollover to traditional ira fidelity transfer traditional ira to roth transfer roth ira to 401k rollover fidelity 401k to fidelity ira fidelity rollover ira to roth ira rollover sep ira to traditional ira rollover ira to tsp backdoor roth conversion fidelity td ameritrade roth ira rollover transfer ira out of fidelity roll ira into tsp empower retirement rollover to ira vanguard rollover to fidelity td ameritrade 60 day rollover transfer roth ira to charles schwab merrill rollover ira roll after tax 401k into roth ira fidelity rollover ira reddit schwab rollover roth ira fidelity convert traditional ira to roth ira tiaa rollover 403b to ira transfer tsp to fidelity ira rollover out of fidelity rollover tsp to vanguard etrade roth ira rollover schwab ira to roth conversion simple ira to rollover ira acorns rollover ira transfer roth to fidelity roll ira into 401k fidelity merrill edge convert ira to roth roll over 401k to ira td ameritrade transfer simple ira 401k rollover to ira fidelity convert traditional ira to 401k simple ira rollover to ira transfer 401k to vanguard ira charles schwab roth ira rollover fidelity ira roth conversion direct transfer rollover fidelity open rollover ira rollover 401k to ira after leaving company fidelity transfer to roth ira adp 401k rollover to ira rollover 401k to roth ira reddit rollover fidelity 401k to schwab ira roll simple ira into roth ira transfer 401k to ira while still employed fidelity direct rollover fidelity fidelity convert ira to roth ira fidelity rollover to ira fidelity indirect rollover 401a rollover to roth ira fidelity fidelity roll ira into 401k 401a rollover to roth ira schwab transfer roth ira transfer simple ira to 401k roth ira rollover fidelity fidelity 401k in plan roth conversion open rollover ira fidelity fidelity rollover roth 401k to roth ira ira rollover time transfer ira to merrill edge transfer roth ira to merrill edge merrill ira rollover fidelity retirement rollover roll fidelity 401k to ira td ameritrade rollover roth ira vanguard traditional ira rollover roll 401a into ira td ameritrade direct rollover rollover to schwab fidelity rollover 403b to ira rollover ira to self directed ira rollover ira and traditional ira fidelity rollover fee transfer traditional ira to fidelity rollover traditional ira to roth fidelity empower retirement rollover ira rollover to charles schwab sep rollover to traditional ira transfer to fidelity ira rollover into fidelity ira vanguard to fidelity rollover charles schwab rollover 401k to roth ira

Retiring or leaving the company and How to Properly do an IRA Rollover?

Personally - 5 Things you Need to Know About Your Credit Score

What is Credit Score

As recent as a few years back, the term "Credit Score" was not very commonly used in our society. While there were who understood the term and its purpose, the mass majority, although realizing that there was a system out there that their credit, they did not have a term to stick to it.

Today, however, due to a number of factors such as increase Identity Theft and mass media marketing campaigns there are very few who are not aware of the term Credit Score. The goal of this article is to add understanding on the personal to the recognition of that term.

What Are the Uses of Credit Scores?

A Credit Score is a number between 300 and 850 based on a statistical analysis of an individual's credit activity. It is used to represent the credit worthiness of an individual. How likely that the individual will pay his or her debts. A credit score is based on their credit report information which is typically sourced from credit bureaus and credit reference agencies, typically from the three major credit bureaus.

Lending institutions, such as banks, finance companies, mortgage lenders, and credit card companies, use an individual's Credit Score to evaluate the potential risk posed by lending money to that individual. Lenders use Credit Scores to determine who qualifies for a loan, at what interest rate the loan is issued, and what credit limits are determined.

The use of credit scoring prior to granting credit is a trusted system throughout the industry. Credit scoring is not limited to banks, however. Organizations, such as mobile phone companies and government departments employ the same techniques.

What is the Credit Score System Commonly Used in the United States?

While there are many others, such as NextGen, VantageScore and the CE Score, The most widely known score in the United States is FICO, which is most widely used in the mortgage industry. FICO is an acronym for Fair Isaac Corporation, the company that provides the most well-known and most widely used credit scoring system in the United States.

The FICO score is calculated by applying statistical methods, developed by Fair Isaac, to information in one's credit file and is primarily used in the consumer banking and credit industry. FICO scores show how likely it is that a borrower will default. No public information is available to determine what the scores mean in terms of statistics. A separate score, BNI, is used to indicate likelihood of bankruptcy.

As stated, banks and other lending institutions use Credit Scores as factors in their lending decisions. Whether credit is denied or approved, what interest is charged, what income level and asset verification is required is all based on an individual's credit score.

The FICO score actually uses slightly different scoring methods to rate a consumer's suitability for three different types of credit; mortgages, auto loans, and consumer credit. Each reflecting the different credit risks of these various types of lending. It is not unusual for these scores to differ by as much 50 points or more for the same borrower.

There are three major credit reporting agencies in the United States. Although often times inaccurately referred to as "credit bureaus", these agencies; Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, also calculate their own credit scores. These additional scores differ depending on what they are meant to predict, what statistical methods used to determine a score, and what information is used and how it is weighted.

These additional Credit Scoring Systems are numerous and are agency specific. For example, Beacon, Beacon 5.0, Beacon 96, and Pinnacle scores are available only from Equifax. Empirica, Empirica Auto 95, Precision Score, and Precision 03 are available only from TransUnion. And, Fair Isaac Risk Score at Experian.

These various Credit Scores are developed for the different agencies by Fair Isaac, each differs and are periodically updated to reflect current consumer repayment behavior habits. The NextGen Score is a scoring model designed for consumers.

In an effort to make credit scoring more consistent across the board, in 2006 the big three credit reporting agencies introduced Vantage Score. Vantage Score uses a different number range from the FICO score. It ranges from 501 to 990 and also assigns letter grades from A to F to specific ranges of scores.

A consumer's Vantage Score may differ from agency to agency, but the difference would be entirely due to differences in the information reported to the various agencies, not due to differences in scoring systems. Since FICO is still widely used by lenders, the agencies continue to offer FICO scores (or their closest equivalent) as well.

Most credit scores use a multiple-scorecard design. Each version may use individual scorecards, and an individual potential borrower is typically compared with other previous borrowers. In other words, a borrower with one 30-day late payment will be scored against a population with some similar delinquency. A borrower with two 30-day late payments will be scored against a population with like credit faults. The individual is then graded according to which variables indicate a risk within that group.

Nearly all large banks also build and use their own systems for credit scoring purposes, and are often times in conjunction with outside scoring formulas.

The systems used to generate credit scores are subject to federal regulations. The Federal Reserve Board's Regulation B, which implements the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, expressly prohibits a credit scoring system from considering any "prohibited basis" such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or marital status. It also stipulates that credit scoring systems must be "empirically derived" and "statistically sound".

In addition, if an adverse action, a denial of a credit application, is taken as a result of the credit score then the specific reasons for the denial must be provided to the individual denied. The statement "credit score not high enough" is insufficient. The reasons for denial must be specific; "too many delinquencies 60 days or greater" and such.

What Are the Functions of the Credit Score

Credit scores are designed to measure the risk of default by taking into account various factors in a person's financial history. Although the exact formulas for calculating credit scores are closely guarded secrets, the Fair Isaac Corporation has disclosed the following components and the approximate weighted contribution of each:


  • 35% punctuality of payment in the past (30 Days Past Due)
  • 30% the amount of debt, expressed as the ratio of current revolving debt to total available revolving credit
  • 15% length of credit history
  • 10% types of credit used
  • 10% recent search for credit and/or amount of credit obtained recently


These percentages offer a limited guidance in understanding a credit score. For example, the 10% of the score allocated to "types of credit used" is undefined, leaving consumers unaware what type of credit mix to pursue. "Length of credit history" is also a murky concept; it consists of multiple factors two being the oldest account open and the average length of time an account has been open.

Interestingly, although only 35% is attributed to punctuality, if a consumer is substantially late on numerous accounts, his score will fall far more than 35%. Bankruptcies, foreclosures, and judgments affect scores substantially, but are not included in the very vague pie chart provided by Fair Isaac.

A FICO score generally has a max of 850 and a minimum of 300. It exhibits a left-skewed distribution with a median around 723. The performance of the scores is monitored and the scores are periodically aligned so that a lender normally does not need to be concerned about which score card was employed.

Because the three major credit agencies have their own, independent databases, each of us actually has three credit scores for any given scoring system. As these databases are independent of each other, they may contain entirely different data. Many lenders will check an applicant's score from each bureau and use the median score to determine the applicant's credit worthiness.

As a result of the FACT Act (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act), each legal U.S. resident is entitled to one free copy of his or her credit report from each credit reporting agency once every twelve months. To guard against inaccurate information or fraud more often than yearly, one can request a report from a different credit reporting agencies available on the net. 

This information is available from a number of websites across the net that offer an free credit report and use of their services for 30 days. After which, there is a monthly fee involved. The fee is nominal compared to the necessity of protecting your credit in today's highly technological society where identity theft is becoming more prevalent.

In a time where identity theft and credit fraud in on the rise, the fee these firms charge seems like a small amount to pay to protect your credit and your good name. Having a good Credit Score is becoming more and more prevalent in our society. Here are a few examples of how:

In September 2004, TXU (a Texas utility company) announced it would begin setting individualized electricity prices based on credit score. However, due to negative press and pressure from the Texas Public Utility Commission, the plan was not implemented.

Credit scores are often used in determining prices for auto and homeowner insurance. Recently, some of the agencies that generate credit scores have also been generating more specialized insurance scores, which insurance companies then use to rate the quality of potential customers. These scores are unavailable to consumers.

Conclusion

Many employers reserve the right to do a credit check of job applicants, in the same manner they reserve the right to drug test potential employees. The fact is that your Credit Score is important. Rebuild-Credit.us is a sight committed to providing consumers with quality information concerning credit, how to get it, and how to maintain a quality credit score. It is recommended you take the time to visit them and read through the numerous articles and reports there.

If you're curious about the latest Tech & SaaS Solution, please kindly visit https://www.techvarieties.com to get the latest  news about software and technology.


personal finance credit score money manager experian credit boost my credit file credit file personal finance management credit card score experian report personal finance club moneyspire credit score to buy a house nerdwallet credit score hard credit check starting credit score home loan with bad credit perfect credit 662 credit score lendingtree credit score 654 credit score no credit score 757 credit score soft credit inquiry 742 credit score 747 credit score 758 credit score financial plans 732 credit score lowest possible credit score 731 credit score get a mortgage with bad credit know your credit score 753 credit score 761 credit score personal loan for fair credit score 706 credit score experian credit file credit karma accuracy hard pull credit 778 credit score 772 credit score personal finance websites bank credit score checking a credit report is a good way to experian annual credit report cnbc personal finance 587 credit score card score see finance government credit report 798 credit score rocket credit scores legit thin credit file inquiries on credit report personal credit report tri merge credit score without credit card credit karma not updating personal finance advice turbotax credit score check raise your credit score credit score after bankruptcy bad credit house loans subprime credit score 0 credit score bureau score 840 credit score fix bad credit home finances personal cash flow 809 credit score robo financial advisors credit report monitoring paying off collections credit score proper credit monitoring lending club credit score 813 credit score beacon credit score transunion free account zero credit score credit karma transunion nerdwallet credit report mortgages for poor credit low credit calculate my credit score clark howard free credit report bankruptcy on credit report student loans affect credit score credit cards to improve credit score personal financial specialist forbes personal finance finance experts personal finance investing zeta money manager individual financial planning personal finance sites

5 Things you Need to Know About Your Credit Score