Thankfully we don't walk around with our credit scores shown above our heads, but the ability to answer these questions about your credit score is extremely important. Experian recently released their 11th annual State of Credit report, which provides a comprehensive look at consumers' credit performance across America by highlighting credit scores and
Coach: Navigating Debt Collections HOW IT WORKS Being contacted by a debt collector is scary but not an uncommon situation. The good news is that you have options and there are things you can do to improve your situation. This Coach session will walk you through the most important information that you need to know and
Interest plays a role in almost all aspects of personal finance, including savings, investing, credit, and loans. Simply put, interest is the money earned or paid when someone makes or receives a loan. You can be paid interest for keeping money in a bank account, purchasing a bond, or making other investments. You
Whether you find yourself laid off from work, facing a medical emergency, or confronted with a situation that you’re financially unprepared for, it may be tempting to withdraw from retirement savings—but there are penalties and consequences you need to consider before doing so. Early Withdrawal Penalties There are serious consequences to accessing your
If you’ve found yourself unable to make minimum payments, you have options to help improve your situation. It’s scary to find yourself in a situation where you can’t afford your monthly debt payments. Whether that’s due to a sudden life change, like a job loss or illness, or if you’ve simply found yourself
Refinancing can be beneficial if everything lines up in your favor. What can you get out of it? The list is long and exciting for someone stuck with loan payments that they aren’t happy with. Lower Interest Rate One of the most powerful outcomes of refinancing a loan is a lower interest rate.
More than half of all college graduates have used student loans to pay tuition and other costs. So if the lingering bill for your education makes you a little nervous, you may find some comfort in the fact that you're not alone in facing a major debt. If the money you borrowed came
Since monthly payments spread the cost of a mortgage loan over an extended period, it’s easy to forget the total expense. For example, if you borrow $200,000 for 30 years at 6% interest, your total repayment will be around $431,680, more than two times the original loan. What seems like minor differences in the interest rate can add
Not all mortgages are the same, and it's important to understand the benefits and disadvantages of each mortgage type before purchasing a home. This activity will explain each mortgage type individually and provide pros and cons for each one. Use the dropdown arrow to select the mortgage you'd like to learn about. Disclaimer
Even if you're financially responsible, life's unpredictable nature can sometimes catch you off guard, at times making it dangerously easy to fall into debt. Your credit score, also called a FICO score, is an actual number, between 300 and 850. The higher the number, the better: a score of 740 to 799 is
Even if you're financially responsible, life's unpredictable nature can sometimes catch you off guard, at times making it dangerously easy to fall into debt. Dealing with situations beyond your control, such as a serious illness or an unexpected job loss, is difficult for anyone. But it can be especially tough if you're single or have sole responsibility
Coach: Get Out of Debt HOW IT WORKS Managing debt is the best way to find financial freedom. This Coach session will provide useful strategies to manage your personal debt situation and create a plan to payoff your debts using the debt snowball or avalanche methods. To begin the Coach session, select Get Started. Next, follow along,
