Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

refinancingToday’s top story: What you need to know about divorce and credit. Also in the news: Things that surprisingly don’t affect your credit, back-to-school shopping hacks, and what to consider when deciding whether to sell your house or rent.

Help! I’m Getting Divorced. How Do We Split Our Credit?
What you need to know about divorce and credit.

9 Things That Surprisingly Won’t Affect Your Credit
When paying your bills on time doesn’t make a difference.

14 Back-to-School Shopping Hacks
Keeping more money in your wallet.

Should You Sell Your House or Rent It Out? – Things to Consider
The pros and cons of each.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

budgetToday’s top story: The money moves you need to make at the midyear point. Also in the news: Life events that require financial planning, common credit score killers, and why you should always read the fine print when choosing a checking account.

Your Midyear Guide to Managing Your Money
Moves you need to make now.

10 Life Events That Require Financial Planning
Both happy and sad.

5 Common Credit Score Killers
How to avoid them.

Want 1% Interest On Your Checking Account? You Can Get It, But Make Sure To Read The Fine Print
That 1% could end up costing you.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: The benefits to joining a credit union. Also in the news:Image9 When to sign up for a financial advisor, apps that will make next year’s taxes easier, and how to build your credit from the ground up.

6 Perks You Can Get at a Credit Union
Free checking!

When To Sign Up A Financial Advisor
Knowing when it’s time.

10 Apps to Use Now to Make Taxes Easier Next Year
Help is just an app away.

6 Ways to Build Your Credit From the Ground Up
Needing credit to get credit.

6 Ways You’re Cheating on Your Budget
Removing your hand from the cookie jar.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

1403399192000-retire-workToday’s top story: The important ages for retirement planning. Also in the news: How to rebound from a credit setback, signs you might be a victim of identity theft, and what your car rental insurance might not cover.

9 Important Ages for Retirement Planning
Marking the milestones.

8 Ways to Rebound From a Credit Setback
Don’t panic.

10 Signs You Might Be a Victim of Identity Theft
How to catch the problem early.

What Your Credit Card Rental Car Insurance Might Not Cover
Something to keep in mind while traveling this summer.

How to Choose a Life Insurance Company: 5 Questions to Ask
How to be sure you’ve picked the right one.

My FICO score is 846. And 796. And 878. And…

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailOne of the most persistent credit scoring myths is that you have one.

You don’t have one, you have many, and they change all the time.

The dominant model is the FICO, but even that comes in many flavors. You can get a taste for how many at MyFICO.

When I bought my scores there recently, my FICO 8 from Equifax was 846 on the 300-to-850 scale. But my FICO 5, the score Equifax most commonly sells to mortgage lenders, was 797.

There was even wider variation in my auto and credit card scores, are calculated on a 250-to-900 scale. My FICO Auto Score 8 was 867, while my FICO Auto Score 5 was 810. My FICO Bankcard Score 8 was 869 and my FICO Bankcard Score 5 was 797.

My scores from Experian ranged from 796 (FICO Score 3, used by some credit card issuers) to 878 (FICO Auto Score 8). The clutch of numbers from TransUnion ran from 806 (FICO Score 4, used by some mortgage lenders) to 874 (FICO Auto Score 8).

MyFICO used to serve up just one score per bureau. I like this wider view, since it better reflects the fact that lenders use different versions and generations of the formula.

TMI? Maybe. But I’ll take it over the days when credit scores were such a closely-guarded secret that you weren’t even supposed to know they existed.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

homebuyerToday’s top story: How buying a home can give your credit a boost. Also in the news: What really happens when you default on your student loans, why it’s important to protect your digital assets, and what happens to your budget when your parents move in.

How Buying a Home Can Help Your Credit
Your mortgage can give your credit a boost.

What Really Happens When You Default on Your Student Loans
Consider the consequences.

Forgetting Digital Assets Like Facebook Can Create Lawsuits After Your Death
While not tangible, digital assets have value.

The Financial Picture When Your Parents Move In
Your budget is about to change.

What To Do When Debt Collectors Start Calling
Deal with them head on.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: What you need to ask before hiring a financial adviser. Also in the news: How often you should check your credit report, the benefits of tracking all of your expenses, and retirement savings mythbusting.

20 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Financial Adviser
Making sure you hire the right one.

How Often Should I Check My Credit?
Finding the happy medium between ignoring it and obsessing over it.

Do You Track All of Your Expenses?
How tracking all of your expenses could help you stick to a budget.

10 Retirement Savings Myths That Won’t Go Away
Time for some mythbusting!

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: What happens to your credit after you die? Also in the news: Secrets to buying long-term-care insurance, how to calculate your personal savings rate, and five steps to planning a secure retirement.

What Happens to Your Credit When You Die?
Who, if anyone, is responsible for paying it off?

4 Secrets to Buying Long-Term-Care Insurance
How to find the best policy.

Calculate Your Overall Savings Rate to Measure Your Financial Health
Discovering your personal savings rate.

5 steps to planning a secure retirement
What you need to do in order to retire peacefully.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Household-Budget1Today’s top story: How a good budget can help you build credit. Also in the news: Avoiding financial scams, tips on managing your elderly parent’s money, and five money rules for a successful retirement.

How Your Budget Can Help You Build Credit
A good budget can help you build a great credit score.

10 Tips To Avoid Common Financial Scams
Don’t be taken advantage of.

Managing Your Mom or Dad’s Money
Taking over a difficult task.

5 Money Rules For A Successful Retirement
How to make your money last longer.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

bigstock-U-s-Income-Tax-Return-Form-28476797-e1390508229663Today’s top story: How to finish your taxes before the deadline. Also in the news: How to file for a tax extension, when your employer can check your credit, and why you need to pay close attention to your parents’ financial advisors.

The Procrastinator’s Guide to Finishing Your Taxes
The clock is ticking.

How to File for an Extension
Buying some time.

When Can Employers Check Your Credit?
Far less often than you might think.

Hidden Dangers With Aging Parents’ Financial Advisors
Paying close attention is vital.

The Ultimate Tax Day Guide: Post Office Hours, Freebies and Expert Tax Refund Tips
Free shredding!