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Credit Scores

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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iStock_000015900242LargeToday’s top story: Critical steps to prepare your finances for divorce. Also in the news: Tips on taking over the family business, getting your credit back on track after moving back to the United States, and how to tell if your 401(k) is helping or hurting your retirement savings.

6 Critical Steps to Prepare Your Finances for Divorce
Protecting your assets during a vulnerable time.

Tips on Taking Over a Family Business
Making a smooth transition.

After Moving Back to U.S. From Overseas, Credit Card Is First Step to Rebuild Credit
Getting your numbers back on track.

Is your 401(k) helping or hurting your retirement savings?
Finding a best-in-class 401(k).

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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business girl with shopping bagsToday’s top story: How to find the best deals for Memorial Day sales. Also in the news: Money mistakes to avoid for new grads, why Americans are pretty clueless about their credit cards and scores, and deciding what to do with an old 401(k).

Memorial Day Sales: How to Snag a Good Deal, Guaranteed
The most bang for your buck.

New Grads: Avoid These 5 Money Mistakes
Don’t start off on the wrong foot.

Survey: Americans are pretty clueless on credit cards and scores
We need to do better.

To Roll Over or Not to Roll Over: What to Do With That Old 401(k)
What works best for you?

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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scamToday’s top story: The red flags of a toxic online loan. Also in the news: What to do when you can’t get enough financial aid, why 43% of Millennials have bad credit, and 10 questions to help start getting your financial life in order.

5 Red Flags of a Toxic Online Loan
Who are you really borrowing from?

Can’t Get Enough Financial Aid? Here’s What to Do
Take a deep breath.

43% of Millennials Have Bad Credit, TransUnion Says
Subprime scores.

Get Your Financial Life In Order By Answering These 10 Questions
Taking the first steps.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Checking your credit doesn’t hurt your scores. Also in the news: Personal finance tips from NerdWallet moms, why you should prepare now for the death of a spouse, and the benefits of easing into a new savings budget.

Checking Your Credit Doesn’t Hurt Your Scores
Not checking your scores could hurt much more.

NerdWallet Moms Share Their Personal Finance Tips
Sharing lessons learned.

Why You Should Prepare Now for the Death of a Spouse
Making things easier down the road.

Boost Your Savings By 1% At a Time to Slowly Adjust to a New Budget
Easing into a new budget spares you from a shock to the system.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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2Today’s top story: How the new advisor rule will effect your retirement investments. Also in the news: Why a better FICO score leads to a better retirement, how to avoid retirement rip-offs, and protecting your tax returns from criminals.

What the New Advisor Rule Means for You, Your Retirement Investments
Introducing the fiduciary rule.

How a Better FICO Score Leads to Better Retirement
What you save in interest could improve your retirement.

5 ways to avoid retirement rip-offs
Choose wisely.

How criminals could steal your tax return
Criminals are going tax phishing.

‘Alternative’ Credit: Your Scores Still Matter

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Startup and traditional lenders alike are looking for the new prize: creditworthy people who don’t have good credit scores.

To find them, companies are experimenting with all kinds of alternative data that’s typically not part of credit reports, such as utility bills, social media posts and how often you change your address.

In addition, some online lenders proclaim they don’t use credit scores in their decisions or don’t have a minimum score requirement.

In my latest for NerdWallet, why thinking credit scores no longer matter could be an expensive mistake.