Beverly is a writer, editor, and paralegal specializing in personal finance and tax law. She covers personal financial and legal topics, as well as tax breaks, tax preparation software, and tax law ...

Perfect credit, or even really good credit, opens doors for American consumers. Better interest rates on loans. Better odds of renting an apartment or landing a job. Lower insurance premiums. But how ...

Three little numbers can drastically alter the course of your financial life. Credit scores are a key tenet of American consumer financing1, used by lenders to judge how well an individual can pay ...

More than a third of all Americans have a credit score below 670, according to Experian. And many don’t realize what’s hurting their credit until they’re denied a loan or hit with higher costs. Your ...

Like any form of debt, student loans have the potential to affect your credit either positively or negatively. Many Americans have had the latter occur in recent months as student loan payments resume ...

Your credit score affects your ability to secure loans, rental housing, and favorable interest rates. Credit scores are determined by payment history, debt levels, credit mix, and length of credit ...

Okay, talk me down. I have 18 credit cards and would like to close five of them — all at once. Actually, I’d like to close more, but I have five targets for now. The cards are paid in full every month ...

Have you ever checked your credit score right after making a payment, only to find it hasn’t changed at all? It can feel confusing or even frustrating, leaving you to wonder: “When do credit scores ...

As you draw closer to retirement, it becomes more important than ever to stay on top of your financial health — which means looking at metrics like your credit score. Depending on how you've dealt ...