Financial Fundamentals Blog

Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off. Diploma in hand, you’re ready to tackle the next phrase of your life.

But the joy of graduating from college can quickly fade once graduates begin to grasp their new-found responsibilities, especially when it comes to their financial future. Navigating rent, a car payment, insurance, cable and groceries can be overwhelming. Throw student loan payments and other financial burdens into the mix, and it can be downright frightening.

The worst thing recent grads can do is to start using credit cards to help them maintain their lifestyle. The average college grad owes $4,100 on credit cards at the time of graduation. Not including student loans. Roughly 69% of graduates took out student loans and owe an average of $29,800 in federal and private debt.
 

Financial experts all talk about the importance of building and maintaining good credit. But what exactly does this mean — and why should consumers care? If you haven’t pulled a credit report or applied for credit recently, your credit score might not be at the top of your mind. But your credit score plays a crucial role in...

A high credit score helps build healthy financial wellness and supports goals such as a new house, car, or apartment. However, having a low credit score can impact a person’s ability to attain these large investments and result in overwhelming stress.

Did you know that every time you apply for credit, you could be impacting your credit score? Potential creditors or lenders check your credit history each time you apply for a new credit card or loan. Depending on the scenario and the inquiry, you could see a change in your credit score. Here’s a quick comparison of hard and...

Though the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that tax-related identity theft is on the decline, it’s still a possibility. Here are a few signs that could indicate you’re a victim.

Your credit report might be the most important financial tool you have, but do you know why? Check out this primer on the basics of a credit report, and why it’s so essential to your financial life.

If you’re concerned about identity theft, it could be in your best interest to place a Credit Freeze or Fraud Alert on your accounts. But, which one is right for you? Here’s what these tools are and how they work so that you can determine your next steps.

Your credit score is an important financial asset and can affect many of your financial decisions, such as if you get approved for an auto loan, mortgage, personal loan or credit card. However, you may be wondering, “What is a good credit score, and what exactly factors into my credit score?” We’re removing the mystery...

If you took out student loans for your college education, you may be wondering how student loans affect credit scores. Your credit score is one of your most important assets and impacts many things in your life, such as your ability to rent an apartment, purchase a house or car, or apply for a personal loan or credit card....

Your credit score is one of your most important financial assets. It can affect a lot of your financial decisions such as purchasing a car or house, applying for a student loan or credit card, and even renting an apartment.

Your credit score is often cited as one of your most important financial assets. But while financial experts love to discuss the risk of a low credit score, many consumers aren’t aware of the material costs that come with negative marks on their credit report. The costs of a low credit score can span many aspects of your...

Your credit score determines a lot. It’s one of the most important factors of your financial health. The better your score is, the easier it will be to open new lines of credit at favorable rates.