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Credit and Couples

Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s natural to start thinking about all the factors that go into a successful relationship – trust, commitment, passion and a compatible approach to managing your credit.OK, that last one might be a stretch.But while talking about your credit score might seem decidedly unromantic, financial compatibility is a very real factor in the …

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Do you need good credit in retirement?

Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert When most people think about financial planning, retirement is the logical finish line. You work hard, live within your means and save enough money to live out your days in peace and comfort.But you don’t stop managing your finances after you retire – and that includes your credit. While your days of applying for mortgages and …

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Credit for Kids

Shawn LaneConsumer Credit Expert If you take an informal survey of people struggling to manage their finances as adults, they’ll probably have one thing in common. Disregarding any socioeconomic factors, there’s a good chance they had very little personal finance education as children.It’s not surprising that 36% of college students have managed to rack up some amount of credit card debt. …

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How Co-Signing Impacts Your Credit

Shawn Lane Consumer Credit Expert Most credit questions asked of me can be answered exactly the same. “It depends…” Question: How will an inquiry impact my credit? Answer: “It depends” Question: How will opening a new credit card impact my credit? Answer: “It depends” Asking how co-signing impacts your credit is no exception. The effect which co-signing for a loved …