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Check in on your retirement, credit, and healthcare and make any necessary adjustments. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Prepare for tax seasonMany people would prefer to avoid thinking about tax season until the deadline on April 15. These include mortgage interest, out-of-pocket medical expenses, state and local taxes, property taxes, and charitable donations to tax-exempt charities.

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☆ My husband and I paid off our mortgage more than 15 years early by following a simple money rule we learned from our parents
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Marisa Palmieri Shugrue | Stephanie Hallett | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

This July, my husband and I sent in our final mortgage payment. Why we decided it made sense to pay off our mortgage earlyAn early mortgage payoff had been a major financial goal of ours since 2016. After doing some research and calculations, we realized a combination of investing and paying off our mortgage early would give us the more flexible lifestyle we had in mind. We have not had a car payment in five years. It led us to paying off our mortgage early, which has allowed us both to choose more fulfilling work and spend more time with our daughters.

Persons: it's, We've, didn't Organizations: Ohio National Guard Locations: Cleveland

☆ Brands endorsed by Travis Kelce, like Pfizer and Campbell's Soup, are also benefitting from Taylor Swift's halo
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Brands backing Kansas City Chiefs' player Travis Kelce, like Pfizer and Campbell's Soup, are also getting big boosts in engagement from Kelce's possible relationship with pop star Taylor Swift. Pfizer launched a campaign starring Kelce on Sept. 22 encouraging people to get the updated COVID-19 booster shot. There was a 32% increase in searches about Pfizer when that ad ran after Swift's Sept. 25 appearance, compared to before. EDO also found that Pfizer ads with Kelce drove 27% more search activity than Pfizer ads that did not feature him. Also, a Kelce-led TV ad from Experian posted on YouTube on Oct. 1 has already received more than 800,000 views, while a Kelce-less Experian TV ad promoting the same product has only accumulated 189,000 views.

Persons: Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, Swift, Kelce's, Kelce, Jason Kelce, Marci Raible, Travis, Raible, Experian, NBCUniversal Organizations: Brands, Kansas City Chiefs, Pfizer, Campbell's, NFL, Chiefs, EDO, YouTube, State Farm, DirecTV, MetLife, New York Jets

☆ Elon Musk's dad said he turned down a free Tesla from his son
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Errol Musk, Elon Musk's dad, said he turned down his son's offer to send a Tesla to South Africa. In January 2022, Errol Musk turned down his son's offer to gift him a Tesla and ship it to his home in South Africa, he told Insider. South Africa charges a 25% tariff on automotive imports. While Tesla has begun selling its EVs in Europe and China, the vehicles are not for sale in South Africa. "You go to Austin and every time you turn around you're at a Tesla charging station."

Persons: Errol Musk, Elon Musk's, Errol, —, Elon, doesn't, it's, Elon wasn't, Tesla, Winstone Jordaan, It's, Ryan, I've, Kimbal, Walter Isaacson's, Royce Corniche, he's, Isaacson, he'd, I'm Organizations: Royce, Service, Auto Transport, Plaid, Elon, Tesla Locations: South Africa, Europe, China, Austin, North America, Florida

A credit score under these thresholds is also called a sub-prime credit score, which means that creditors might think twice when reviewing your application for a credit line. However, a combination of serious negative marks on your credit score may seriously hurt your credit score, putting you on the lower end of the score range. While one credit check on your credit report may dent your credit score by a few points, several of these in a short period of time will significantly hurt your credit score. While one credit check on your credit report may dent your credit score by a few points, several of these in a short period of time will significantly hurt your credit score. Lowest credit score frequently asked questionsWhat is the lowest credit score to buy a house?

Persons: VantageScore, aren't, you'll, Enoch Omololu, Erik Beguin, Kendall Meade Organizations: Self, New Canadians, Austin Capital Bank Locations: annualcreditreport.com, Chevron

☆ Here’s the credit score you need to buy a home—it’s not a perfect 850
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If a low credit score is keeping you from buying a home, you're not alone. To qualify for a conventional loan, the most commonly used mortgage loan, you'll typically need at least a credit score of 620, Experian says. Here are the credit score ranges that qualify as poor, fair, good, very good and exceptional, according to Experian. "The score is a measure of risk, so the lower your score, the more risk the lender is taking with you," Opperman says. "The higher your score, the lower the risk, so a lender will charge you less interest the higher your score gets."

Persons: Melinda Opperman, Experian, Opperman Organizations: Survey, CNBC

☆ Free weekly credit reports are now permanent, providing an important tool to manage your financial life
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Paul Kim | Richard Richtmyer | Associate Editor At Personal Finance Insider | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Before COVID-19, consumers were only allowed one free credit report annually from each of the major credit bureaus. Here's why permanent weekly free credit reports are so important, and how you can access them. Why are free credit reports important? Free weekly access to credit reports allowed consumers to keep track of their finances as COVID-19 roiled the economy. How to request free weekly credit reportsCredit reports can be accessed through annualcreditreport.com or over the phone at 877-322-8228.

Persons: you've, you'll Organizations: Fair, Social Locations: annualcreditreport.com

☆ Biden administration takes steps to remove medical bills from credit reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Stephanie Dhue | Stephanie-Dhue | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration wants to remove medical debt completely from consumer credit reports, so the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday outlined its proposed rules to keep unpaid medical bills from affecting patient's credit scores. One in 5 Americans have medical debt on their credit reports, according to the CFPB. The CFPB found that 58% of all third-party debt collection on consumer credit reports was for medical bills. One study from the Medical Billing Advocates of America estimates up to 80% of medical bills have mistakes. As of July 2022, the companies no longer include medical debt in collection under $500 on credit reports.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Rohit Chopra Organizations: Biden, Financial, America

One tool that can help you catch fraud and identity theft is credit monitoring. The best credit monitoring services are a good way to keep tabs on what's going on with your credit score and your credit report (although you'll probably still want to check in regularly). I signed up for free credit monitoring a few years ago using Credit Karma so I could stay on top of my financial health, my credit accounts, and my credit score. I opened the email and saw that a credit card from Old Navy was opened in my name. Thanks to credit monitoring, I was able to stop identity theft in its tracks before any charges were made.

Persons: you'll, I've, It's Organizations: Karma, Navy, Old Navy, Credit, Credit Monitoring, Chevron, U.S . FTC Locations: New York, Los Angeles

NEW YORK (AP) — Information theft is on the rise. Colleen Tressler, a senior project manager for the FTC, has tracked consumer issues including identity theft for more than three decades. “They’re imposters, so they’re going after your personal information and your financial information however they can," she said. The Federal Student Aid site provides more guidance about avoiding identity theft online. Medical ID theft and tax ID theft are also common, especially during tax season or Medicare re-enrollment periods.

Persons: Colleen Tressler, They’re, “, Tressler, Scammers, servicer, ” Tressler, —, you've, Charles Schwab Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal, Department of Education, Medicare, Social Security, “ Insurance, Bills, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: U.S, IdentityTheft.gov

Sometimes, I've made my January mortgage payment in December to deduct the interest for that year. So heading into fall, I review my budget, income, and expenditures and target areas where I can cut back. Do an insurance reviewI check all insurance policies: homeowners insurance, renters insurance, car insurance (when I owned a car), and health. This is a great time to do a comprehensive insurance review. Bonus: Plan for an extra mortgage payment and charitable contributionsIf you can, plan to make your January mortgage payment in December.

Persons: I've, it's, TransUnion —, transpire, you'll Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Tesla begins notifying workers who were affected by data breach
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Tesla has begun notifying current and former employees whose information was included in a confidential data breach in May. In a notice posted on the Maine Attorney General’s website on Friday, Tesla (TSLA) said an investigation had found “two former Tesla (TSLA) employees misappropriated the information in violation of Tesla (TSLA)’s IT security and data protection policies” and that the electric automaker had since filed lawsuits against them. “These lawsuits resulted in the seizure of the former employees’ electronic devices that were believed to have contained the Tesla information,” Tesla said. Tesla emphasized that it had not detected any misuse of personal data, but has offered complimentary membership to Experian IdentityWorks’ credit monitoring and identity theft service. The data breach affected 75,735 people, and involved Social Security numbers, names and addresses, according to Maine Attorney’s General Office.

Persons: New York CNN — Tesla, ” Tesla, “, Tesla, Experian Organizations: New, New York CNN, Maine Attorney, Maine Attorney’s, Office, CNN Locations: New York, Maine

☆ The dog days of summer are boom days for divorce filings. But the economy is making it tough.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Alexandra Peers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —The dog days of summer are boom times for divorce filings. You can’t quite inflation-proof your divorce, they noted, but there are steps to take to blunt the economy’s impact on it. ljubaphoto/E+/Getty ImagesIf you refinance, you’ll also have to qualify for a new loan based on one income. Also, divorce attorneys stress, expect the strains and time-consuming duties of divorce to, at least temporarily, trim gig income. “I have clients who have put off divorce because of the economy,” said Manhattan accountant Marc Albaum.

Persons: Jaime Davis, Brandon Bell, you’ll, Scott Trout, Cordell, Appraising, Sid Bass, Anne, Anne Bass, Edgar Degas, Mark Rothko, Degas, ”, Victor Weiner, hasn’t, “, Marc Albaum, “ One’s, ‘, Covid, That’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Veterans Affairs, Cordell, Appraisers Association of America, Wall, Consumer, CPI Locations: New York, Raleigh , North Carolina, Houston , Texas, Manhattan, Covid

The Sesame Credit Builder card is available now, while the Sesame Ring credit-management platform launches on August 22. No credit check Check mark icon A check mark. Credit Sesame will not pull a hard inquiry on your credit report, so your credit score won't drop when you start using the Sesame Credit Builder. Credit Sesame will not pull a hard inquiry on your credit report, so your credit score won't drop when you start using the Sesame Credit Builder. Sesame Credit Builder is available now online or through the Credit Sesame mobile app.

Persons: Sesame, — Organizations: Community Federal Savings Bank, Sesame, Credit Locations: America

☆ 'Beat factor': Bank of America names top out-of-consensus global stocks to buy. Here are 12 of them
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bank of America named a number of buy-rated European stocks its analysts are most positive on. The bank ranked stocks based on "beat factor" — its analysts' most out-of-consensus stock ideas based on price objectives and earnings estimates — in its Aug. 11 research note. The bank is 6% above consensus on the company, in terms of earnings per share for the 2023 fiscal year. Banks on BofA's beat list include Dutch firm ING and French company BNP Paribas . Small and midsized companies BofA also named several small-to-midsized firms on a list of European Beat Factor Top 10 stocks, all of which it is buy-rated on.

Persons: Banks, BofA Organizations: of America, Defense, Thales, ING, French, BNP, Smiths Group, Logitech, Wizz

☆ US watchdog to announce plans to regulate 'surveillance industry'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signage is seen at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 14, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File PhotoAug 15 (Reuters) - The top U.S. agency for consumer financial protection will announce plans at the White House on Tuesday to regulate companies that track and sell people's personal data, part of the Biden administration's widening scrutiny of that industry's privacy practices, officials said. "The CFPB will be taking steps to ensure that modern-day data brokers in the surveillance industry know that they cannot engage in illegal collection and sharing of our data," he said in a statement. President Joe Biden last year called on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help protect the data privacy of women seeking reproductive healthcare who may face law enforcement action in some states. The CFPB in March opened a public inquiry into the conduct of companies like credit bureaus and background screening firms.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Biden, Rohit Chopra, Joe Biden, CFPB, Douglas Gillison Organizations: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, U.S, White, U.S . Consumer Financial, Bureau, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Fair, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Idaho

☆ US FTC fines Experian unit for spamming consumers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Experian logo is seen on a smartphone in front of displayed stock graph in this illustration taken, December 1, 2021. The accord also requires it to stop sending marketing emails that lack an opt-out mechanism. In a statement, Experian said its marketing emails now include an "Email Preferences Center" that goes beyond the changes sought by the FTC. "Although we disagree with the FTC's allegations, the agreement allows us to move forward and continue to focus on serving consumers the best way possible," Experian said. The case is U.S. v. ConsumerInfo.com Inc, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, ConsumerInfo.com, Samuel Levine, Experian, Jonathan Stempel, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Experian Consumer Services, ConsumerInfo.com Inc, Court, District of, Thomson Locations: Costa Mesa , California, California, Los Angeles, District, District of California, New York

☆ Once you hit this credit score, ‘there’s no benefit to scoring higher,’ says expert: ‘It’s just bragging rights’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

While having a perfect 850 credit score is impressive, you don't necessarily need it to unlock the best benefits. Here are the ranges that generally qualify as poor, fair, good, very good and exceptional, according to Experian. "Every 20 points or so can make a big difference in the battleground between fair, good and excellent credit," he says. Say you have a 675 credit score and qualify for a $300,000 mortgage with an interest rate of 7.5%. "This is a great illustration of why your credit score really matters," he says.

Persons: Ted Rossman, Rossman, you'd Organizations: CNBC

Digital Federal Credit Union Credit Builder Loan 4.1 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Learn moreDigital Federal Credit Union Credit Builder Loan 4.1 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Origination Fee $0 Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 5.00% View Full Details Learn more Compare optionsDigital Federal Credit Union Credit Builder Loan Learn more Compare options Details Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 5.00% Origination Fee $0 Editor's Rating 4.1 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.1 out of 5 Stars Pros & Cons Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. More Information The information related to Digital Credit Union Credit Builder Loan has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightAs the name suggests, a credit builder loan can help you build credit and improve your financial standing. How the DCU Credit Builder Loan WorksDCU offers credit builder loans from $500 to $3,000, with loan terms between 12 and 24 months. DCU Credit Builder Loan Pros and ConsDCU's credit builder loan is much less costly than many alternatives, but you'll have to jump through some hoops to become eligible.

Persons: it's, you'll, there's Organizations: Federal Credit Union, DCU, Digital Credit Union, Business, Reading Chevron, DCU doesn't, Better, Loan, Social Locations: New England, Marlborough , Massachusetts, Massachusetts, New Hampshire

See our picks for the best personal loans for bad credit >>Steps to get a loan with bad credit1. Get your most recent credit scoreIt's one thing to suspect you have bad credit, and another to know exactly how bad it is. Consider a credit unionCredit unions are a great option for those looking to get a loan with bad credit. Where to get a personal loan with bad creditYou can get a personal loan with bad credit from many banks, credit unions, and online lenders. How to get a loan with bad credit FAQsIs there really a way to get a loan with bad credit?

Persons: It's, it's, We've, Jamie Young, Young, Priyanka Prakash, Prakash, Nathalie Noisette, Experian, Holly Johnson, Johnson, Banks, Josh Goodwin, Eric Rosenberg, you'll Organizations: Service, you'll, Credit, Companies, Business, Goodwin Mortgage Group, National Credit Union Administration, Chevron Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ It's the hardest time in recent history to get a car loan
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It's harder than it has been in a long time to get a car loan. It comes amid increasing car loan payments and growing delinquency rates. Car buyers are facing some of the highest interest rates and monthly car payments in history — at a time that the rate of auto loan rejections is soaring. That's lower than the overall loan rejection rate of nearly 22%, but it's still up from 9% just four months earlier, and it marks the highest likelihood of auto loan rejection in recent history. Meanwhile, consumers keep getting hammered by high interest rates and even higher monthly car payments.

Persons: it's, Pat Ryan, CoPilot's Ryan, Ryan, Gary Guthridge, Guthridge Organizations: Federal Reserve, Buyers Locations: Edmunds, delinquencies

☆ 'It's a little frightening': Worldcoin surged 111% on its opening day. 2 experts explain why they would never scan their eyes in exchange for the crypto, and why they think the hype will fade.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

On opening day, the WLD token surged from $1.70 to $3.58, up by about 110.6%, according to CoinMarketCap data compiled by Bloomberg. Isaac Patka, a former electrical engineer in the semiconductor industry turned crypto developer in 2017, believes the hype will soon fade. People could be exploited by signing up to get their irises scanned and then sell their accounts for a little bit of money in exchange for giving up their identity, Patka added. Now, what I mean by that is, if you're using a blockchain, it gets written to the blockchain," Arone said. You also run the risk of changes to the system, Arone added.

Persons: Isaac Patka, Geoffrey Arone, Sam Altman, aren't, it's, Patka, Worldcoin, Shield3, Arone, there's Organizations: Bloomberg, Arrington Capital, Experian, Clear

☆ How to Build Credit Without a Credit Card
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Emily Sherman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +11 min

The problem: The best way to build your credit score is to make regular payments on your credit card — and often you can’t get a credit card until you already have a good credit score. Become an authorized userThe fastest and easiest way to build your credit score — if it’s an option for you — is for a family member or friend with a good credit to add you as an authorized user to their credit card. Once a cardholder adds you to their account, you’ll get your own credit card, earn rewards (if applicable) and get credit for on-time payments and a credit utilization ratio. Get a secured credit cardIf you don’t have any of the loans listed here or find you need another option for building credit, a credit card is still an option. Specifically designed for those just getting started building credit, secured credit cards use a deposit as collateral to reduce risk, so even those with poor credit can qualify.

Persons: Emily Sherman, ”, Emily Irwin, Wells, Irwin, you’ll, doesn’t, it’ll, Freddie Huynh, isn’t, Huynh, Kenneth Chavis, You’re, “ Organizations: Debt, Experian, Versant Capital Management, Digital Federal Credit Union Locations: Wells Fargo, Minneapolis, It’s, Phoenix

International credit scores generally do not transfer to credit scores in the US. Nova Credit allows immigrants from some countries to apply for credit with an international credit score. FICO VantageScore Payment history (35%) Payment history (40%) Credit balance (30%) Length & type of credit (21%) Length of credit history (15%) Percent of credit used (20%) New credit (10%) Total debt/balances (11%) Mix of credit accounts (10%) Recent credit behavior and inquiries (5%) Available credit (3%)How credit scores work internationallyOther countries have a credit scoring system that differs from the United States. Alternatively, you can use credit builder products like a secured credit card or credit builder loan, which don't require high credit scores to qualify. Transferring international credit scores frequently asked questionsWhat happens to my credit score if I move to another country?

Persons: Misha Esipov, TransUnion, you've Organizations: Nova Credit, Nova Credit's, American Express Locations: United States, America, Canada, Japan, Nova, Australia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Chevron

It starts with knowing your money: track your net worth and credit score, and check your finances daily. Your net worth goes beyond your budget, and by tracking it you will start to see how your decisions affect your bottom line. Know your credit scoreYour credit score is important. A good credit score gives you more options for everything from credit cards and personal loans to apartment rentals to insurance. The more money you have along with good money management skills, the more options and possibilities there are for you and your life.

Persons: Rachel Rodgers, —, Rodgers, Here's Organizations: Service, Money Locations: Wall, Silicon

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