Beyond the Credit Score blog
Practical articles on credit reports, consumer rights, debt collection, identity theft and the financial choices that shape what comes next.
Start here: Understand your credit reports
Credit guidance
I have helped thousands of people over the years as they have taken the first tentative steps to straighten out their financial situations.
Read: Embarrassed About Debt? Why Hiding It Makes It WorseCredit education
Learn what to check when an account name looks unfamiliar, how to document an error, and where to begin if you suspect identity theft.
Read: Unfamiliar Account on Your Credit Report? What to CheckStart here: Explore consumer rights and debt collection
Debt collection
I have had many elderly consumers who have come to my credit counseling business because of abuse by bill collectors.
Read: Debt Collector Harassment of Seniors: Your FDCPA RightsDebt collection
Many bill collectors depend on the assumption that most consumers are unaware of their rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Read: Deceptive Debt Collection Practices and How to Fight BackStart here: Explore identity-theft reporting
Credit education
Found an account you do not recognize? Learn how to contact fraud departments, protect your credit, and begin an identity-theft recovery plan.
Read: Identity Theft Recovery: What to Do When an Account Is Not YoursStart here: Review credit reports before applying for a mortgage
Home buying
Lately I have seen a lot of consumers who have been given the wrong information about how long it will be before they can buy a home after foreclosure, bankruptcy, or other forms of credit damage.
Read: How Long After Bankruptcy Can You Buy a House?Credit education
Prepare for mortgage shopping by reviewing your credit, assessing your household budget, organizing documents, and asking lenders the right questions.
Read: Mortgage Readiness: Check Your Credit, Budget, and Documents Before You ApplyStart here: What Did Your Money Actually Earn?
Retirement education
See why simple average returns can differ from compounded growth—and why retirement withdrawals make the order of returns especially important.
Read: The Stock Market Averaged WHAT?Retirement planning
When your paycheck stops, what replaces it? Learn how retirement savings, dependable income and a fixed indexed annuity may work together.
Read: Can an Annuity Replace Your Retirement Paycheck?Retirement planning
Two portfolios can earn the same five returns but end with different balances when withdrawals occur along the way.
Read: Sequence of Returns Risk in Early Retirement, ExplainedRetirement income
Compare retirement spending with expected income, identify the monthly gap, and prepare questions about withdrawals, reserves and income options.
Read: How to Calculate Your Retirement Income GapStart here: Fixed Indexed Annuity vs. Stock Market: Key Differences
Retirement planning
A stock portfolio and an indexed annuity can both play a role in retirement, but they offer different kinds of growth, access, and income.
Read: Fixed Indexed Annuity vs. Stock Market: Key DifferencesRetirement income
A lifetime-income rider may keep paying after account value reaches zero, but its income base is not cash you can withdraw.
Read: Annuity Account Value vs. Income Base, ExplainedRetirement income
The price of certainty includes explicit rider charges and limits on gains or access. Here is how to read the tradeoffs.
Read: Annuity Income Rider Fees: What a Lifetime Guarantee Costs