Starting a business is an exciting venture—one that can also be risky when personal credit is on the line. A savvy CEO understands how to minimize this risk by keeping personal and professional finances separate. Read on to understand the difference.

Personal credit repair should never include entanglement with business expenses. To help entrepreneurs in the arena, the credit bureaus allow them two credit reports: Consumer and business. Below are some commonly-asked questions. Take some time to learn about the facets of business credit and how it relates to you.

continue reading “Personal vs. Professional Credit — What Every Business Owner Should Know” »

The rat race isn’t getting any easier for working professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 2.5 million more jobs will require graduate degrees by 2018, an 18 percent increase since 2008. When a bachelor’s degree is no longer good enough, it is important to anticipate the climate shift and respond assertively. Yet, this mounting certainty leaves one factor out of its consideration: money. Graduate school tuition can range from $30,000 to over $100,000 depending on the university and discipline. Unlike the average undergrad, working adults must balance the cost of living, family expenses, mortgage payments, credit cards, and other debt in their everyday lives. For those saving for a home or focusing on debt reduction, the idea of financing a second degree can seem impossible. Don’t give up too quickly, however. Job security and financial stability go hand-in-hand. Read on to learn how you can have both.

• Determine the value of education

Graduate degrees are not created equal. While each may prove intellectually rewarding, impact in the workplace may be a different story. Consider the following example:

continue reading “College or Credit Repair? Working Adults Face Tough Decisions” »

In a perfect world, employment fulfills the needs of personal satisfaction, professional advancement, and income stability. In reality, CBS News reports that over 55 percent of Americans are unhappy in the workplace. If you are among the disgruntled workforce, the time to find better employment is on the horizon.

While securing your dream job is a tall order, credit repair goals require a steady income to accomplish their objectives. A positive career should also help you focus on the areas of:

• Debt reduction: Almost every consumer faces the burden of debt at some point. While a moderate balance can actually help your credit score, too much debt can tip the scales against you. Find an income that allows you to keep your credit utilization ratio below 25 percent.

continue reading “Is It Time for a New Job? Five Signs” »

Due to the economic recession, the list of career opportunities has taken a hit. Moreover, employers are becoming more selective in their personnel choices, often relying upon personal and financial background checks before casting a deciding vote. If you suffer from bad credit, you may be demonstrating poor employee skills. Read on to discover how your credit rating relates to ideal new-hire qualities.

continue reading “Five Reasons Employers Care About Bad Credit” »

In this tough economy and the number of potential employees competing for jobs, making sure that you have a competitive edge that can help get your foot in the door is becoming more and more important. A number of job applicants don’t realize that their bad credit score can impact whether or not they get a job.

Wall Street Journal recently reported that:

“Some 47% of employers say they check the credit history of applicants for certain positions, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management of more than 430 organizations in late 2009. That’s up from 42% of employers in 2006. Just 25% of employers in 1998 said they regularly or sometimes checked applicants’ credit histories.”

In the case of your credit report, what you don’t know can hurt you. If you are currently in the job market you may want to make sure that you have a clean credit report. If you don’t, you may want to look into credit report repair and learn other ways to help improve your credit.