EP129 Adulting 101: Equifax’s Julie Kuzmic on What’s a Credit Report & Should I Care?

Julie Kuzmic is the Director of Consumer Advocacy at Equifax Canada, a credit scoring and reporting organization. Julie is recognized as an authority on consumer credit and is passionate about financial literacy and creating metaphors to explain the nuances of credit scores. She is a speaker on the topic of credit lifecycle, speaking to consumers, clients, and industry groups.

 

Julie joins me today to share what a credit report is and why you should care about yours. She shares how credit information is collected and used and reveals which credit inquiries affect your score. Julie also shares the most important things you can do to improve your credit score and explains why having no credit history can be a problem when you apply for significant credit, such as a mortgage. 

 

“Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes – and that includes with our money and financial decisions.” – Julie Kuzmic

 

This Week on Young Money:

 

  • How Equifax collects credit information to create your credit report and score
  • How a genuine curiosity, taking a human approach, and tailoring the message has helped Julie find career success
  • How small steps can help you move towards where you want to go
  • The differences between soft inquiries and hard inquiries and how they impact your credit score
  • The monthly information collected by credit bureaus
  • The three-digit range of credit score numbers
  • Why paying your bills on time is the most significant factor in calculating your credit score
  • Why the number of times you apply for credit affects your score
  • How no credit history can negatively impact your credit score
  • How to build up your credit score

Key takeaways:

 

  1. Your sources of credit affect your credit score
  2. You can rebuild your credit score
  3. You can have modest debt, live within your means, and have a good credit score
  4. Do not base your self-worth on your net worth

Resources Mentioned:

 

Connect with Julie Kuzmic:

 

 

Get Your Young Money Questions ANSWERED!

 

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Remember – there is no silly question when it comes to your financial fitness.

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