Be a Smart Credit Consumer ��������������������������� 12

ognize that monitoring their credit is just as important as utilizing it wisely� Consumers can access reports from each of the three main credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) for free once every 12 months� • Don’t wing it� Much like successful retirement planning is often the culmination of decades of hard work, strategizing and saving, becoming a smart credit consumer involves commitment to a well-developed plan to utilize credit� Impulsive use of credit can quickly compromise individuals’ credit histories and financial reputations, so develop a plan to use credit wisely and stick to that plan� A successful credit utilization strategy should be rooted in paying bills on time, and ideally in full, each month to avoid potentially costly interest charges� Identify any bad credit utilization habits and do your best to eliminate them� If necessary, work with a financial planner to develop your credit utilization strategy�

Various strategies can help individuals become smart credit consumers and reap the rewards that a strong financial reputation has to offer�