SoFi Blog

Good news, America. After nearly a decade, credit scores have hit record highs, according to new data from Fair, Isaac, as reported in the Wall Street Journal (paywall). The average score in the U.S. hit 700 this past April, and haven’t been at that level since 2005.

Last month you may have seen the proposal to end federal tax benefits for 529 college savings plans, which sparked intense backlash and was withdrawn quickly. Even if you haven’t been following that news, or aren’t yet saving for your children’s education, 529 plans are an interesting example of how the wealth-minded manage their finances.

Most people understand the importance of establishing and maintaining a good credit score.  For student loan borrowers, this means treating that debt responsibly – for example, paying on time, every time.  But that’s old news.

The new news is that FICO is making changes to the way it calculates credit scores. Because FICO’s credit scoring metric is by far the most widely used in consumer lending decisions, it’s worth exploring what this might mean for you.

Spring has sprung – at least officially – and with it the urge to open all the windows, break out the broom and clean house.  But why stop there?  Your finances can also benefit from a little spring cleaning, and it’s something you can do even if it still feels like winter outside.

As a busy young professional, it can be tough to closely monitor your money situation on a daily basis.  But if you’re willing to spend a few of these extra daylight hours getting organized, you can save yourself a lot of time, stress and even cold hard cash in the long run.  Here are six essential and effective ways to do it:

Student loan refinancing can have a huge impact on a borrower’s bottom line, saving you thousands or sometimes tens of thousands of dollars in interest over the life of your loan(s).  So how do you know if this option is right for you?  We’ve created this handy guide to illustrate the common characteristics of eligible borrowers, including four examples based on the profiles and savings of some of our real borrowers.

Want to know if student loan refinancing is right for you?  Read on to find out!