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When you take out a loan, you likely have every intention of repaying it in full. But what if something should happen — say, a job loss, illness, or injury — that keeps you from fulfilling your obligation? That’s where loan protection insurance comes in.

Loan protection insurance, also known as credit insurance, is a type of insurance policy specifically designed to cover a borrower’s loan payments should they become unable to make them due to an unforeseen circumstance.

This type of coverage can provide peace of mind — and help protect your credit — in the event of the unexpected. But ​​it comes at a cost, and in some cases, it may not be necessary.

Read on for a closer look at loan insurance, including what it is, how it works, what may be excluded from coverage, and whether or not it’s worth buying.

Loan Protection Insurance Definition

Loan protection insurance is an insurance product that lenders sometimes offer borrowers with certain types of loans, including personal loans. Typically, the insurer will make the loan payments for a set period of time (or up to a predetermined amount) if the policyholder can’t keep up with the obligation because of a covered event.

For example, let’s say you take out a personal loan and opt to purchase credit insurance. If at some point during your repayment term, you lose your job, get into a car accident, or become hospitalized with a serious illness, the insurance can help ensure your debts are paid.


💡 Quick Tip: Before choosing a personal loan, ask about the lender’s fees: origination, prepayment, late fees, etc. One question can save you many dollars.

How Does Loan Protection Insurance Work on Personal Loans?

Personal loan protection insurance is specifically designed to keep a policyholder from defaulting on a personal loan in the event of a financial hardship. Should a covered event take place, the insurer agrees to step in and make payments on the loan for a set period of time, typically between 12 and 24 months.

Events that are often covered by personal loan insurance include:

•   Job loss

•   Sickness

•   Accidents

•   Death

What makes credit insurance unlike other types of insurance policies is that the payments go to the lender, not to the policyholder. Though you’re the one paying the premiums for credit insurance, the payout actually goes to your lender.

Recommended: What Happens If You Default on a Personal Loan?

What Does Loan Protection Insurance Cost?

The cost of loan protection insurance varies widely depending on the insurer, the coverage amount, the length of coverage, your age, the state you live in, and other factors. Typically, the cost is calculated as a percentage of the monthly loan payment, ranging from 1% to 5%. As a result, the larger the loan balance is, the more it costs to insure it.

If you’re considering loan protection insurance, you may want to compare the cost of the policy to other types of insurance — such as life insurance, disability insurance, or accident insurance — especially if these types of coverage are offered for free or at a subsidized rate through your employer.

One way you may be able to reduce the cost of loan protection insurance is to pay the premium in a single payment instead of rolling it into your monthly loan payments. Some credit insurers will offer a sizable discount if you’re willing to pay the full cost of the insurance up front and in full.

What Are the Benefits of Loan Protection Insurance?

Loan protection insurance isn’t necessarily the right fit for everyone, but it does offer some advantages (especially if the policy is reasonably priced). Here are some benefits to consider.

Credit Score

Should an unexpected hardship occur and you’re unable to make your loan payments, loan protection insurance would kick in and prevent you from missing payments or defaulting on the loan — and taking a hit to your credit.

Recommended: What Is Considered a Bad Credit Score?

Save Money

Maintaining a strong credit profile can pay off down the line by helping you qualify for loans with lower rates and better terms. This can help you save you money, and could make the cost of the credit insurance worthwhile. Plus, future employers and landlords may also look at and make decisions based on your credit in the future.

Peace of Mind

Having credit insurance takes some of the pressure off of loan repayment and gives you the comfort of knowing that, should something happen that makes you unable to pay your debt, you’ll be protected.


💡 Quick Tip: With lower fixed interest rates on loans of $5K to $100K, a SoFi personal loan for credit card debt can substantially decrease your monthly bills.

Risks of Having Loan Protection

One big downside to loan protection insurance is that you might end up paying for something you never use. Here are some other drawbacks to consider.

Cost

Loan protection insurance can be expensive compared to stand-alone disability and life insurance policies. It’s worth assessing what type of coverage you already have and comparing the cost of loan insurance to other types of coverage, such as supplemental disability or life insurance.

Coverage Limitations

There may be limitations on coverage that minimize how helpful the policy will actually be. For example, in some cases, a loan protection policy won’t cover a pre-existing illness or won’t kick in if you take on a part-time job or any freelance work after losing your job.

May Not Be Necessary

If your main concern is protecting your family from being liable for your debt should you become unable to pay, know that most loans that are only in your name (and don’t have a cosigner) cannot require your family to make your loan payment if you’re unable to. If you’re not worried about loan default (and potentially losing your assets to creditors), loan protection insurance may not be worth it.

Recommended: Am I Responsible for My Spouse’s Debt?

Common Reasons for Being Refused Loan Protection

Because there are different types of loan protection insurance, and policies can differ from one company to the next, it’s important to review the reasons your policy might not pay out when you make a claim. Here’s a look at some common reasons why claims can be refused.

Part-Time Employment

If you lose your job but take on part-time work to make ends meet, a credit insurance policy may not kick in, and you’ll still need to cover your loan payments.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

If you are unable to work because of an illness, injury, or other condition that existed before you purchased the policy, your claim could be refused. It’s important to be clear about which health conditions might not be covered under the policy before you sign up.

Short-Term Employment

If you lose your job because it was a short-term employment contract, you likely won’t qualify for a credit insurance payout, since the work was expected to end at that time.

Self-Employment

Self-employed workers might be able to make a claim if they become sick or disabled, for example, but not if they lose the work that provides their income.

>Being Able to Work Another Type of Job

Is Loan Protection Insurance Required?

Loan protection insurance is optional. It’s illegal for a lender to force you to buy the policy in exchange for approving your loan. If you’re securing your personal loan with collateral (a car or some other asset), you may be required to ensure that property, but you don’t have to insure it through the personal loan lender’s policy.

If you feel you were incorrectly told by a lender that because of the purpose of a loan you wouldn’t be approved unless you purchased loan protection insurance, you can submit a complaint to your state attorney general, state insurance commissioner, or the Federal Trade Commission.

Recommended: Does Loan Purpose Matter?

The Takeaway

Loan protection insurance offers borrowers a way to continue making their loan payments and protect their credit scores in the event of an unexpected financial hardship. You can find these policies for different types of lending products, including auto loans, mortgages, personal loans, and credit cards.

However, this protection comes at a cost, and some hardships are excluded from coverage. In many cases, short-term or long-term disability insurance policies can offer better, more cost-effective protection for an unexpected loss of income. So be sure to do your research and read the fine print on all costs and exclusions before you agree to loan protection insurance.

SoFi personal loans offer competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

FAQ

Can you get protection on a personal loan?

Yes. Loan protection insurance is available for several different kinds of loans, including personal loans. Some lenders also offer their own hardship assistance programs for borrowers who run into trouble making payments due to unexpected circumstances.

What is loan protection insurance?

Loan protection insurance is a type of insurance that is designed to help protect you from defaulting on a loan due to an emergency, loss of income, or unexpected change of circumstances. If a covered event (such as a job loss, accident, or illness) takes place, the insurance would make payments on the loan for a predetermined period of time.

Why should you get personal loan protection insurance?

Personal loan protection insurance can give you the peace of mind that, should you run into financial difficulty, you won’t default on your loan. Avoiding a loan default can help you avoid a host of other negative financial consequences, as well as damage to your credit. However, these policies can be costly and typically come with a number of exclusions. You may find that other types of insurance (such as disability or accident insurance) are more cost effective.

Photo credit: iStock/akinbostanci

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

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Consumers may not know it, but financial institutions often rely on “bundled” credit reports to make more fully informed decisions before lending an individual money.

That process is known as a tri-merge credit report (also known as a three-in-one credit report.) The merged report can give the lender a more complete picture of an applicant’s financial situation, since each credit report may contain slightly different information.

You can’t request a merged credit report on your own but you can ask a lender to share their tri-merged report with you. Read on to learn more about what tri-merged credit reports are and how they can impact your chances of getting a loan.

What Is a Tri-Merge Credit Report?

A tri-merge credit report simply combines three credit reports from the three largest credit reporting bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and Transunion — and consolidates them into one credit report for creditors and lenders. They are most commonly used in the mortgage lending sector where more information is required to properly assess larger loans.

Creditors often rely on three-in-one credit reports because they want a thorough review of an applicant’s credit history, an outcome a lender may not get with input from just one credit reporting agency.


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How Do Merged Credit Scores Work?

A tri-merge credit report gives those lenders what they need – a comprehensive overview of a credit applicant using information from three credit reports, instead of one or two credit reports.

By combining all three credit scoring formulas and outcomes into a single credit report, creditors can get an expanded and more complete look at a credit applicant’s financial history (including payments and credit usage), based on the information included in the tri-merge credit report.

Recommended: Common Credit Report Errors and How to Dispute Them

Why Do You Have More Than One Credit Score?

Each credit scoring company has its own formula for calculating credit scores and one model may place more importance on one factor, such as payment history, while another may not. Also, different types of loans have different scoring methods.

The most commonly used credit scoring model is the FICO® Score, a base score that has a range of 300 (lowest score) to 850 (highest score). But within the FICO models, there are industry-specific ranges.

•   FICO® Auto Score Range is 250 to 900

•   FICO® Bankcard Score Range is 250 to 900

•   FICO® Mortgage Score Range is 300 to 850

VantageScore is another credit scoring model used by all three major credit reporting bureaus.

FICO Score and VantageScore base their calculations on different aspects of a person’s financial history.

•   FICO uses factors that are in a credit report, such as payment history of credit accounts, how much debt a person has, how long credit accounts have been open, how often new credit inquiries happen and how often new credit accounts are opened, and the mix of credit account types.

•   Vantage uses the same criteria as FICO, but places different levels of importance on each. Vantage also looks at additional factors that might not appear on a person’s credit report, such as rent and utility payments. Using factors such as these makes it possible for people who don’t have much of a credit history to have a credit score and be able to access consumer credit.

Lenders use credit scores and other information in the loan approval process.

What Does a Tri-Merge Credit Report Look Like?

Tri-merge credit reports offer creditors the same look and feel as a standard consumer credit report, with a few differences.

For starters, the third-party provider creating the three-in-one credit report culls the credit reports from each of the three primary credit-reporting firms (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) and pulls the most pertinent information for use in the tri-merge credit report.

In its final form, the tri-merge credit report includes the following sections.

•   An upfront summary that provides information on the credit applicant in capsule form.

•   A full section on the credit applicant’s financial accounts, focusing on larger accounts like mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and any types of personal loans.

•   Data on the applicant’s credit payments history, any open accounts, any history of late or no credit payments, any tax liens or bankruptcies, and the applicant’s credit utilization ratio (i.e., the applicant’s outstanding credit balance divided by the total amount of revolving credit the applicant has available).

A tri-merge credit report may also include a specific credit report from any of the three major credit reporting agencies, based on the specific credit analysis needs of the mortgage lender who uses the three-in-one report.

Why Do Personal Loan Lenders Look at Your Tri-Merge Credit Report?

Tri-merge credit reports are more commonly used in mortgage lending than personal loan lending. But if you’re applying for a large personal loan — some lenders offer personal loans up to $100,000 — the lender may look at a tri-merge credit report to get a comprehensive picture of your creditworthiness. The tri-merge credit report will include any current or past personal loans and your payment history on those. The lender will use that information to determine approval for the loan you’re applying for.


💡 Quick Tip: Choosing a personal loan with a fixed interest rate makes payments easy to track and gives you a target payoff date to work toward.

How Does a Tri-Merge Credit Report Affect Your Loan Application?

Different lenders approach the risk of lending money with different tolerance levels, just as they each have different credit score requirements. A loan applicant whose credit reports don’t include late payments and unmanageable debt loads will likely be approved for a loan with favorable terms and lower interest rates.

Alternatively, a loan applicant whose credit report shows a large amount of existing debt and a history of late or missed payments may be offered a high interest rate and less favorable terms.

Because lenders that use a tri-merge credit report to assess an applicant’s creditworthiness are looking at a comprehensive picture, it’s in the best interest of the applicant to clean up their credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus before they begin applying for a loan.

Recommended: Typical Personal Loan Requirements Needed for Approval

Is a Tri-Merge Credit Report a Hard Inquiry?

Any official lender review of a tri-merge credit report will be a hard inquiry and will temporarily impact your credit score. In general, each hard credit inquiry can decrease a credit score by five points.

The severity of any credit score decline due to a hard pull largely depends on the applicant.

A consumer with a strong credit report may see less of a credit scoring decline than one with a weak credit report. Multiple credit report hard inquiries can be a reason why a consumer with a weak credit history may see their credit scores decline moderately.

Recommended: Soft vs Hard Credit Inquiry: What You Need to Know

Can I Order My Own Tri-Merge Credit Report?

Tri-merge credit reports are available to lenders, but not generally to individuals. A lender may be willing to share with you the tri-merge credit report they pulled in your application process. A credit counselor who offers first-time homebuyer programs may also be able to pull a tri-merge credit report for you in a credit review process, but there may be a fee for that service.

However, you can — and it’s a good idea to do this — request a free copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.

You can request a free copy of your credit report once a week from each of the three major credit bureaus. Reviewing all three of your credit reports will give you much of the same information as is included in a tri-merge credit report.

The Takeaway

Tri-merge credit reports can prove highly useful to mortgage and other lenders looking for a comprehensive review of an applicant’s credit history.

By merging the credit report analysis of the three major credit reporting agencies, creditors and lenders are getting a fully-formed outlook they likely wouldn’t get by relying on a single credit reporting agency.

For consumers, the key takeaway on three-in-one credit reports is simple – take a disciplined and diligent stance on your credit, review your credit reports on a regular basis, and ensure key issues like on-time payments and credit utilization rates are in good standing.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. See your rate in minutes.

FAQ

What is a tri-merge credit report?

A tri-merge credit report is a credit report combining information from the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Is a tri-merge credit report a hard inquiry?

When a tri-merge credit report is pulled during the formal loan application process, it will be a hard inquiry on the applicant’s credit report.

Can I pull my own tri-merge credit report?

No. Tri-merge credit reports are available to lenders, not individuals, and they’re mainly used in the mortgage loan process. If you’re working with a credit counselor, you may be able to have a tri-merge credit report pulled during a credit review process.

Photo credit: iStock/Irina Ivanova

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

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Stock market forums provide a place for investors to come together online and share specific financial ideas and insights. The main goal of these stock message boards is to help other participants profit in the markets. Some of the most popular stock forums take the sense of community beyond the forum format, too.

Some are financial blogs or research publications where large numbers of investors engage in discussions in the comments section beneath each article. Others are comprehensive investment communities in addition to discussions on many non-financial topics. And some stock market forums and stock message boards more closely resemble social networking sites than traditional messaging boards.

6 Top Stock Market Message Boards and Forums

Many members of the investment community generally want to help one another profit in the markets — that’s typically the common interest that draws participants together. But as with any online community, there can be heated debates, misinformation, and outright trolling in stock forums. The general rules of online interaction apply: Exercise caution when consuming information or engaging in discussions in such communities.

Here is a list of some popular stock market forums and stock message boards, including some that have investment strategies for beginners. Learn the details on how these forums work.

1. InvestorsHub

InvestorsHub is mostly oriented toward investors trying to make profit by speculating on short-term investments or trades. The stock market discussion tends to revolve around riskier securities.

Day trading of penny stocks (stocks trading at prices below $5 per share) is one of the most popular topics at InvestorsHub. The site also explores markets relating to different cryptocurrencies, FOREX, commodities, and stocks. Investors have access to tools for creating model portfolios, charting, newsletters, stock scanners and more, for free.

2. Stockaholics

Stockaholics is a financial forum and active online community that has discussions about investing, stock tips, penny stocks, and market analysis. The community is filled with many traders and investors, and it’s a place where like-minded individuals can connect to talk about the market.

On the moderated boards at Stockaholics, investors can share information, resources, and ideas. There are educational videos for new investors and also forums where they can ask questions.

Investors can also get real time market updates on the site, see streaming live charts, and read the latest financial news.

3. SeekingAlpha

SeekingAlpha (or SA for short) is a website where almost anyone can become a contributor, although only high-quality financial content usually makes the cut and gets published. The term “alpha” refers to a higher rate of return than average, so the name of the site could be translated as “investors seeking returns.”

The SA platform publishes the work of many top-notch investment advisors, money managers, and investment newsletter writers. The comments section underneath each article is where the site takes on the role of a stock market forum.

Most new investors can learn a lot from simply reading articles and comments for free on SeekingAlpha. Those who want to participate could sign up and start asking questions in the comments. More experienced investors could even try their hand at publishing their own articles on the site, then engaging with readers who comment on their articles.

4. Motley Fool Community

The Motley Fool is a high-profile site with millions of users that covers many financial topics that may be helpful to those building an investment portfolio. Their investment forum is called the “Motley Fool Community,” which houses free discussion boards. There are boards for financial planning, learning to invest, real money stock picks, retirement planning, and stocks A to Z, among others.

The Motley Fool Community is focused on investment discussions, of course, but in addition to the typical financial topics, there are boards for things like food and drink, fun and games, religion and culture.

5. StockTwits

StockTwits was designed to be like Twitter for finance folks. The platform has more than eight million registered users, and the company is registered with the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Users can create posts with links, charts, and specialist opinions on stocks in much the same way they can on other social media networks. When a forum member posts about a specific company or stock, he or she can mark the post with a “cashtag” so others can find it.

StockTwits also allows members to create watchlists for the stocks they want to keep an eye on.

Recommended: How to Use Social Media for Investing Tips: The Smart Way

6. Investors Hangout

Investors Hangout has free stock message boards, stock charts and quotes, and news updates. Investors can see the most active stocks of the day and view live charts. There are blog posts on investing, the markets, real estate, business, and personal finance.

Investors can ask questions of and get suggestions from other members. There are also boards on global markets.

Pros and Cons of Relying on Stock Forums for Information

Whether you’re looking for information on investing for beginners or tools for more experienced investors, stock forums can have some potential benefits, but they also may have serious drawbacks you should be aware of.

Pros

Some advantages of a stock forum may include:

Connecting with other investors.
Stock market forums and stock message boards can be a way to share ideas, opinions, and information with other investors. An individual might get diverse perspectives and potentially helpful insights, for instance.

Access to educational information and special tools.
A number of forums have valuable tools that individuals can access. This might include stock trackers, charts, and even real-time data.

Getting market analysis.
Some forums may have market analysis investors can look at for free.

Cons

When visiting a stock market forum, be sure to proceed with caution and watch out for:

Information that isn’t right for your situation.
Investment advice is not one-size-fits-all. Something recommended on a forum, even by a legitimate financial specialist, may not be right for your particular circumstances or financial goals.

Misinformation.
Some of the information may be wrong, misleading, or fraudulent.

Unverified sources.
Individuals might talk up their qualifications or financial savvy in a forum, but it’s possible that some could misrepresent themselves online. They might also have conflicts of interest that they fail to disclose, such as potential gain from promoting a certain financial or investment product.

Potential to get caught up in the hype.
Some investment strategies touted by some forums may be risky or complicated. Make sure you thoroughly understand these strategies and that you’re comfortable with the potential risks before you decide to try them. And don’t allow yourself to get swept up in hype about possible “big gains,” which could cause you to make a rash decision you might later regret. It’s best to separate your emotions from your finances.

💡 Quick Tip: Newbie investors may be tempted to buy into the market based on recent news headlines or other types of hype. That’s rarely a good idea. Making good choices shouldn’t stem from strong emotions, but a solid investment strategy.

Always Do Your Own Research Before Investing

While you may find it worthwhile and even educational or enlightening to visit a stock forum or stock message board, don’t just take the information at face value. Instead, always investigate and research it thoroughly to make sure it is accurate and legitimate.

In addition, carefully evaluate whether a strategy makes sense for your financial situation, investment goals, and risk tolerance. Weigh the pros and cons and don’t make rash decisions. And finally, remember that there is no sure thing when it comes to investing. At the end of the day, you want to make sure your financial security is safe.

The Takeaway

Stock market forums are online spaces that allow investors and traders to discuss the financial markets, among other things. There are many out there, some more popular than others, and each is different in its own unique ways. Different stock market forums suit the needs of different types of investors, So, before choosing a forum, a potential user might want to consider what their investment goals are.

It’s always important to remember, too, that investors should be critical and skeptical of any tips or advice that they receive, and to do their own research and homework before making investing decisions. There’s a lot of noise on the internet, and it can be difficult to parse out what’s genuine.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

FAQ

What are the advantages of reading a stock market forum?

Stock market forums can be a way for investors to connect with other investors to share ideas, opinions, and information. They might also get access to information from financial professionals, as well as tools like stock trackers, charts, and various data points.

What should I be wary of?

In stock market forums, it’s best to be wary of any tips and advice you may receive, and to always do your own careful research before making investing decisions. Also, be aware that sources could misrepresent themselves online, or they may have a stake or interest in a certain product. And finally, be wary of getting caught up in the hype about an investment and rushing into a decision you could later regret.

What is the most popular stock market forum?

One of the most popular stock market forums is the Motley Fool Community, which has millions of members. The site offers free news and commentary about the stock market, financial planning, investments, and retirement saving, among other topics.