Keon Haley from FICO blends personal stories and practical guidance to unpack credit scores and how to teach them in ways that actually stick.

“I came from a family where we didn’t really speak a lot about money. It wasn’t something we discussed on a regular basis. It was more like: do we have enough to pay the bills, or do we not?”

It wasn’t until college, working at a Small Business Development Center, that Keon saw firsthand how powerful financial education could be.

After watching a client return and say, “You guys helped me become a millionaire,” Keon realized that “education and money go together.”

From there, the episode dives into the nuts and bolts of a FICO Score. Keon clearly explains the five components: payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, new credit, and credit mix. 

Keon also shares common myths that trip up students and adults alike: Getting married? There’s no such thing as a combined score. Rate shopping for a car or mortgage? Thanks to “de-duping logic,” multiple inquiries in a short window are typically treated as one.

Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and view the transcript here.

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About the Author

Hannah Rael

As NGPF's Marketing Communications Manager, Hannah (she/her) helps spread the word about NGPF's mission to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans.