“Invest in your future” as they rightfully say. Saving for retirement is one of the major concerns in your career. In today’s economy and time of uncertainty, with sky-high prices for even basic necessities, by the time you end up paying all your dues, there will be very little left to retire with. Thus it is imperative to earn and reinvest your earnings after you have met all your obligations to make sure that safety nest egg is ready for you to cash in when you retire.
Here are some of the poplar re-investment opportunities you can follow as part of your retirement investing strategies:
Plan your retirement portfolio: A comprehensive 401K will ensure multiple avenues for investment. However, it is a good idea to construct a total portfolio of stocks and bonds. Granted there is no certainty in the stock market that you will get a good return on your investment. But with time and experience, you will gain the expertise provided you start early and are willing to take a few risks for better returns.
Investment in retirement income funds: Investing in retirement income funds can be profitable as part of your retirement investing strategies. Mutual finds especially are a good option since a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds are created and managed by the financial institution on your behalf to provide a steady stream of income that will come in handy for retirement.
Annuities: Immediate annuities, in particular, is popular among retirement investing strategies. In exchange for a lumpsum amount, guaranteed income for life is assured by the insurance provider with multiple payout options.
Buy bonds: In buy bonds, you agree to pay a loan amount to any government or corporation who will pay interest on the principal amount for a particular tenure until its maturity after which the principal amount is refunded. Buy bonds are somewhat profitable among multiple retirement investing strategies.
Real estate: It is always a good option to invest in real estate, which can be then rented out for a steady flow of additional income with you only spending on the maintenance of the said property. Real estate income is steady and one of the profitable retirement investment strategies since there is appreciation in the value of the property, which can be then sold for a profit.
There are other avenues for investing for your retirement nest egg. It is, however, a good idea to consult with financial experts who can determine a viable course of action that will ensure a good return on any investment you plan to make. These experts will be able to assess the risks and associated rewards better to offer the best advice for your retirement.
There are companies that work on collecting and maintaining credit information of consumers. These are known as credit reporting agencies (CRAs). There are three such major CRAs in the country, namely Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Apart from these, there are other smaller-scale agencies too that specialize at the job. If you’re worried about “where to get my credit score?,” the larger CRAs are the most reliable bets.
These major CRAs obtain information from companies that you hold business and transactions with. People or companies that lend you money regularly report to these CRAs on your repaying status. There is also detailed information on the amount you are indebted and whether you have ever defaulted on your payments. Aside from the reports obtained from lenders, these companies also tally your general records based on certain other aspects. Some of these aspects are your public records from the local and state judiciary. These include your tax records and bankruptcy information. This information makes up an important chunk of your credit score and its report.
Equifax
Present in 24 countries, Equifax is an agency that offers consumers protection against identity theft and credit fraudulence. They also sell credit reports and credit monitoring assistance to businesses.
Experian
Experian started off in London and is now a trusted agency in 39 different countries. It provides you with a credit score, credit report, and even credit tracker on subscription. The agency uses FICO 8 system of credit score calculation. Experian was a part of Forbes’ “World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2018.
TransUnion
Based across 30 countries with a database of over 1 billion consumers, TransUnion is another CRA giant. The agency, like the other ones, will provide you with your credit score and your credit reports. In case you decide to freeze your TransUnion credit report, it will also go the extra mile to notify Equifax and Experian, which frankly is a big help especially in case of identity theft and credit fraud.
So, the next time you are sat wondering “where to get my credit score?,” think of these three giants that provide you with an annual credit score and credit report for free once each year. However, if you are looking for more frequent updates, you can subscribe to their services and receive your monthly updates.
Did you know that you have more than a single credit score? Agencies calculate your credit score based on the data in your credit reports. If you are wondering, “where to get my credit score?,” there are three main credit reporting agencies. These can have different credit scores for you if your information on each of their credit reports is different. Also, these agencies charge a fee to reveal your credit score.
Recently, it has become easier to track and get hold of your credit score without paying any fees. You can get it from your credit card company, your loan provider, and even from a non-profit counselor. Here are a few tips you can use to check your score.