Lynnette Khalfani-Cox

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In the world of credit, responsibility is greatly rewarded. If you’ve ever set up a credit card, you’ve likely heard the term “credit score.” This number helps creditors determine how likely you are to pay bills or pay back loans should you borrow money. This number can affect many aspects of your life, including your ability to rent an apartment, purchase the house you want, take out a loan or even buy a car. Having a low credit score can hold you back from reaching your full financial potential and accomplishing your goals. And while raising your score may seem like a huge hill to climb, there are a number of simple strategies you can use to help yourself get to the top faster. As financial leaders, the members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective know how frustrating it can be to have a number dictate your future. Here, they share easy tips anyone can use to improve their credit score, build better financial habits and take back control of their money.

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The way you approach these conversations can set the stage for your whole relationship — for better or worse. Money and finances can be a truly divisive topic, and nowhere is this more true than with romantic partners. With differing spending and saving habits, economic backgrounds, values or beliefs around money, couples may find it difficult to get on the same page when it comes to their finances. In some cases, disagreements around money may even lead couples to break up or divorce. In this way, it’s vital couples have conversations about money early on to set a better foundation for their financial future together. However, ensuring you’re having these conversations the right way — without them turning into arguments — is key to your success. To offer their guidance, 10 financial experts from Kiplinger Advisor Collective each share one piece of advice they’d give to a couple about how to approach money conversations in a better way and work together to accomplish their financial goals.

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There are some smart steps you can take to navigate your way back to normalcy and make yourself more disaster-proof in the future.

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When high school or college graduation day comes, you’re likely relishing the moment, caught up in the excitement of reaching a major milestone and starting a new chapter in your life — You’re likely not thinking about how to invest your money for the future. However, after the celebration is over and you’re ready to take your next step, it’s wise to consider what you’ll do with any monetary gifts you received and how those gifts can help jump-start this next phase of life. While your money can be well-spent in a number of ways, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective recommend the following 11 approaches. Implementing even just one of these strategies can help you start off adulthood on the right foot and set you up for a successful financial future.