Ashley Fricker

Senior Editor
Ashley Fricker

About the Author

Ashley works with a team of finance experts and journalists who develop in-depth industry profiles and advice articles read by more than 15 million Americans. Her years of experience reporting on consumer credit scores and reports positions Ashley to make smart recommendations on ways to improve one’s credit and avoid predatory lending. She often serves as an expert source on financial topics for national media outlets, including CNN Money, MarketWatch, Money Matters, ABC News, Kiplinger, and NBC News. Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Latest Posts

Worked On 445 Articles To Date

Guide

224 views

5 min read

4 Reasons Why Credit Reports Sometimes Show Old Debts as New (And How to Fix It)

Why Credit Reports Sometimes Show Old Debts as New

No matter how bad your credit is now, there’s an off-ramp in the future. Federal law prohibits credit bureaus from reporting most negative... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 6/18/26

Study

2,278 views

7 min read

1 in 3 Americans Would Have a Baby for $1,000 — Even Though It Costs $300K to Raise One

68% of Americans Say Trump Accounts Won't Make Them Have More Kids

Despite a $1,000 government incentive, most Americans remain hesitant to have more children. A recent BadCredit.org study finds that 1 in 3... read more »

By: Lynn Cadet • 6/11/26

Guide

3,016 views

11 min read

How to Use “Credit Utilization Zones” to Target Credit Score Increases

How to Use Credit Utilization Zones to Target Score Increases

When it comes to credit, I think I’ve heard all the rumors and partial truths by now. This myth is among them: “The only way to have a high... read more »

By: Erica Sandberg • 6/4/26

Blog

3,502 views

5 min read

7 Million SAVE Borrowers Face a 90-Day Clock Starting July 1

7 Million SAVE Borrowers Face a 90-Day Clock Starting July 1

The U.S. Department of Education is sending a second round of notices to about 7 million SAVE plan borrowers before official transition letters... read more »

By: Adam West • 6/4/26

Blog

3,883 views

5 min read

Trump’s May 19 Order Pulls Immigration Into Credit Underwriting

Trump's May 19 Order Pulls Immigration Into Credit Underwriting

President Trump signed an executive order directing regulators to provide guidance on how lenders should consider immigration status — including... read more »

By: Adam West • 6/3/26

Study

6,426 views

11 min read

States with the Most Intense Sports Betting Activity

States with the Most Intense Sports Betting Activity

America is currently experiencing a sports betting boom. From 2020 to 2025, the money wagered by Americans on sports bets grew from roughly $20... read more »

By: Lynn Cadet • 5/27/26

Study

9,684 views

3 min read

The ‘GTFO Fund’: 3 in 4 Say You Should Have Money Set Aside to Leave a Relationship

3 in 4 Say You Should Have Money Set Aside to Leave a Relationship

Most people don’t walk into a relationship thinking it will end. Yet protective measures, such as prenups and pet custody agreements, have been... read more »

By: Lynn Cadet • 5/11/26

Guide

23,855 views

7 min read

How to Tell Which Accounts Are Hurting Your Credit the Most

How to Tell Which Accounts Are Hurting Your Credit the Most

Pay down your credit card balances. Pay on time. Don’t close your oldest account. Dispute mistakes on your credit report.  One of the biggest... read more »

By: Gerri Detweiler • 3/31/26

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