Written by: Mike Senecal
Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro
You may not view credit as a consumer product, but that’s what it is. The interest rate is the price you pay for access to credit cards and loans, and the benefits are convenience and financial flexibility to gain more of what you want when you want it.
Credit card companies and other lenders naturally seek customers with a proven ability to repay. Otherwise, they couldn’t do business. They assess your reliability through credit scores.
The three primary US credit reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — join with the industry-leading FICO credit scoring service (inventor of the FICO® credit scoring system) and many other industry data providers to produce credit scores that measure your financial status and reputation in various ways.
Higher-than-average scores signal the financial industry’s belief that you’re a reliable credit customer. Lower-than-average scores indicate you pose a higher risk of not repaying your debts. You will need to regularly pay your bills on time to improve your creditworthiness.
Fortunately, online resources to understand and improve credit scores abound. This list of the 10 most influential credit score experts for 2024 will point you in the right direction.
John Ulzheimer
#1 Credit Score Expert for Industry Fundamentals
As President of The Ulzheimer Group and Founder of CreditExpertWitness.com, John Ulzheimer brings a wealth of credit industry experience to the table.
John has direct experience in the industry through previous roles at Equifax and FICO.
He’s a prolific writer, a leading media commentator, and the author of four books, including “The Smart Consumer’s Guide to Good Credit.”
Why We Recommend John
John is an excellent resource for anyone interested in holistically understanding the credit reporting industry and improving their credit.
Visit his website to access articles, interviews, and media mentions, ranging from current events to large-scale industry trends.
Key Links
- On the web
- John’s LinkedIn
- Socials: Facebook / TikTok / X
Clark Howard
#1 Credit Score Expert for Achieving Financial Goals
When Clark Howard was in college, his father lost his job and had no money saved for emergencies. The resulting financial insecurity set Clark on a journey to financial independence.
Millions of readers, listeners, and viewers access free resources at Clark.com to take the same journey.
Why We Recommend Clark
Clark is a national podcast host, best-selling author, and commentator on almost every financial topic imaginable.
His trusted tips and tricks for managing credit and increasing credit scores come from experience leading to success.
Key Links
Rod Griffin
#1 Credit Score Expert for Financial Education
As Senior Director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian, Rod Griffin leads the agency’s education initiatives.
He works with consumer advocates, financial educators, and the media to help consumers understand and manage their finances.
His role at one of the three major US credit bureaus naturally leads him to recommend sound strategies for improving credit scores quickly and permanently.
Why We Recommend Rod
Understanding something does not mean you can communicate it. Rod’s work is valuable because he understands how to communicate the ins and outs of improving credit scores.
Check out Rod’s LinkedIn and Twitter/X feeds for up-to-date industry trends and tips and tricks for success.
Key Links
- On the web
- Rod’s LinkedIn
- Socials: X
Al Bingham
#1 Credit Score Expert for Credit Score Improvement
Al Bingham is a Senior Loan Officer at Momentum Loans and has vast industry experience in residential lending and credit scores.
His book, “The Road to 850,” outlines the FICO credit scoring system and has helped thousands of consumers improve their purchasing power, save money, and become homebuyers.
Why We Recommend Al
Al is a frequent media commentator, nationally recognized credit expert, and credit score analyst. He’s also a blogger at Mycreditplan.org, writing about credit reports and scores.
Al’s consumer-friendly commentary provides valuable insights into the state of the industry and how consumers can raise their scores.
Key Links
- On the web
- Al’s LinkedIn
- Socials: YouTube
Becky House
#1 Credit Score Expert for Getting Out of Debt
Becky House is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at American Financial Solutions (AFS).
AFS is a nonprofit credit counseling, financial education, and debt consolidation agency based in Seattle.
She oversees AFS’s media presence, including its impressive blog.
Also, she is often quoted or mentioned in industry news outlets.
Why We Recommend Becky
Becky values financial empowerment, so she’s a natural at advocating sound get-out-of-debt strategies for all communities.
She understands the benefits of living a debt-free life and gaining the financial flexibility of lower-cost credit.
Key Links
- On the web
- Becky’s LinkedIn
- Socials: N/A
Ethan Dornhelm
#1 Credit Score Expert for FICO Scores
As Vice President of FICO Scores and Predictive Analytics, Ethan Dornhelm oversees the research and analytic development of FICO Scores, the industry-standard credit score methodology.
Ethan’s frequent posts on the FICO blog are an authoritative and comprehensive source of inside information about FICO scores.
Why We Recommend Ethan
Ethan’s role puts him at center stage in an industry where change is the only constant. He brings his expert insights regarding the entire financial sector to the FICO website.
Look no further if you’re seeking to understand how scores, industry trends, and the economy work together.
Key Links
- On the web
- Ethan’s LinkedIn
- Socials: N/A
Joseph Allen
#1 Credit Score Expert for Homebuyers
Consumers often encounter news about their credit scores when making a large purchase, such as a car or home.
That’s why it’s important to understand credit scores in the context of the mortgage industry.
As Vice President and Senior Mortgage Lending Officer at Quontic Bank, Joseph Allen has more than 15 years of experience guiding clients through the mortgage process.
Why We Recommend Joseph
Joseph’s LinkedIn and social media accounts allow observers to tap into mortgage industry trends and learn about Quontic Bank.
Quontic’s blog is also a great source of guides, articles, and resources for becoming knowledgeable about mortgage credit scores.
Key Links
- On the web
- Joseph’s LinkedIn
- Socials: Facebook / TikTok / X
Bruce McClary
#1 Credit Score Expert for Credit Counseling
Bruce McClary is the Senior Vice President of Communications at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), the oldest nonprofit financial counseling organization. NFCC’s mission is to help all Americans gain control of their finances.
Bruce frequently contributes to the NFCC blog, where his posts explore all facets of the credit industry.
Why We Recommend Bruce
We value Bruce’s work because it emphasizes getting out of debt to reach financial goals.
NFCC is an ideal consumer partner for achieving those goals because it offers quick and free phone consultations to help consumers take the first steps.
Key Links
- On the web
- Bruce’s LinkedIn
- Socials: X
Gary Herman
#1 Credit Score Expert for Free Resources
Gary Herman, President of Consolidated Credit Counseling, has decades of experience examining consumer credit trends and the causes and consequences of financial overextension.
He and his team understand the value of free educational resources to help consumers learn how to budget and achieve financial stability.
Ultimately, that allows people to increase their credit scores.
Why We Recommend Gary
Consolidated Credit Counseling has a 30-year history of helping millions recover from credit card debt.
Gary and his team leave no stone unturned in providing valuable yet free resources to help consumers improve their scores and use financial services to their advantage.
Key Links
- On the web
- Gary’s LinkedIn
- Socials: N/A
Eddie Johansson
#1 Credit Score Expert for Report Analysis
Eddie Johansson, Founding President of Credit Security Group, leads a team that has developed well-tested credit score analysis tools to help buyers and sellers understand the data-centric mortgage lending world.
Credit Security Group is a comprehensive information resource for industry insiders, homeowners, and potential homebuyers interested in gaining insights and expertise in this often complex field.
Why We Recommend Eddie
Credit Security Group provides many resources to help its various constituencies achieve those goals, including FAQs, articles, a blog, and credit score analysis tools.
We appreciate Eddie and his team’s contributions to transparency in mortgage lending, especially regarding how credit scores impact it.
Key Links
- On the web
- Eddie’s LinkedIn
- Socials: N/A
A sound credit score is a ticket to financial flexibility. But experience counts in choosing an advisor or counselor to help you overcome challenges to success.
That’s why our work to whittle down the copious credit score resources available online should be helpful. This list consolidates the web to provide something immediately beneficial. Good luck on your journey to improve your credit score.
