The Intelligent Borrower Podcast

Episode 3: Credit Scores- What Are They and Why You Should Care

Todd Stichler Season 1 Episode 3

Episode 3 dives into Credit Scores — what they are, why they matter, and how they directly impact the cost of your borrowing. We break down why people often think their credit is “good” until a lender pulls it, what makes up your score, and why different lenders see different numbers. You’ll learn the Five Pillars that shape every credit score, the difference between FICO and VantageScore, how government policies like the COVID student loan pause affected millions of borrowers, and how your behavior becomes data that decides your risk — and your interest rate. If you want to understand how your credit score can cost or save you thousands, this episode is your foundation for becoming an intelligent borrower.