Your credit score is a vital aspect of your finances, with everything from job prospects to finding a place to live hinging on whether you have good credit or bad credit. But hidden within your credit score, you can find several factors that will determine whether your credit looks appealing or scary to others.
In the following video, Dan Caplinger, The Motley Fool's director of investment planning, examines the five factors that Fair Isaac (FICO -2.13%) looks at in determining its FICO score. Dan notes that payment history and amounts owed on your credit are the two most important factors, while length of credit history, how much new credit you've obtained recently, and the different types of credit you utilize also play important roles in determining your score. Dan notes that while different scores have different methodologies, having good reputations from Fair Isaac, Equifax (EFX -1.65%), and other credit bureaus is essential to a healthy financial life.
