Articles by Thomas (TJ) Porter

TJ Porter has in-depth experience in reviewing financial products such as savings accounts, credit cards, and brokerages, writing how-tos, and answering financial questions. He has also contributed to publications and companies such as Investment Zen and Echo Fox. He aims to provide actionable advice that can help readers better their financial lives. Education: B.S. in Business Administration, Concentration in Information Systems from Northeastern University.

Is It a Good Idea to Finance Furniture Purchases? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Is It a Good Idea to Finance Furniture Purchases? Furniture stores and other retailers of big-ticket items are quick to try and make... The Effects on Your Credit Score After Removing an Authorized User Find out how your credit scores are affected after you decide to remove an authorized user from a credit card account. Learn how credit reporting and scoring works to understand the effects of an authorized user on your credit (and on the authorized user's credit as well). How to Roll a 401(k) Into an IRA Learn the benefits of rolling over a 401(k) plan into an IRA to manage your retirement savings, including the different ways and steps to transfer those assets. 6 Personal Loan Fees That You Need To Know Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter 6 Personal Loan Fees That You Need To Know Every loan comes with interest, the extra amount you have to pay for the privilege... Are There Reasons to Lower Your Credit Card Limits? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Are There Reasons to Lower Your Credit Card Limits? When it comes to credit scores, you may already know that it is a good idea to... What Happens When You Become an Authorized User on a Credit Card Account? Find out what happens when you become an authorized user on someone else's credit card account, especially the potential benefits to your credit score. How to Rebuild Your Credit Score After Bankruptcy Learn about what you can use to rebuild a good credit score after bankruptcy and how to ensure that you‘ll be able to borrow again in the future. Installment Loan vs. Revolving Credit: Effect on Your Credit Score Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Installment Loan vs. Revolving Credit: Effect on Your Credit Score Your credit score has a significant impact on your financial life. It affects... Do You Need Multiple Credit Cards to Build Good Credit? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Do You Need Multiple Credit Cards to Build Good Credit? You've been using that one credit card responsibly and your credit score has... How to Avoid Credit Card Skimmers Find out how you can protect yourself from a common type of fraud that involves credit card skimmers, which steal your card information at the point-of-sale.