Credit Confidence & Demystifying FICO with Keon Haley

Credit Confidence & Demystifying FICO with Keon Haley

Author: Next Gen Personal Finance January 13, 2026 Duration: 57:08

In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, Tim interviews Keon Haley of FICO to unpack how credit scores work and how to teach them effectively. Keon shares his personal journey from limited financial conversations at home to discovering financial education's impact while working at a college Small Business Development Center, a passion that now drives his work at FICO's consumer credit education initiatives. They explore the 5 components of a FICO Score: payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, new credit, and credit mix. Keon dispels myths about checking credit, joint scores, and rate shopping. They also discuss how credit reports influence more than borrowing, affecting rentals, insurance, and jobs. The episode concludes with audience Q&A on topics like buy now, pay later reporting, aging mortgages, and medical debt, with Keon highlighting FICO's free Score A Better Future tools and classroom-ready resources.

 


Behind the mission of Next Gen Personal Finance-a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring every U.S. high school student takes a personal finance class-is a vibrant community of educators constantly refining their craft. The NGPF Podcast sits at the heart of that conversation. It’s a space where teachers, curriculum specialists, and sometimes even students share their real-world experiences and challenges in bringing financial literacy to life. You’ll hear practical discussions about what actually works in the classroom, from innovative lesson plans to navigating tricky topics like investing, credit, and behavioral economics. The episodes, often born from the organization's deep investment in teacher professional development, feel less like formal lectures and more like insightful coffee-break chats with colleagues who are just as passionate about empowering the next generation. Tuning into this podcast offers a direct line to the strategies and stories that are shaping financially capable young adults, all grounded in the high-quality resources NGPF is known for. It’s an essential listen for anyone invested in the practical side of financial education, whether you're in a classroom or simply believe in the critical importance of these skills for the future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

NGPF Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Kate Ashford of NerdWallet on How to Start a Small Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:53
Tim Ranzetta interviews NerdWallet writer and personal finance expert Kate Ashford about entrepreneurship, financial education, and lessons from her career in journalism and freelancing. Kate shares early money memories,…
Priceless Facts About Money with Mellody Hobson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:33
In this episode, Yanely Espinal talks to Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments and New York Times bestselling author of Priceless Facts About Money. Melody shares the inspiration behind her new childr…
Lucretia Ryan, Top 10 Social Security Questions Answered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:06
Tim Ranzetta talks to Lucretia Ryan, the founder of FinancialFreedomforwomen.org. She is a financial educator and writer focused on helping women make informed retirement and investment decisions without fees or commissi…
Kenny Finance, Investor, Entrepreneur, and YouTuber [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:13
Join Yanely and she interviews Kenny Johnson, YouTuber, investor, and founder of Kenny Finance. Kenny shares his journey from Detroit to Wall Street and why he's now focused on bringing financial literacy to classrooms a…
Paul Merriman Talks Target Date Funds and Retirement Investing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:16
This episode of the NGPF Speaker Series features personal finance educator Paul Merriman in conversation with Tim Ranzetta, delivering insights especially relevant to teachers. Paul shares practical, research-backed advi…
Laura Levine, President & CEO of JumpStart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:16
This is an inspiring conversation in which Tim interviews Laura Levine, President & CEO of the Jumpstart Coalition. Laura reflects on more than 20 years of leading a national movement for financial literacy and shares ho…
Personal Finance for Teens with Mykail James [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:19
In this podcast Yanely interviews Mykail James, MBA who is the co-author of Personal Finance for Teens (for Dummies). The conversation centers on empowering teens and young adults with personal finance literacy education…
A Conversation with Charles "Charley" Ellis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:48
Charles "Charley" D. Ellis is an American investment consultant. In 1972, Ellis founded Greenwich Associates, an international strategy consulting firm focused on financial institutions. Ellis is known for his philosophy…
Josh Landay, Executive Director of Gifted Savings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:27
Discover how Gifted Savings is transforming the future of financial education for high school seniors by gifting them real investment portfolios and teaching essential money skills. Hear Josh Landay, Executive Director o…