 TITLE: How to Plan for Retirement CONTENT: Monitor Your Credit\n-------------------\nProperly planning and managing your finances—including your retirement savings—depends, in part, on monitoring your credit. So, why is it important to keep on top of your credit ahead of retirement? Here are four reasons:\n1.  You don't want to carry a heavy load of debt that eats into your retirement income.\n2.  If you decide to downsize to a different house, your credit score will impact your approval for a mortgage and the interest rate and terms you're offered. You might want to downsize from a house you own to an apartment you rent. When reviewing your rental application, a landlord likely will review your credit.\n3.  You might be leaning toward refinancing a mortgage or auto loan. Healthy credit can help lower monthly payments and interest rates for these loans.\n4.  You might need to pay health care expenses with a credit card or loan. A strong credit record can boost your credit score and potentially lead to lower interest rates.\nKeep in mind that your retirement won't be reflected on your credit reports. These reports, which are used to calculate your credit scores, don't include information about your employment or income. END