SoFi

How old an authorized user has to be really depends on the credit card issuer. Some set the minimum age for an authorized user on a credit card at 13, while others require that an authorized user is 15 or even 16. Many issuers don’t specify a minimum age requirement at all.

In other words, it’s largely up to the adult’s discretion whether a minor seems old enough to become an authorized user. While it can serve as an educational tool and help build their credit, it also can lead to racking up debt and impacting both parties’ credit. You’ll want to make sure you know what you’re getting into in order to determine if it’s the right arrangement for you.

How Old Does an Authorized User Have to Be?

While the minimum age to get a credit card of your own is 18, an authorized user on a credit card can be as young as 13.

That being said, the minimum age for an authorized user on a credit card ultimately depends on the credit card company, as each issuer has its own age requirements. Some set the minimum age to 13 years old, while others may make authorized users wait to get a credit card at 16 or 15. Some credit card issuers don’t specify a minimum age for authorized users on credit cards.

Factors to Consider Before Adding a Minor as an Authorized User

Before you add a minor as a credit card authorized user, consider the following factors.

Whether You’ll Have to Pay a Fee

Depending on the card, you might have to pay an additional annual fee to add an authorized user. The fee might apply per authorized user, or it may cover, say, three users added to your account.

Check with your card card issuer to see if you might get hit with a fee for adding authorized users to your account.

If They’re Old Enough to Handle the Responsibility

Even if you can add an authorized user as young as 13 to your card, doing so might not be in your best interest — or theirs. For instance, a child in their early teens might not have a basic grasp of managing finances, or they might not be mature enough to handle the financial responsibility and abide by basic credit card rules.

If you’re adding your minor as an authorized user to help them establish credit, a few years is enough time for them to be on their way. Plus, should you slip on your credit, it could also impact your child’s credit.

Recommended: How to Avoid Interest On a Credit Card

How You’ll Track the User’s Purchases

Most credit cards don’t issue unique card numbers to each authorized user. That means if you have multiple authorized users on an account, you won’t be able to easily figure out who made which purchases. Before you go ahead with adding an authorized user, make sure you have a system worked out so you’re not stuck covering their spending.

Whether You’ll Give Access to the Card

While you can give an authorized user their own card, you don’t have to, especially if you’re worried about how they’ll spend with it. If you’re strictly adding a child to your card to help them build credit, there’s no need to hand them a card. They don’t need to have access to your credit card number, either.

Steps to Add a Minor as an Authorized User

First and foremost, you’ll want to carefully weigh the pros and cons of adding someone under the age of 18 as an authorized user. If you have decided that you want to proceed, you’ll need to do the following.

1. Educate the Child About Credit Card Basics

Before adding a minor as an authorized user and giving them the privilege to spend on your card, sit them down and walk them through how credit cards work. For instance, you’ll want to explain what a credit limit is, how interest rates work, what one’s financial responsibility is when putting purchases on a card, and why it’s beneficial to build credit.

Recommended: What is the Average Credit Card Limit?

2. Reach Out to the Credit Card Company

Next, you’ll need to contact the credit card company to let them know you’d like to add an authorized user to your card. You can do so by calling the number on the back of the card, or by logging onto your account online.

You usually need to provide the following information about the individual you’re adding as an authorized user:

•   Name

•   Date of birth

•   Social Security number

•   Address (for them to receive the card)

•   Additionally, you may be able to set spending limits or restrictions for the authorized user at this point in the process.

3. Check Your Account

To make sure the authorized user was correctly added, log on to your account on the issuer’s website or through the app. Double-check to make sure the minor’s name and details are all correct. You might also receive an email notification informing you of this change.

The Cost of Adding an Authorized User

Many credit card issuers do not charge a fee to add an authorized user to an account. However, premium credit cards or cards that already charge annual fees, may charge an annual fee for adding authorized users. This fee may apply per authorized user, or you may pay a flat cost for up to a certain number of users.

Beyond this potential fee, there are other costs you could incur by adding an authorized user. For instance, additional purchases made by the authorized user could cause you to rack up a balance. Plus, their activity can impact your credit utilization, which could hurt your credit score.

Recommended: What is a Charge Card?

Pros and Cons of Adding a Minor as an Authorized User

Here’s an overview of the advantages and downsides of adding a minor as an authorized user to your credit card:

Pros	Cons
Helps to build credit	May cause you to rack up debt
Allows you to earn more rewards	Can’t easily track who’s making purchases
Serves as an educational tool	Can impact credit of both primary cardholder and authorized user

Recommended: Does Applying For a Credit Card Hurt Your Credit Score?

Pros

Adding an authorized user can have the following benefits:

•   Helps to build credit: A major upside of adding a minor as an authorized user is that it will help them establish credit at a young age. They’ll have a more firm financial footing as a result.

•   Allows you to earn more rewards: Another person making purchases on your card means there’s greater potential to earn more rewards. You can more quickly than if you would if you were the sole user.

•   Serves as an educational tool: If you take the time to teach them, adding a minor as an authorized user to your card can help your child learn credit basics and how to manage credit card debt.

Recommended: Can You Buy Crypto With a Credit Card?

Cons

Beware of the potential downsides of having an authorized as well:

•   May cause you to rack up debt: It can be easy to rack up debt and overspend on the credit card with an authorized user. This is especially possible if you’re giving a child access to your card who is still wrapping their head around financial basics.

•   Can’t easily track who is making the purchases: Because purchases aren’t tracked by the authorized user, it might be tough to figure out which person was responsible for which transaction with your card. This is particularly tricky when you have, say, a joint account user and several authorized users.

•   Can impact credit of both primary cardholder and authorized user: If having several users on your card equates to carrying a higher balance, that can up your credit utilization ratio. As credit usage makes up 30% of your credit score, you’ll want to keep that ratio under 30%. Beyond potentially hurting your credit, also know that any irresponsible credit behavior on your card can hurt your authorized user’s credit. For instance, if you are late on a credit card payment, both your credit and the credit of the minor you added to your card can suffer.

Recommended: When Are Credit Card Payments Due?

Tips for Managing a Minor as an Authorized User

If those possible downsides are making you nervous, here are a few things you can do to ensure your minor uses their privileges responsibly:

•   Set limits. Talk to your child and give them an amount they can spend on the card each billing cycle. Also, determine if they’ll be responsible for helping you pay off their share. Or perhaps you might consider an alternative arrangement, such as doing chores around the house to cover purchases they made on their credit card. Hash this out beforehand.

•   Treat the card as a teaching tool. Sit down with your child and go over basics of a credit card, such as how interest fees work, how to read a billing statement, and what can happen if you’re late or miss a payment. You’ll also want to teach them how repayment works.

•   Set alerts. To keep an eye on your child’s spending, consider setting alerts on your credit card. You can set it up so you get notifications for transactions over a certain amount, or any transactions made online, in person, or over the phone.

Recommended: Tips for Using a Credit Card Responsibly

Removing a Minor as an Authorized User

Removing a minor as an authorized user from a credit card is a relatively simple and painless process. To do so, you call the number on the back of the card and let them know the name of the person you’d like taken off. If you have several authorized users on a card, be sure to specify which card user you’re removing.

It’s not a bad idea to leave a paper trail and send a letter to the credit card company reiterating that you’ve requested the change over the phone.

The Takeaway

The minimum age for an authorized user on a credit card varies depending on the credit card issuer. Some require an authorized user to be 13, while others set the age limit at 15 or 16, or even have no formal limit at all.

While you can add a minor as an authorized user on a credit card, you’ll want to carefully weigh the pros and cons before doing so. If you decide to add a child as a user, set some ground rules and teach them credit and financial basics beforehand.

Looking for your next credit card? If you get the SoFi Credit Card, you can earn generous cash-back rewards on all purchases.

The SoFi Credit Card offers unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases. There are no spending categories or reward caps to worry about.¹

Take advantage of this offer by applying for a SoFi credit card today.

FAQ

Do some issuers allow authorized users with no minimum age?

Usually the minimum age requirement to add an authorized user to a credit card is at least 13. However, there are several credit card issuers that don’t note a specific minimum age.

How many authorized users can I add to my account?

It depends on the credit card issuer. Some allow up to four, while others allow up to seven. Some credit card issuers have no limit as to how many authorized users you can add to a credit card. The number of authorized users might also depend on what type of card it is, such as a rewards or travel credit card.

Is an authorized user relationship or a joint account holder better?

It depends on what kind of privileges you want the additional card user to have and the reason you’d like to add them. If you want to help boost someone’s credit and not have them responsible for making payments, then an authorized user could be the better route. If you’d like the user to be equally responsible for making payments and have access to make changes on the account, a joint account holder might make sense.

---

Photo credit: iStock/Manuel Tauber-Romieri

¹Members earn 2 rewards points for every dollar spent on purchases. No rewards points will be earned with respect to reversed transactions, returned purchases, or other similar transactions. When you elect to redeem rewards points into your SoFi Checking or Savings account, SoFi Money® account, SoFi Active Invest account, SoFi Credit Card account, or SoFi Personal, Private Student, or Student Loan Refinance, your rewards points will redeem at a rate of 1 cent per every point. For more details please visit the Rewards page. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. SoFi Securities LLC is an affiliate of SoFi Bank, N.A.

¹See Rewards Details at SoFi.com/card/rewards.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

The SoFi Credit Card is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A. pursuant to license by Mastercard® International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SOCC0922028

Read more

Conventional loans — mortgages that are not insured by the federal government — are the most popular type of mortgage and offer affordability to homebuyers.

Private mortgage lenders originate and fund conventional loans, which are then often bought by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, publicly traded companies that are run under a congressional charter.

By buying and selling conventional conforming mortgages, Fannie and Freddie help to ensure a reliable flow of mortgage funding.

Requirements for Conventional Loans

It can be confusing to know how to qualify for a mortgage.

Just realize, for one thing, that a higher credit score is usually required for a conventional loan than an FHA loan, popular among first-time buyers.

Here are factors a lender will consider when sizing you up for a conventional loan.

Your Credit Score

You’ll usually need a FICO® credit score of at least 620 for a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage.

The FICO score range of 300 to 850 is carved into these categories:

•   Exceptional: 800 to 850

•   Very Good: 740 to 799

•   Good: 670 to 739

•   Fair: 580 to 669

•   Poor: 300 to 579

In general, the higher your credit score, the better the interest rates you’re offered.

Down Payment

Putting 20% down is desirable because it means you can avoid paying PMI, or private mortgage insurance, which covers the lender in case of loan default.

But many buyers don’t put 20% down. The median down payment on a home is 13%, according to a recent study by the National Association of Realtors®.

Conventional loans require as little as 3% down, and the down payment can be funded by a gift from a close relative; a spouse, fiancé or domestic partner; a buyer’s employer or church; or a nonprofit or public agency. The gift may require a gift letter for the mortgage.

Just keep in mind that the smaller the down payment, the higher your monthly payments are likely to be, and PMI may come along for the ride until you reach 20% equity.

Debt-to-Income Ratio

Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) helps a lender understand your ongoing monthly debt obligations relative to your gross monthly income.

To calculate back-end DTI:

1.    Add up your monthly bills (but do not include groceries, utilities, cellphone bill, car insurance, and health insurance).

2.    Divide the total by your pretax monthly income.

3.    Multiply by 100 to convert the number to a percentage.

In general, lenders like to see a DTI ratio of 36% but will accept 43%.

The Fannie Mae HomeReady® loan, for lower-income borrowers, may allow a DTI ratio of up to 50%.

In any case, the lower your DTI ratio, the more likely you are to qualify for a mortgage and possibly better terms.

Loan-to-Value Ratio

The loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is the amount of the mortgage you are applying for compared with the home value. The higher the down payment, the lower the LTV ratio.

Fannie Mae typically sets LTV limits at 97% for a fixed-rate mortgage for a principal residence (think: 3% down) and 85% for a fixed or adjustable loan for a one-unit investment property.

When LTV exceeds 80% on a conforming loan, PMI will likely apply, although some borrowers employ a piggyback loan to avoid mortgage insurance.

Conventional Conforming Loan Limits

Many loans are both conventional and conforming — meaning they meet the guidelines of secondary mortgage market powerhouses Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which buy such mortgages and often package them into securities for investors.

Conventional conforming loans fall below limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) every year.
Staying under a conforming loan limit often equates to a lower-cost mortgage because the loan can be acquired by Fannie and Freddie.

The conforming loan limits for 2022 in many counties in the contiguous states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico rose with market prices:

•   One unit: $647,200

•   Two units: $828,700

•   Three units: $1,001,650

•   Four units: $1,244,850

In high-cost areas like Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the 2022 conforming loan limits were:

•   One unit: $970,800

•   Two units: $1,243,050

•   Three units: $1,502,475

•   Four units: $1,867,275

Nonconforming Loans

Word games, anyone? Nonconforming loans are simply mortgages that do not meet Fannie and Freddie standards for purchase. They usually take the form of jumbo loans and government-backed loans.

A homebuyer or refinancer who needs a mortgage beyond the FHFA limits can seek a jumbo mortgage loan. A jumbo loan is still a conventional loan if it’s not backed by a government agency; it’s just considered a “nonconforming” loan.

FHA, VA, and USDA mortgages — those backed by the Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture — are also nonconforming loans.

Nonconforming mortgage rates may be higher because the loans carry greater risk for lenders, but at times the rates might skew lower than conventional conforming rates.

The Takeaway

Conventional loan requirements are good to know when you’re looking at the most popular type of mortgage around. Then again, a jumbo loan may sound pretty good.

SoFi offers both, each with special features. Check out the advantages of SoFi mortgage loans. And then, within minutes…

---

SoFi Mortgages
Terms, conditions, and state restrictions apply. Not all products are available in all states. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

SOHL0922021

Read more

Whether you’re new to saving for retirement or an old pro, you can use your credit card for funding your IRA or other retirement accounts.

How exactly does this work?

5 Steps for Using a Credit Card To Save for Retirement

Step 1: Learning About IRAs & Other Retirement Funds

If you don’t already have a retirement account, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different types that are available. You may want to consider opening an IRA, stocks, or a mutual fund — a package of stocks and bonds that includes many different companies — to help offset risk.

💡 Recommended: Understanding the Different Types of Retirement Plans

Step 2: Finding the Right Credit Card

Once you’ve figured out how and where you want to invest, you can begin your search to find the right credit card; specifically, a cash-back credit card. These cards offer a percentage back (most offer about 2%) for every dollar you spend. But instead of putting that money directly into your regular bank account or using “points” (which usually don’t have as much value) to shop or get discounts, you can flip that money into your shiny new retirement fund, where it will earn compound interest.

💡 Recommended: How to Choose a Credit Card That Fits You

Step 3: Putting Your Cash-back Rewards To Work

As with any credit card, it’s important to keep your spending in check so that you can pay it off every month. After all, paying interest pretty much negates the whole cash-back thing. But it can be a good idea to put big purchases on your card (as long as you can pay it off that month).

So if you need a new computer for work, you can buy it with your credit card. Bonus: Your card may offer insurance on such a purchase. So it’s a good idea to read the fine print and find out.

Same goes for paying rent with your credit card, as long as your landlord doesn’t charge a fee for credit card payments. Your monthly bills too. The average American pays about $8,600 a year in bills (not including rent or mortgage). If you have to pay for these services anyway, why not earn a few hundred dollars a year by paying them with your credit card?

Again, in order to really benefit from these cash-back rewards, it’s important to pay off your credit card bill every month. Paying interest will just eat into your rewards.

💡 Recommended: Guide to Cash-Back Rewards

Step 4: Mixing & Matching Your Cash-back Cards

Some cards give you a flat cash-back rate. Others offer tiered rewards for specific purchases like groceries, gas, or dining out. If you want to get the most cash-back rewards possible, it’s a smart idea to look at your spending. Figure out what areas you spend the most on each month, and choose a card (or multiple cards) that offer the best rewards for those categories.

Step 5: Automating Your Payments & Investments

To make sure you don’t give in to temptation, you may want to consider automating the cash-back payments to your retirement fund. While you’re at it, you can automate your monthly bill payments so you don’t have to lift a finger to earn those cash-back rewards. You can do the same with your monthly credit card payment to ensure you always pay it on time.

💡 Recommended: Guide to Investing With Credit Card Rewards

The Takeaway

The keys to saving successfully for retirement are to start early, pay off debt quickly, and be consistent with investments. That’s especially true if you want to retire early. And while credit cards can be dangerous when used carelessly, they can obviously offer a great advantage for people who can pay off their credit card bills every month.

If you want to get started on saving for your retirement with a credit card, you can check out SoFi’s very own credit card, which offers 2% cash-back rewards points. Pair it with a SoFi IRA, and you’re in business.

FAQ

How do credit cards help save money?

Credit card companies are essentially providing you with free loans, but only if these two things are true: First, you pay off your bills in full every month to avoid accruing interest. And second, you’re paying no annual fee. In that case, you can say that credit cards are saving you money.

Can I fund my IRA with a credit card?

Yes, you can actually fund your IRA with a credit card. The way it works: Investment companies like Schwab, Fidelity, and Morgan Stanley partner with credit cards offering cash back. The cash back you earn on those cards can be directly deposited into your IRA with that company. You’d have to spend $300,000 to earn $6,000 in cash back — the 2022 IRA limit for people under 50 — but it’s possible.

How do I contribute to an IRA?

The first step is to open an IRA account, either through your employer, a bank, traditional investment company, or online financial institution. Then make one or more deposits up to the annual limit. Deposits can come directly from your paycheck, an online transfer, or even a cash-back credit card.

---

Photo credit: iStock/RgStudio

¹See Rewards Details at SoFi.com/card/rewards.

The SoFi Credit Card is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A. pursuant to license by Mastercard® International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Members earn 2 rewards points for every dollar spent on purchases. No rewards points will be earned with respect to reversed transactions, returned purchases, or other similar transactions. When you elect to redeem rewards points into your SoFi Checking or Savings account, SoFi Money® account, SoFi Active Invest account, SoFi Credit Card account, or SoFi Personal, Private Student, or Student Loan Refinance, your rewards points will redeem at a rate of 1 cent per every point. For more details, please visit the Rewards page. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. SoFi Securities LLC is an affiliate of SoFi Bank, N.A.

SoFi Invest®
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOIN0622041

Read more