Credit scoring is a complex science that is something of a secret to the general public. While there are variations in the scores used by different creditors, the industry-standard score is issued by FICO. Although FICO won’t divulge the exact method behind its calculations, it does publish the broad categories used for scoring, along with the percentage weight assigned to each component. You won’t be able to predict on your own the exact number of points you can increase your score over a six-month period. However, you can move your score in the right direction by improving your credit behavior across the FICO scoring categories.

The Cheshire Cat famously told Alice that if she didn’t care where she ended up, it didn’t matter which way she headed. Think about this when you contemplate making a five-year financial plan. It’s not at the top of on anyone’s fun list, but the chances of achieving your goals increase when you figure out where you want to go and lay out a road map to get there. Here are some tips to get you started.