AF

Amanda Foster, AFC

AFC

Accredited Financial Counselor & Credit Specialist

Phoenix, AZ · 9 years of experience

Credit ScoresCredit RepairConsumer Finance
LinkedIn Profile

About Amanda

Amanda Foster is an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) with nine years of experience helping consumers understand and improve their credit profiles. She began her career as a credit counselor at a nonprofit credit counseling agency, where she worked directly with individuals struggling with debt and damaged credit — an experience that shaped her practical, empathetic approach to financial education.

Amanda specializes in demystifying the credit scoring system for everyday consumers. She has a particular talent for explaining the FICO scoring model in plain language and helping people understand which actions will actually move their scores — versus the many myths and misconceptions that circulate online.

Her writing has appeared in Credit Karma, Experian's financial education blog, and NerdWallet. Amanda holds a B.S. in Consumer Sciences from Arizona State University and earned her AFC® designation through the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE).

Published on MintEdge

Credit 8 min read · February 1, 2026

Understanding Your Credit Score: What Moves the Needle

Understanding the five factors that determine your credit score allows you to improve it systematically — and the improvements can save tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.

Read article →
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Certifications

Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®)

AFCPE · 2016

Education

B.S. Consumer Sciences

Arizona State University

2013

AFC® Designation

AFCPE

2016

Areas of Expertise

  • FICO and VantageScore credit scoring models
  • Credit report error disputes
  • Credit utilization optimization
  • Secured credit card strategy
  • Credit building for thin-file consumers

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