Jessica Sain-Baird

Jessica Sain-Baird assigns and edits articles that encourage financial literacy and help readers make informed financial decisions. This includes explainers, loan and account roundups, financial institution reviews and more.

Starting as a deputy editor on the deposits and investing beats, Jessica now oversees content on personal and auto loans and deposits as a senior managing editor.

Before joining LendingTree, Jessica spent over a decade as a writer, editor and content strategist in fast-paced settings including Columbia University in the City of New York and the Central Park Conservancy. While working full-time, she earned her master’s degree in digital content strategy.

Outside of work, Jessica enjoys volunteering with animal rescues and exploring new cities.

Specialties

• Personal and auto loan product reviews
• Credit improvement and debt management strategies
• Deposit and investment accounts
• Federal Reserve policy
• Rate shopping for loans
• Product rating systems and methodologies

Achievements

• 3 years of professional personal finance experience
• 12 years of professional writing and editing experience
• 100+ articles edited for LendingTree

Education

• BS, University of Kansas
• MS, University of Kansas

Jessica’s tips for improving your credit score

Maintaining a great credit score can help you secure low interest rates and get approved for loans, rental properties, and more. Though there are short-term actions that affect your score, keeping a high credit score is partially a long game.

Having a long credit history improves your credit score, so you can indefinitely maintain a credit card with no annual fee — just be sure to always pay your bill in full each month or don’t use the card at all. 

Also, don’t be afraid to regularly review your credit reports (it’s free). If you have any missed payments or other blemishes on your reports, it doesn’t hurt to ask lenders to consider removing them if they were rare missteps.