history · 4 min
Length of credit history
Average age of accounts is a slow but compounding lever.
The 3 age numbers FICO tracks
- Age of Oldest Account — your single longest-held trade line
- Age of Newest Account — shorter = riskier
- Average Age of Accounts (AAoA) — total ages ÷ number of accounts
Why opening a new card hurts twice
A new card adds a hard pull and drops your AAoA. Open 1 card when your AAoA is 10 years and 9 other accounts? AAoA drops to 9 years. Open it when AAoA is 3 years? Drops to 2.7.
Never close your oldest card
When you close a card it stays on your report for 10 years, then drops off. The moment it drops off, your AAoA may collapse and your score with it.
Keep-alive playbook
- Charge one $5 subscription to the old card
- Set autopay-full from your checking account
- Check the statement once a quarter
Authorized-user inheritance
Becoming an AU on a 20-year-old account can inherit some of that history, instantly aging your file. Phase 9 lesson covers the full play.
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