Credit factor (5-factor)
The five categories that determine your credit score: payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), new credit (10%), credit mix (10%). Improvement in any category lifts the score; the weights matter.
Why it matters
Most credit-improvement advice is one-dimensional ("pay your bills on time"). The 5-factor breakdown is what lets you target the highest-leverage move for your specific situation. A user with thin credit history needs different advice than one with high utilization. The factor breakdown tells you where the opportunity is.
The factor weights are FICO's; VantageScore weighs slightly differently but the ranking is similar. For most practical purposes, the 5-factor model is the working framework.
How Ajeris handles this
Ajeris's credit-factors tool analyzes the user's report against the 5-factor model and identifies the highest-leverage improvement target. For high-utilization users, AZEO and balance-transfer recommendations. For thin-history users, credit-builder recommendations. For mixed-issue cases, a sequenced plan that addresses factors in priority order. The analysis is deterministic; the recommendations are presented conversationally.
