Keep Your Credit Clean Protect your personal financial history so that it doesn't become a professional liability.

When it comes to managing your money, three little digits wield tremendous power over your future--and as with your cholesterol and your weight, you ignore them at your peril.

That's right. I'm talking about your FICO score, the number that tells credit-card issuers, mortgage lenders and other consumer finance companies how safe it is to lend you money.

As a business owner and entrepreneur, you're probably pretty savvy when it comes to negotiating credit terms with banks and vendors. Consumer credit is a whole different game, however.