The Leverage Letter
Smarter Tools. Better Credit. Optimal Living.
Your no-nonsense friend helping you leverage credit for your business, travel, and life.
YOUR LIFE NOW:
You’re scaling fast. Ads, software, contractors—it’s all fueling the fire. Major spend on your cards, paid off diligently.
Feels responsible, right?
YOUR LIFE WITHOUT CHANGE:
If that spend is running through personal cards—or the wrong business cards—you might be silently tanking your credit score.
You could get denied for a mortgage, investment loan, or even your next business credit line.
Not because you’re broke.
Because your utilization looks high on paper.
YOUR LIFE AFTER CHANGE:
You separate spend smartly.
Your credit stays strong.
Your personal leverage stays intact—whether you're buying a house or scaling your brand.
Let’s fix it.
THE PROBLEM: CREDIT UTILIZATION SABOTAGE
High credit usage—even temporarily—can drop your score by 50+ points. Using the wrong cards for business spending silently kills your personal credit.
🚩 CUR SPIKE ON PERSONAL CARDS
Spend $15K on a $20K limit card? That’s 75% utilization—even if paid off immediately.
Your FICO sees “risk,” not business growth.
🚩 SOME BUSINESS CARDS STILL REPORT
Think you’re safe with business cards? Not always.
Cards like Capital One Spark or Discover report directly to personal credit.
🚩 PERSONAL LEVERAGE TAKES A HIT
High utilization = red flag to lenders:
Lower mortgage approvals
Higher interest rates
Tighter lending overall
🚩 FUTURE BUSINESS FUNDING GETS HARDER
Many lenders check your personal credit. A dented score means fewer approvals and smaller limits.
THE LEVERAGED SOLUTION: KEEP SPEND CLEAN
It’s not about cutting spend. It’s about strategic placement.
NEVER RUN BUSINESS SPEND ON PERSONAL CARDS
Too risky—even if paid monthly. One bad timing = big drop.
KNOW HOW YOUR BUSINESS CARD REPORTS
Chase and Amex generally don't report balances to personal credit unless you default.
Pro Tip: Amex Business Platinum, Gold, and Chase Ink series are ideal for high spend.
IF IT REPORTS, PAY BEFORE STATEMENT CLOSES
Minimize your reported balance by paying early.
MONITOR BOTH CREDIT REPORTS
Personal: Credit Karma, Experian
Business: Nav, Experian Business
CASE STUDY: THE REFINANCE SAVE
Sarah’s thriving e-commerce business spent $25K monthly on a Capital One Spark card. Paid off monthly—no issues, right?
Until her mortgage refinance was denied.
Why? Her card reported heavy spend to her personal credit. Her score dropped 60+ points.
Switching to an Amex Business Platinum stopped the reporting. Her score rebounded within 60 days, and the refinance went through.
Moral: Where you put your spend matters just as much as how you spend.
ACTION STEP THIS WEEKEND
Look up your primary business spending card.
Google “[Card Name] reports to personal credit?”
If yes: Shift spend or pre-pay before statement closes.
If unsure: Apply for a non-reporting card (Amex or Chase).
Hit reply: Do you know if your main card reports to personal credit?
Yes, No, or Not Sure?
AWARD BOOKING SPOTLIGHT
San Francisco (SFO) → Singapore (SIN)
Cash Price: $3,108
Points Used: 100,000 United miles + $6 taxes
Card Used: Chase Sapphire (transferred UR points 1:1)
Cash Booking
Coffee in San Francisco. Chili Crab in Singapore.
That’s the power of optimized spend and smart redemptions.
BEFORE YOU GO…
🎯 Free Resource:
[Download the Business Credit Foundation Checklist]
Start building business credit right, without hurting your personal score.
💡 Want Help One-on-One?
Private Leverage Sessions for founders & high-performers:
Build 6-figure funding stacks
Separate personal and business credit
Luxury travel for less
To smarter spend and sharper leverage,
Ade O.
Chief Leverage Officer
Helping you fund your business, optimize credit, and live on your terms.
P.S. Forward this to a friend scaling fast but unaware how their cards report. You could save them from a 60-point credit drop.