The Big Chill – How to Freeze Your Credit and Why You Should

Lifestyle
Written By Lauren O’Brien, CFP®, RICP®, CPA

Ahhh, don’t you just love fall? The crisp, cool air, apple cider by the firepit, a flannel blanket over your legs—it’s the season when everything starts to chill out. And this cool weather is the perfect time to make sure you’re taking care of something else cool: freezing your credit.

Women, in particular, are often the financial gatekeepers of their households—protecting your credit is one of the simplest ways to guard that financial foundation. Freezing your credit is a really useful—and very simple—way to protect your credit from fraudulent behavior. A bad actor can’t open a new line of credit using your credentials if the lender can’t access your credit file! It stops that fraudulent attempt in its tracks. Plus, it’s easy and free!

To get started, let’s review what your credit file is and how it’s accessed. Your credit file is maintained at three separate credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You need to freeze each location. 

If you don’t have a login profile yet, that’s step number one. While you’re at it, pull your free credit report at each location to make sure everything looks accurate. (I talk more about reviewing your reports in my New Year’s Retreat post!)

Once you establish your profile, there’s an easy menu option on the website or app to put a freeze on your file at that bureau. Don’t worry, you can easily un-freeze both temporarily and permanently should you want to in the future.

When your credit is frozen, you can still use your existing credit cards and loans, and your credit monitoring services continue to work as usual. If you need to apply for something new, like if you’re applying for a new mortgage or an auto loan or just a new credit card, add a temporary lift to the freeze with just a few clicks. Even better, add the timeframe to the lift so it automatically refreezes for you! 

So, next time you’re commenting on how wonderful that cool, crisp air feels, make sure to take a minute to freeze your credit—and, pro tip, freeze your kids’ credit files, too! Often overlooked, these are some of the most undetected fraudulent cases.

Ready to give your credit the ultimate cool-down? Or wondering if a freeze fits your financial plan? Reach out anytime at lobrien@xmlfg.com — I’m happy to help you put the right protections in place.


This communication is for informational and educational purposes only. No content or reference is intended to be a recommendation for the sale or investment in any product, strategy or service nor should it be perceived as individual advice. Please seek the advice of a financial advisor regarding your particular financial situation. Visit xmlfg.com for more information. 



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Lauren O’Brien, CFP®, RICP®, CPA

Lauren joined an XML legacy firm in 2013, creating The O’Brien Team with her father until he happily retired five years later. She specializes in retirement planning, retirement income generation, wealth transfer planning, and investment management. She maintains the credentials of a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Retired Income Certified Professional®. She demonstrated her local leadership in the field with service on the Financial Planning & Wealth Management advisory board at George Mason University.

Prior to embarking into wealth management, Lauren worked in client service as a CPA after graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame. Her motto is “life is not a dress rehearsal,” and that outlook helped motivate her to move to London in 2008, where she thrived in a global setting.

Returning to the U.S. after London, Lauren is a proud resident of Old Town. She immediately became engaged in the local community, becoming active with The Campagna Center and most recently joining the Board for the Alexandria Seaport Foundation. Making further investments in her community, she served on the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee through early 2026 and founded Alexandria’s first community-focused TEDx program that held conferences in both 2019 and 2021. While previously serving on the Board of Directors for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, she chaired its Professional Women’s Network, under which she launched its now-annual Women’s Leadership Forum.

An avid traveler, Lauren has visited all continents except Antarctica and recently completed her quest to visit all 50 states! She loves to cook, attend wine tastings, and can frequently be found at events around Alexandria.

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