Cross these five items off your financial to-do list. This year, resolve to:
Review and Evaluate Your Life InsuranceWhile the benefits of having life insurance are substantial, it’s important to make sure your plan meets your current and future financial goals. Don’t forget to consider whether recent life events might necessitate a change in coverage.
Get a quote for your family today! Text or Call 770.771.9876
Do Not Put Off Working on Your Taxes If you don’t file on time and owe taxes to the IRS, you face consequences. You could owe the IRS penalty fees and interest or even incur criminal charges.1 File on time or file an extension if you have extenuating circumstances.
For tax preparation call or text 770.771.9876
Increase Your Savings Get motivated to stick to your savings goals by finding creative ways to increase your savings. If you’re not already working off a budget, create one, and use it to assess your spending. You may be surprised to see where you can cut down on spending and that may incentivize you to build towards a savings goal.2
Max Out Your Retirement ContributionsDepending on your circumstances, maxing out your retirement contributions can make sense, especially if you have a sizeable savings account, or, if you are over 50 and have saved little for retirement.3
Review Your Auto and Home CoverageSeek out ways to save by reviewing your auto insurance costs instead of automatically renewing every year with your current insurer. Also, consider bundling your auto and home coverage. It can often be a great way to save on insurance premiums.
1. Money.com, “Here’s What Happens if You Don’t File Your Taxes on Time,” April 13, 2023 2. The Motley Fool, “The Unfortunate Truth About Maxing Out Your 401(k),” August 5, 2023 3. Bankrate.com, “How to Save Money Fast,” December 21, 2022
Credit card debt is known as “revolving” debt. The interest compounds daily instead of monthly, which means you can pay much more in interest.
Because there is no fixed amount that you pay each month, your debt can go on forever. Additionally, your interest rate could change at almost any time and there is little a consumer can do beyond paying off the entire balance at once.
1. Assumes revolving payment (minimum) is 3.5% of the remaining balance or $20, whichever is greater. First month’s payment is shown and term assumes continued payment of minimum amount with no additional amounts paid. Also assumes no additional debt is incurred and payments decrease over time period. 2. Assumes payment of 3.5% of initial loan amount, no additional debt incurred and initial payment amount remains fixed throughout term of loan.
To have a complete savings program, most people need three types of basic accounts:
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are both great options to help you set aside money for qualified medical expenses with major tax advantages. Knowing these differences can help you decide which is right for you.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
- You must have an HSA-eligible health plan as your only health insurance.
- You must be enrolled in the plan through your employer.
- 100% of your unused funds carry over year to year.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Allows you to invest the money and benefit from compound interest.
- 100% of your elected amount is available on day one.
- Won’t let you carry over funds at year end – “use it or lose it”
