Understanding your personal financial situation is essential. How well you know your money impacts every aspect of your life. Even if you live comfortably, you might not know everything you should about your financial situation. Ask yourself the following eight questions to determine your understanding of your circumstances. 1. How Much Do I Have in Savings and Investments? You should know the amounts you have set aside in the following accounts and how to access them in

Deciding whether to invest or pay off debt first can be difficult. Both are responsible choices that help attain your financial goals. The Rule of 6%, described below, can help determine whether to invest or pay off debt first. The suggested adjustments can also benefit your situation. The Rule of 6% If you have at least 10 years before retirement, are investing in a balanced portfolio with approximately a 50% allocation to stocks, and are investing in a tax-advantaged

Your net worth is the total value of your assets minus the total value of your liabilities. Because this number represents the value of everything you own after accounting for all of your debts, it indicates your financial health. Knowing your net worth provides substantial insight into your financial situation. This value helps you track your progress toward monetary goals. When you are starting, you should regularly track your net worth. Once you are more established, c

Investing is a strategy to grow your money over time. You can pursue long-term goals such as purchasing a home, funding your retirement, and paying for your child’s education. Investing involves risk in exchange for potentially great returns over time. The sooner you begin, the more time your money has to grow. Benefits of Investing The benefits of investing include the following: Compound Growth Compound growth occurs when your investment return generates an additional

The following questions and answers help explain money and related topics. Let me know in the comments any additional questions about money you would like answered. 1. What Is a Credit Score? A credit score is a numeric rating that creditors use to evaluate a borrower's risk when making lending decisions. Fair Issac Corporation (FICO) created the most commonly used credit score, which is based on the following: Your amount of debt Whether you pay your bills on time How many

Experts suggest different approaches to determine how much you need to save for retirement. Some say to save at least 8-10 times your annual salary for retirement. Others recommend having at least 65% to 80% of your pre-retirement income available for each year you plan to spend in retirement. The amount you need to save for retirement depends on your desired lifestyle, retirement date, and income sources to draw from. The following guidelines can help narrow down your numb

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan that allows contributions through automatic paycheck deductions. The company might match the contributions up to a certain amount or percentage. In contrast, an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a retirement savings option available to anyone with earned income or whose spouse has earned income. This account is funded with contributions from a bank account. Similarities Between a 401(k) Plan and an IRA A 401(k

Changing jobs can be stressful. Not knowing what to do with your 401(k) or 403(b) account when leaving an employer can increase your stress level. You have four options for your 401(k) or 403(b) account when leaving a job or retiring. Two of these options include penalty-free rollovers. Understanding each choice helps determine which is right for you. The following four options include two penalty-free methods to roll over your 401(k) or 403(b) account when leaving your j

When you leave your job, you have four options for rolling over your 401(k) account. The option you choose should depend on your financial situation and retirement goals. Understanding your options and potential results impacts the tax advantages you receive. The following information can help. These are your four options for rolling over your 401(k) account. 1. Cash Out Your 401(k) Account Cashing out your 401(k) account is NOT recommended. The distributions typically

I’ve heard many people say they metaphorically throw a dart at a board when deciding which investments to choose for their 401(k) account. Because most people weren’t taught how to select investments that align with their retirement goals, the options they end up with might not be right for them. Knowing your retirement goals and personal preferences helps you build an investment strategy. Understanding your investment options, selecting your 401(k) investments, and staying

Most employers offer a 401(k) plan as part of their employee benefits package. This defined contribution plan helps employees save for retirement. Many employers offer matching 401(k) contributions up to a certain amount or percentage to encourage employees to save for retirement. The money employees have to live on in later years depends on the amount contributed and the performance of the underlying investments. The following are the five main types of 401(k) plans. 1

If you are changing jobs or nearing retirement, understanding your options for your 401(k) account is essential. Controlling where your money is provides peace of mind. Whether you withdraw your money or roll it into another retirement account impacts your financial goals and tax obligations. The following information can help guide your decision. Option 1: Cash Out Your 401(k) Account Cashing out your 401(k) account typically is not recommended: You can ask your former e

Like most employees, you might have a 401(k) account through your employer. This retirement plan helps you save money for your later...