One Minute Money Lessons: Is it Time for a Financial Check-Up?
One Minute Money Lessons: Is it Time for a Financial Check-Up
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Most of the time we go through life simply "taking care of business." As life events occur, we handle them accordingly and go back to our lives. Often, we do the same with our finances. We save a little, spend a little, sometimes have an emergency and move on. But, at least once a year, you need to give your finances a full once-over to make sure they're healthy and keepingyou on track for your goals.
There aresix major areas of your financial portfolio that you should be keeping an eye on. Each year, maybe when you are organizing your taxes, take some time to review these areas. It's also very important to revisit this plan during (or before if possible) life events. Life events are milestones that may change your life and/or your financial planning, such as a birth or marriage, a new job or a new house, and even a death or divorce.
Investment Assets
Keep your emergency fund fully funded, to keep you out of trouble and reduce any requirement for unwanted debt! Your emergency fund should be easily accessible and have about three to six months' worth of income in it.
Then review the rest of your savings to make sure that they are still allocated in line with your financial goals. If you are doing some significant saving, use these new dollars to help even out any change in allocation that the market may have caused.
Retirement Assets
Don't forget these assets, even though they may seem far away. Asset allocation is just as important here. Furthermore, confirm that all beneficiaries are correct, especially if you've just had a child! If you are in your late 60s, determine when Required Minimum Distributions are required and establish a tax strategy for them.
Insurance
Life, House, Car, Boat, Jewelry - whatever type of insurance you have acquired, examine it annually to be certain it has all of your assets covered, and it has kept up with inflation. It's easy to continue to pay the premiums, while not realizing that the insurance does not truly reflect what the insured is worth.
In addition, having children, buying a home, or getting married or a divorce are all good reasons to seek the help of a professional regarding how to best handle life insurance.
Health Insurance
Many timesan employer allows employees to "re-choose" health insurance each year. Don't snooze through this and choose whatever you had last year. Make some informed decisions using what you know may happen in the upcoming year (having a babygetting marrieda child getting braces).
Wills, Living Wills and Trusts
We ALL need a will to designate who will receive our assets in the case of our death. If you believe that your estate is too simple to require a will, be forewarned. If you die without a will, the state decides how to divide your assets, and that may include people you never imagined would be involved.
A living will outlines how you would like to be treated if you become incapable of making or communicating your decisions.You need to name the appropriate person to make decisions for you and predetermine which procedures will be allowed.
Furthermore, if you have accumulated assets over $1 million, it's time to seek some legal help regarding trusts to determine the best way to pass your assets to loved ones in the most tax-efficient manner.
Charitable Contributions/Gifts
Outline a strategy for what you wish to and are capable of giving and make sure it is compatible with tax planning. Clarify if a charitable trust or fund is appropriate for your portfolio.
Current tax law allows up to $13,000 per year per person as a gift, without tax implications. If necessary, build a long-term gifting strategy, with a spouse if applicable, to accomplish your goals, with as little tax liability as possible.
Once you set your financial plan in place, you will find that it doesn't take long to review it each year. You may even find you get some satisfaction from accomplishing your goals! Remember, when you need it, you can always request the help of an impartial financial planner. Certified Financial Planner Professionals are trained to review your entire financial portfolio and make sure that all the moving parts are working together to help you reach your goals faster.
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