Did You End 2020 Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise? by Darlene Van Beek

08 Jan Did You End 2020 Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise? by Darlene Van Beek

Although we’ve arrived into 2021, you still have time to review your past year finances.

Pausing to reflect on the financial progress you made in 2020 and identifying adjustments for this year can help you start the new year stronger than ever.

How healthy are your finances?

Think of a year-end review as an annual physical for your money.

Here are some questions to ask that will help assess your financial fitness.

• Do you know how you spent your money in 2020? Did you make any progress toward your financial goals? Look for spending habits (such as eating out too much) that need tweaking, and make necessary adjustments
to your budget.

• Are you comfortable with the amount of debt that you have? Any end-of-year mortgage, credit card, and loan statements will spell out the amount of debt you still owe and how much you’ve been able to pay off this year.

• How is your credit? Having a positive credit history may help you get better interest rates when you apply for credit, potentially saving you money over the long term. Check your credit report at least once a year by requesting your free annual copy through the federally
authorized website annualcreditreport.com.

• Do you have an emergency savings account? Generally, you should aim to set aside at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses. Having this money can help you avoid piling up more credit-card debt or shortchanging your retirement or college savings because of an unexpected event such as job loss or illness.

• Do you have an adequate amount of insurance? Your insurance needs may change over time, so it’s a good idea to review your coverage at least once a year to make sure it still meets your needs.

How wealthy are you really?

It’s easy to put your retirement savings on autopilot, especially if you’re making automatic contributions to a retirement account. But market swings this year may have affected your retirement account balances, so review any statements you’ve received. How have your investments performed in comparison to general market conditions, against industry.

Finally, look for ways to save more. For example, if you receive a pay increase this year, don’t overlook the opportunity to increase your employer-sponsored retirement plan contributions. Ask your employer to set aside a higher percentage of your salary.

How wise are you about financial matters?

What you don’t know can hurt you, so it’s time to honestly assess your financial picture. Taking into account your income, savings and investments, and debt load, did your finances improve this year? If not, what can you do differently in 2021? What are your greatest financial concerns? Do you have certain life events coming up that you need to prepare for, such as marriage, buying a home, or sending your child off to college? You can’t know everything, so don’t put off asking for assistance. It’s a wise move that can help you prepare for next year’s financial challenges.

Darlene Van Beek
CFP®, RFC®Money Concepts Capital Corp.
Financial Consultant
2985 Gordy Parkway, Marietta, GA 30066
Office: 770-578-3555, Mobile: 678-516-2479
DVanBeek@moneyconcepts.com
www.Moneyconcepts.com/DVa