Making the Most of Financial Capabilities Month
April is full of some of our favorite things: sunny skies, blooming flowers and celebrating the importance of financial literacy. This month, Americans nationwide are addressing their financial goals in recognition of Financial Capabilities Month.
There’s no better time to establish smart spending habits, develop a retirement plan, and become more attune with your financial future. Below are 4 tips on how to grow your wealth of knowledge this month.
1. Assess your current spending habits. Start identifying your reoccurring expenses to create a budget. From every day and monthly expenses to retirement savings, it’s important to be aware how your spending now will impact your future plans.
2. Contribute to your employer’s retirement plan. Ignoring different savings options from your employer can let “free money” go to waste. By contributing to a 401(k), you may be eligible for an extra boost in savings from your employer’s matching plans.
3. Increase your retirement IQ. 1 in 4 baby boomers have less than $5,000 saved for retirement. Find out how much you’ll need to save to reach your ideal retirement with our interactive retirement calculators.
4. Explore financial product options. Many retirees need more than just Social Security checks to maintain their lifestyle and expenses in their golden years. Now is the time to look into other income options in retirement. To diversify your retirement portfolio, you might consider incorporating a fixed indexed annuity. These products can help to offer guaranteed income for life.