Start the New Year by Raising Your Financial IQ
The financial world is filled with numbers and details, many of which you don’t really need to think about. I believe you can give yourself a financial boost for 2021 by just zeroing in on these 10 things—all practical information that only require simple math:• Your net worth. Simply add up your assets and then subtract your liabilities. This will help you plan and prioritize your savings and spending.
• Your cash flow. What comes in each month? What goes out? Once you’ve double-checked your income, track your spending for 30 days. This will also help you determine which expenses are essential and how much discretionary income you have.
• How big an emergency fund you need. Everyone’s situation is different, but bad things—an illness, the loss of a job—can happen to anyone. Keep enough cash in an easily accessible account to cover three-to-six months’ essential expenses.
• How much you’re saving each month. Whatever your goal—retirement, college, the down payment on a house—be honest about what you’re regularly putting toward each. Need to save more? Add savings as a line item in your monthly budget.
• Your credit rating. Don’t guess. Most credit card companies will give you your credit score for free. If your score isn’t where you want it to be, fix it! Read this recent article for some tips that can help.
• What your debt is costing you. Interest, annual fees, and late fees all add up. Are you carrying credit card balances? Think about the interest you’re paying over time. If it’s low cost, tax-deductible and for something like a mortgage or education, debt can work for you.
• How much money you need on the day you retire. Chances are, you’ll want an income equivalent to what you had before you retired. A quick rule of thumb suggests you should save 25 times what you think you’ll need to withdraw from your portfolio the first year of retirement Are you on track? Use a retirement calculator online to help crunch the numbers and consider talking to a financial advisor.
• Your marginal and effective tax rates. To understand how much of your earnings you actually get to keep, there are two tax rates to be aware of. Your marginal tax rate is the amount of tax you pay on your last dollar of income. For example in 2016, if you’re married, filing jointly, and in the 25 percent tax bracket, you’ll pay $25 in taxes for every $100 of taxable income above $75,300 and up to $151,900. Your effective tax rate is the average rate you pay when you take all of your income into account, and is likely lower than your marginal rate.
• Your deductibles and copays for insurance. Premiums are only part of the cost of insurance. Review what you owe before your insurance kicks in, i.e., co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket limits. If your current policy isn’t working for you, shop for different insurance!