Starting an emergency fund can sound like a daunting task. Three to 6 months of your income, in one place? That's a big number! You may think you don’t even need an emergency fund. But don't be fooled into this line of thought. After all, it's hard to know exactly when an unexpected expense will pop up (but somehow it always seems to be at the most inconvenient times). Emergency … [Read more...] about What Should Your Emergency Fund Look Like?
Reflecting On Your Finances At The New Year
According to a Fidelity study from 2014, 31% of Americans planned to make financial resolutions for 2015. Of that group, more than half wanted to save more. The median goal was to save $200 per month. But before you look ahead to the goals you want to accomplish in the new year, take a moment to consider how your money situation changed in the last year. Evaluate … [Read more...] about Reflecting On Your Finances At The New Year
Why I Love HSAs for Millennials
As a new employee, you may be confused by all the health insurance terms out there: What are PPOs and HDHPs, and how are they different? What’s going on with HSAs? And which one makes sense for me? Let’s start with the basics: Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) vs. High Deductible Health Plan (HDHPs). If you select your PPO plan, you'll likely have a smaller deductible with higher premiums … [Read more...] about Why I Love HSAs for Millennials
Gen Y: Should You Save More or Earn More?
Here’s what I love about Millennials: our generation wants to learn about money. Young professionals want to know how to be better with money than their parents and their peers. They want to avoid making the same mistakes, and to ensure their financial future is secure. I love that Gen Y is eager to learn and is asking questions like, “How can I be financially successful?” If you turn to … [Read more...] about Gen Y: Should You Save More or Earn More?
17 Investing Terms Millennials Should Understand
Do you have lots of savings in cash, but not much invested for retirement? If so, you're not alone. A majority of Millennials prefer to keep their assets in cash and don't trust the idea of putting money into the market. That's not too surprising, since many members of Gen Y started life "in the real world" right before or during the Great Recession. We saw our parents retirement accounts crash … [Read more...] about 17 Investing Terms Millennials Should Understand
Can Money Buy Happiness for Gen Y?
A lot of emphasis is placed on saving money when we talk about personal finance. Saving more and spending less equal financial success, right? Fundamentally, yes, but that doesn't mean all spending is bad. Spending money becomes an issue when we do it mindlessly on things that don't bring us happiness, or when we spend money fruitlessly in an effort to solve problems that are … [Read more...] about Can Money Buy Happiness for Gen Y?