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End of Year Money Moves

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We’re getting close to the end of the year so I think it’s a good time to review how to set yourself up for success for next year. Here are some end-of-year money moves you should make.

Year in review

I think it’s important to reflect on the year that has been – financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. If you’re not evaluating your progress as a human, I think you are doing yourself a disservice.

We’ll stick with the finance side of things in this article. Did you achieve the goals you set out to reach when the year started? If you had a goal to pay off debt, did you? If you had a goal to increase your savings rate for retirement, did you?

I think that’s important for two reasons. One, you review your progress to see if you were successful or not. Two, you use this year’s progress to help set your target for next year. If you achieved your goal, you can set a higher target for next year. If you didn’t, maybe keep the same goal and try to hit it next year.

It’s also a good idea to review your investment/retirement portfolio at the end of the year. If you’re investing your retirement savings, there are some sectors or asset classes that performed better than others throughout the year. If that’s the case with your portfolio, the percentage you’re at now is probably different from where you started.

Typically, I like to leave it be, but if you’re in a stage of life where you have to be more selective, then being overweight in a risky asset is probably not a good idea. When you review your investment portfolio make sure that you’re still in good shape with regard to your risk tolerance and time horizon, and you’re pleased with your account’s performance.

Set goals for next year

After you review your progress from this year, set your goals for next year. If you saved more than you set out to at the beginning of the year, use the ACTUAL savings as your goal for next year. If you paid off some debt, redirect toward another one.

What happens if you don’t have any more debt? Congratulations! Then make sure your emergency savings are adequate. If it’s sufficient, beef up your retirement savings or something else you’re saving for.

When you’re making your money moves for next year, make sure you’re designating time to assess your progress throughout the year.

Related reading:

How to Set Investing Goals

Worthy Goals to Set and Crush

Disclaimer:

**Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice; therefore, it is important to coordinate with your tax or legal advisor regarding your specific situation. Please see the website for full disclosures: www.crgfinancialservices.com

Financial Resolutions: Debt, Savings, Investing, Real Estate, and Crypto

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The new year is right around the corner so I thought it fitting to layout some resolutions for a few different financial topics. Here are financial resolutions for crypto, investing, real estate, savings, and debt.

Debt

Pay down or pay off your debt. If you have credit card debt, make it a goal for next year to pay it off completely. The interest rates that credit card companies charge are so brutal. Getting rid of credit card debt would relieve a lot of stress and save you a lot of money that you’re wasting on interest. Not to mention, whatever you’re currently paying towards your credit card can be used for something way more productive.

If all you have is a mortgage, make extra payments. If you have no debt, congratulations! Try and save more so there’s no chance of you going into debt again.

Savings

Would you like to buy a house next year? Save for your down payment. The bigger your down payment is the smaller your responsibility will be; in terms of monthly payments and in terms of total money owed. Especially if your down payment is 20% or more. If that’s the case, you don’t have to pay mortgage insurance (AKA PMI).

If a down payment isn’t something you need to save for, increase your savings rate for retirement. Or set yourself up to cover some unexpected expenses by creating an emergency fund. Do some math, establish a goal number (emergencies, down payment, retirement savings), and then create a plan to save and hit that number.

Investing

For the most part, investing will take place in your retirement account. And for most people, the amount of time you have until retirement is a couple of decades. With that said, you can be a little more aggressive with your investments.

If this description doesn’t fit you, then figure out what works for you. Determine your time horizon, risk tolerance, and what you’d be able to tolerate in terms of short-term losses. If you’d like to get a good idea about what your preference is, take our risk tolerance quiz.

Real Estate

This one is a little challenging because it’s not like you’re going to move once per year. Also, investing in real estate isn’t for everyone. So I’m going to try and hit a few groups with this one.

Buy a new home. If you need more space for your growing family, you got a new job that requires relocation, you want to be closer to your church or family members, then make a move.

Make improvements to your current home to increase the value of your home or to make better use of the space. It can also improve tax credits especially if you use sustainable materials like solar panels. Either way, the improvement has a positive effect on your living situation.

Most people can invest in real estate, they just do it differently. Some people are going to invest in physical properties and some can invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT). Either way, you need to be picky (like all investments) so you get a good return on your money.

Crypto

This applies to everything in this post, but especially here…do your homework. I like crypto. I think there are investment opportunities, but I also think there’s a possibility it all collapses. I like the technology it’s created on, but I don’t know how it’ll transform and what the adoptability will be. Invest only what you can afford to lose is my best advice. With all that said, make financial resolutions to get more educated about cryptocurrencies and the blockchain.

Related reading:

8 Ways to Improve Your Retirement Savings in 2018

Diving Deep into Debt

Worthy Goals to Set and Crush

How to Invest in Cryptocurrency: A Guide for Beginners

Disclaimer:

**Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice; therefore, it is important to coordinate with your tax or legal advisor regarding your specific situation. Please see the website for full disclosures: www.crgfinancialservices.com

How to Prep your Finances Before you Quit your Job

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There are a lot of jobs open right now. Maybe you’re not particularly happy in your current role so you’re looking for other opportunities. Before you leave, you need to make sure you have your affairs in order. Here’s how to prep your finances before you quit your job.

Some things to make note of first.

Plan Ahead

If you want to quit, but don’t have anything lined up yet, get that process started ASAP. There may be a plethora of jobs available right now, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get one right away.

Ideally, you’ll have an accepted job offer before you quit your current job, but that won’t apply to everyone.

You could be leaving a hostile work environment, you could have a bad work/life balance, or you’d like to explore different opportunities.

That’s why you must do your best to always be prepared because you never know what is going to happen. You can’t predict the future.

Before you quit your job, here’s what you have to do.

Have Money Saved

Make sure you have money saved. You truly don’t know how long it’s going to take to find another job. That’s why I say you should have one lined up before you quit your current job. That’s also why the common advice is to have 3-6 months of living expenses saved in case you lose your job.

It’s also important to see what’s out there. As I mentioned in the beginning, there are a lot of jobs available, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to find a better one. Do your research.

Prep Your Finances

If you want to be able to have less liquid money available, work on your expenses. Cut down where you can. If you’re servicing debt, get it paid off so you don’t have that liability sitting out there. If you don’t have any liabilities, you remove the chance that you’ll miss a payment (which is bad for your credit score). Your credit score is important in today’s economy, especially when looking for a job.

Back-Up Plan

Whether you are exploring a different field entirely or looking for a better role in your current industry, it’s a good idea to have something to fall back on. Even with a record number of job offerings, the job market is still unpredictable. Make sure you have a contingency job picked out that matches your skillset and expertise just in case the role you’re pursuing doesn’t work out.

Make Money in the Meantime

Learn how to make money…quickly. If the job hunt is taking longer than you expected, find a way to supplement the income you lost. There are several ways to hustle your way into a wage nowadays. Uber, Lyft, Instacart, UpWork, Fiverr, and more. There are plenty of companies that’ll hire you as a contractor. If you’re making money, that could enable you to be very picky on the job you take.

Health Insurance

Last thing. Don’t forget about healthcare costs. If you get benefits from your current job, figure out how/if you’re going to get health insurance while you are out of work. Short-term plans might meet a need if you’re just looking for disaster coverage, but if you’re someone that requires ongoing medical care, there’s probably something else that’ll meet your needs better.

Prep your finances BEFORE you make a move.

Related reading:

Can an Employer Charge you Fees to Turn Over your 401(k) After you Quit your Job?

Why Financial Literacy is Important

Everything you Need to Know to Set Up Your Emergency Fund

Disclaimer:

**Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice; therefore, it is important to coordinate with your tax or legal advisor regarding your specific situation. Please see the website for full disclosures: www.crgfinancialservices.com

Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit: What Are Your Options?

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American household debt reached a whopping $13.21 trillion in 2018. Add the number of students who enrolled in classes and people currently signing up for credit cards, and you have a massive debt issue.

Many people are knee-deep in debt- even savvy savers and high earners.

If you’re wondering about debt consolidation loans for bad credit, you need to know what options you have and which loans can be a good fit for you.

Below are some crucial tips on navigating debt relief in its various forms.

Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit

Debt consolidation for bad credit can turn out to be a great success if you are well informed.

When you consolidate your debt, you stand to reduce overall payments and can pay off your debts faster without borrowing money in the direct sense.

How does consolidating student loans with bad credit work? You take several loans accumulating interest and/or debt and turn them into one loan.

Keep in mind that your credit score will usually affect your repayment plan. Still, consolidation is considered less risky, meaning you are more likely to pay off all your loans sooner with a consolidation plan than you would by paying them individually.

A consolidation company essentially buys your loans and offers you one monthly payment. Student loan consolidation with bad credit makes it easier to budget, saving you time and money in the long run.

Refinancing Loans with Bad Credit

Wondering how to refinance student loans with bad credit?

When you refinance your student loans, you will need to go through a private lender. Your private lender pays off your current loans and offers you a new loan. Your new loan has its own interest rate and payment schedule.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you may find yourself paying off the new loan with ease. Of course, if you have bad credit, this could affect which lenders will offer a repayment plan.

You can always get a cosigner to receive a lower interest rate. Make sure you and your cosigner are on the same page about their amount of involvement and what they might expect from you during the repayment process. Communication goes a long way in this case.

Credit Counseling

Credit counseling can help you decide between different repayment options based on your financial goals.

For instance, if you are looking to pay off a balance on a credit card with high interest, you might be interested in starting a debt avalanche. Not to worry- this can be good for your credit. You pay more money initially, but you save a lot in interest.

If you have a number of accounts open and limited monthly funds, you might try the snowball method.

The snowball method focuses first on the account with the smallest balance, giving you a feeling of accomplishment. Since you are still eliminating debt, you gradually accumulate momentum until you’ve paid off your debts.

If you’re having trouble finding someone to help consolidate your debt, you can look to a credit union or nonprofit. Both tend to be more people-focused but may have limited funds depending on their customer base.

A credit union or nonprofit can connect you to another lender or provide inhouse services, depending on your needs and your credit.

Wrap Up

Don’t let debt pull you under. With a little patience and the right help, you can pay off your debts and help your credit score recover.

Contact us with any questions you might have about consolidation loans for bad credit. We address your needs with your financial well being at the forefront.

For more great Free Financial Advisor Articles, read these:

How Long Should You Keep Financial Records After A Death?

Advantages and Disadvantages of Saving Money In The Bank

What To Do When You’re Behind On Your Mortgage

Simple Solutions for Repaying Student Loan Debt

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As valuable as education is, it’s awfully expensive. Most students these days look to outside help for finances to help them get through school and land their dream job with the help of a degree or certificate. Unfortunately, getting to that dream can often cost us thousands of dollars in student loan debt. The good thing? Getting over that hump of paying back our student loans is not nearly as insurmountable as it sounds. Check out these helpful ways that will lead you down the path to financial freedom and out of debt.

Live Modestly

It can be hard to live within our means sometimes. We want to go out and socialize, have a few drinks, catch a movie with our pals. The unfortunate truth is that these little expenditures add up in a big way. It’s okay to go out and live your life, or buy some snack food every once in a while, but remember to stay within your means. Whether you’re about to graduate and begin paying back your student loans or you’re already done your education and are in the process of paying them back, spend as little as possible, when possible.

Figure Out Your Options

Repaying your student loan debts doesn’t have to be done all by yourself. Asking for help or reaching out for support isn’t something to be ashamed of either. It’ll alleviate some of the stress in your life to research how you can pay your loans.  Consider all your options; savings accounts, Elfi, loan assistance services, borrow from family, work a secondary job. These are among the many ways you can help chip away at those pesky loans and allow you to feel mentally and financially free, ready to take on the world with your career. There are always options to help you out, don’t be afraid to exercise them!

Pay More Than the Minimum

This tip feels really straight forward but it’s worth mentioning because it is often overlooked. Paying more than the minimum payments for your loans can mean the difference in months of how long it takes to fully pay off your debt. It doesn’t mean you have to pay a massively increased amount each month, but simply paying a percentage of the minimum added on, will reduce the overall time. Another good trick is to split the payments in half for each month so the money you spend doesn’t take chunks out of your rent, groceries, or other necessary bills.

Conclusion

Repaying student loans is an unfortunate reality for many students and graduates. Although it can feel defeating to get your education and know you have to take chunks out of your paycheck each week, the goal of financial freedom is one that requires some sacrifices at times. Keeping these tips and tricks handy is a good way to set yourself up for success in paying off your student loans and is also a great way to develop responsible spending and saving habits when it comes to your money in general.

Incidentally, if you are interested in learning about some radical solutions to the student loan debt problem, the Saving Advice Forums has an excellent discussion about a 5,000 year old proposal for paying off student loan debt.  Basically the idea is to cancel all Federally held student loan debt in the country to improve economic growth.

For more great articles on The Free Financial Advisor, consider reading our pieces on:

How Long Should You Keep Financial Records After A Death

What Are Some Of The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Keeping Money In The Bank

Financial Planning Basics – The Finance Pyramid

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