Financial mistakes people make at different ages.
There's a saying that with age comes wisdom, but this may not always be true in the financial world. As people move through different life stages, there are new opportunities--and potential pitfalls--around every corner.
In your 20s
Living beyond your means. It's tempting to want all the latest and greatest in gadgets, entertainment, and travel, but if you can't pay for most of your wants up front, then you need to rein in your lifestyle. If you take on too much debt--or don't work diligently to start paying off the debt you have--it can hold you back financially for a long, long time.
Not saving for retirement. You've got plenty of time, so what's the rush? Well why not harness that time to work for you. Start saving a portion of your annual pay now and your 67-year-old self will thank you.
Not being financially literate. Many students graduate from high school or college without knowing the basics of money management. Learn as much as you can about saving, budgeting, and investing now so you can benefit from it for the rest of your life.
In your 30s
Being house poor. Whether you're buying your first home or trading up, don't buy a house that you can't afford, even if the bank says you can. Build in some wiggle room for a possible dip in household income that could result from switching jobs, going back to school, or leaving the workforce to raise a family.
Not protecting yourself with life and disability insurance. Life is unpredictable. What would happen if one day you were unable to work and earn a paycheck? Let go of the "it-won't-happen-to-me" attitude. Though the cost and availability of life insurance depend on several factors including your health, the younger you are when you buy insurance, the lower your premiums will likely be.
Not saving for retirement. Okay, maybe your 20s passed you by in a bit of a blur and retirement wasn't even on your radar screen. But now that you're in your 30s, it's critical to start saving for retirement. Wait much longer, and it can be hard to catch up. Start now, and you still have 30 years or more to save.
In your 40s
Trying to keep up with the Joneses. Appearances can be deceptive. The nice homes, cars, vacations, and "stuff" that others have might make you wonder whether you should be buying these things, too. But behind the scenes, your neighbors could be taking on a lot of debt. Take pride in your savings account instead.
Funding college over retirement. In your 40s, saving for your children's college costs over your own retirement is a mistake. If you have limited funds, set aside a portion for college but earmark the majority for retirement. Then sit down with your teenager and have a frank discussion about academic options that won't break the bank--for either of you.
Not having a will or an advance medical directive. No one likes to think about death or catastrophic injury, but these documents can help your loved ones immensely if something unexpected should happen to you.
In your 50s and 60s
Co-signing loans for adult children. Co-signing means you're on the hook--completely--if your child can't pay, a situation you don't want to find yourself in as you're getting ready to retire.
Raiding your home equity or retirement funds. It goes without saying that doing so will prolong your debt and/or reduce your nest egg.
Not quantifying your retirement income. As you approach retirement, you should know how much you can expect from Social Security (at age 62, at your full retirement age, and at age 70), pension income, and your personal retirement savings.
Not understanding health-care costs in retirement. Before you turn age 65, review what Medicare does and doesn't cover, and how gap insurance policies fit into the picture.
I'm thinking about storing financial documents in the cloud.
What should I know?
Cloud storage—using Internet-based service providers to store digital assets such as books, music, videos, photos, and even important documents including financial statements and contracts--has become increasingly popular in recent years. But is it right for you?
Opinions vary on whether to store your most sensitive information in the cloud. While some experts say you should physically store items you're not willing to lose or expose publicly, others contend that high-security cloud options are available.
If you're thinking about cloud storage for your financial documents, consider the following:
- Evaluate the provider's reputation. Is the service well known, well tested, and well reviewed by information
security experts?
- Consider the provider's own security and redundancy procedures. Look for such features as two-factor authentication
and complex password requirements. Does it have copies of your data on servers at multiple geographic locations, so
that a disaster in one area won't result in an irretrievable loss of data?
- Review the provider's service agreement and terms and conditions. Make sure you understand how your data will be
protected and what recourse you have in the event of a breach or loss. Also understand what happens when you delete
a file--will it be completely removed from all servers? In the event a government subpoena is issued, must the service
provider hand over the data?
- Consider encryption processes, which prevent access to your data without your personal password (including access by
people who work for the service provider). Will you be using a browser or app that provides for data encryption during
transfer? And once your data is stored on the cloud servers, will it continue to be encrypted?
- Make sure you have a complex system for creating passwords and never share your passwords with anyone.
I've recently changed my legal name. Do I need to change my name on my Social Security card?
Whenever an individual legally changes his or her name, it is important to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) as soon as possible. Failure to notify the SSA of a name change could prevent your wages from being posted correctly to your Social Security earnings record and might even result in a delay when you file your taxes. To obtain a new card with your new name, you need to provide the SSA with a recently issued document that proves your identity and legal name change.
Acceptable documents include:
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce decree
- Certificate of Naturalization showing new name
- Court order for approving the name change If the document you provide doesn't offer enough information for the SSA
to identify you in their records, you must also provide an identity document in your old name (expired documents with
your old name are allowed).
In addition, if you were born outside the United States or you aren't a U.S. citizen, you typically must provide documentation to prove U.S. citizenship or lawful noncitizen status.
Once you have gathered the appropriate documentation, you need to complete the SSA Application for a Social Security Card. However, Social Security card applications are not accepted on the SSA website. As a result, you need to take or mail your application, along with your supporting documents, to your local Social Security office.
For more information on applying for a new Social Security card or finding a Social Security office in your area, visit the Social Security Administration website at www.ssa.gov.
Five steps to tame financial stress.
Do you sometimes lie awake at night thinking about bills that need to be paid? Does it feel as though you're drowning in debt? If this describes you, you might take solace in the fact that you're not alone. A recent report released by the American Psychological Association (APA) showed that 72% of adults feel stressed about money at least some of the time, and 22% said the amount of stress they experienced was extreme.1 The bad news is that stress can be responsible for multiple health problems, including fatigue, headaches, and depression. And, over time, stress can contribute to more significant health issues, including high blood pressure and heart disease.2 The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to reduce or eliminate some of the financial stress in your life.
Seventy-two percent of adults report feeling stressed about money at least some of the time, and 22% say that the amount of stress they experience is extreme.
Source: American Psychological Association