Now that we are in the final month of 2016 it’s easy to get off track from our goals. Follow these 6 tips and with a little time and effort your 2017 finances will be more organized and less stressful.
- Organize your paperwork: It’s hard to feel in control when you can’t find anything. Gather all papers, shred duplicates/old statements and put them all in a box
or accordion file. - Go Paperless: I know habits are hard to break. Wherever possible create electronic files. See if you can receive e-bills instead of paper. Use a flash or thumb drive as a back-up and keep it off-premises.
- Protect against identity theft: You can request a free copy of your credit report once per year from all 3 credit bureaus. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com. Another great tool is Credit Karma which allows you to track your credit scores throughout the year.
- Put your finances on autopilot: Use EFT direct deposit for all checks, pension and social security received. Set up automatic payments for recurring bills. It’s easy and will save time going forward.
- Create your 2016 tax file: Most people have to scramble to pull together all tax forms etc. Start now by setting up a 2016 file and stashing forms/receipts etc as needed.
- Review your insurance coverage: Protect your nest egg and your family by regularly reviewing your life, health disability and long term care insurance. If this is confusing to you contact us for a 2nd
Your financial house needs regular upkeep. Putting in a little time and organization will decrease clutter and help you focus on your goals and objectives.
Contact Robert here for more ideas to get your financial house in order.