The beginning of the year often brings New Year Resolutions.  These often include focusing on improving your finances.  To help you with your resolutions, we will give you some tips for getting financially healthy this year.

Many people become reflective as the New Year approaches.  We are going to talk about financial tips to implement before year end and how to position yourself for success in the New Year.

1)  Max out your 401k, 403b, 457, IRAs or other retirement contributions

2)  Pay attention to your deductions.  Pay expenses off early if it will put you over the standard deduction

3)  Harvest gains and losses from your stock market investments

4)  Set up a budget and review your investments

If there was a Financial Santa Clause, would you be on his naughty or nice list this year?  We will ask some questions in this podcast so you can determine which list you are on.  And how you can make sure you are on the nice list for next year.

Key takeaways:

1)  How aware are you of your savings, investments, and spending?

2)  How are you doing with debt?  Are you paying credit cards off monthly or making progress on paying down balances?

3)  Do you have an expense plan or do you buy compulsively?

Most of us have had to get out of debt at some point in our lives.  There are valuable lessons to be learned in this process.  Have you heard or told yourself these "lies" when you are in debt?

Key Takeaways:

• You CAN get out of debt
• You can still have fun without running up credit card debt
• Consider having just one debit card and one credit card, and pay off your credit card in full every month
• You will love the feeling of freedom instead of the dread of debt

We are all at different levels of understanding when it comes to how to invest in the stock market.  Today we will go over some basics you should know about.

Key Takeaways:

• Pay attention to fees
• When and how should you rebalance your investment accounts
• Hiring a professional advisor can be a good idea if you don't have the time or expertise to manage your stock market investments

Wouldn't it be nice if we never had financial "rainy days"?  But realistically you will, so today we will talk about how to plan for them.

Key Takeaways:

1)  Pay yourself first by making savings part of your monthly budget

2)  Keep your savings and checking in separate banks 

3)  Open a high yield savings account at a virtual bank for better interest earnings

4)  Consider using a Credit Union

What kinds of insurance should you have to help protect your assets and finances?  Today we will talk about types of insurance that are often overlooked.

Key Takeaways:

1)  Get more life insurance than your company provides

2)  Even if you rent instead of own your home, get renters insurance

3)  Are umbrella policies a good idea

Your credit rating is an important part of your financial plan.  Do you know what factors affect your credit rating? How can you achieve an excellent credit rating?

Key Takeaways:

1)  Review Your Report Regularly

2)  Only use 30% or less of your credit limit

3)  Take advantage of 0% financing

When is the best time to start saving for your retirement?  And once you start, what ways are there to make the most of your retirement savings.

Key Takeaways:

1)  Start saving NOW

2)  Resist the temptation to withdraw money from your retirement funds

3)  When you get a raise, give your retirement savings a raise also

Ever feel like shopping can be detrimental to your budget?  This week we share some ideas to help you shop smarter.