Using your birthday as a reminder to review and address things in your life is something we have been told to do from a very young age. As an example, I try and schedule my dermatologist and physical appointments around my birthday each year. I simply use this event as a reminder that I must take care of these things to maintain my health.
In the same vein, there are five things you should be reviewing each year financially in order to maintain your financial health. Using your birthday as a reminder for this is also a great way to make sure they get addressed.
- Review your retirement plan contributions and see if you are in a position to increase them. Many people elect their retirement plan contribution amounts when they first start working for a company, and then hardly ever look at it again. Saving for retirement is now the responsibility of the employee, and it is important to make sure that we are doing our best to reach our goals. It would be a shame if you began contributing three percent when you started working for the company and still are today, but could afford to do more. Simply looking at and addressing this each year will allow you to make sure you are maximizing your retirement savings.
- Debt is something that is used when purchasing major assets, such as a home. It is vital to evaluate your debt to see if it is still working in the way you intended or if there are opportunities to put you in a better position financially. When used appropriately in a financial plan, debt can be a very useful tool. I would recommend that you look at the outstanding loans you have, and their rates and terms to see if they are still ideal for you. Would it make more sense for you to pay it off or continue the loan? Perhaps refinancing the debt would be a good move? This should be reviewed annually.
- Estate planning documents are key to making sure that your assets and wishes are carried out upon your death. These planning documents could include your will, trust, healthcare proxy, living will, and power of attorney. It is important to review the documents and make sure they are still relevant based upon your current circumstances. In many cases, you will find that these documents will only require updating every five to seven years, but by reviewing them each year, you will assure that they are properly addressing your current situation.
- Check the beneficiaries on all of your accounts. It is crucial that you make sure that your beneficiary designations are appropriately maintained. Many times, we establish our beneficiaries and never look at them again. We have encountered clients that are married with families who still have their parents named as beneficiaries. Checking them each year is a great way to make sure your financial assets will pass along to the people you want to receive them.
- Your financial plan should be reviewed annually to make sure it is accounting for any changes to your life circumstances or goals. In addition, it is important to review the plan in regards to the assumptions that are being utilized, such as inflation, returns, life expectancy, and savings. Once you have updated the plan, it is key to review the new outcomes and create an action plan for any items that should be addressed in the coming year. A plan is not static, but a living breathing document that needs to be updated and reviewed at least each year.
Mitlin Financial assists our clients in addressing these five areas over the course of the year, but it is important to make sure you do address them yourself. A birthday is a great time to take a look, reflect, and make sure your financial health and wellbeing are being looked after.
Feel free to contact us, Mitlin Financial, at (844) 4-MITLIN x12 if you or someone in your family needs assistance in getting started on reviewing these areas today.
This article represents the opinion of Mitlin Financial Inc. It should not be construed as providing investment, legal and/or tax advice.
