Establish your financial independence 

• Your 20s are about establishing a foundation as you gain financial independence.
• Set a budget that balances your needs, wants and wishes.
• Create a plan to pay off debt and stick to it.
• Begin building your credit.
• Start an emergency fund of up to three months of living expenses.

Set a course for your financial future 

• It’s never too early to start saving for retirement or get started investing.
• Joining an employer-sponsored retirement plan now can reap rewards down the line.
• If a career change includes a change in employer, don’t forget to roll over your 401(k) or IRA.

Learn what insurance you need in your 20s 

• Making sure you’re covered by insurance is an important part of your financial foundation.
• The first step is to learn about the different types, from health insurance to disability insurance.

Boost your financial well-being  

• Start your journey toward financial health by setting goals, tracking your spending and assessing the assets you already have.
• Here’s a 30-day checklist to start building these habits.

Explore your options when you’re earning more 

• Your 40s are your prime earning years, and that comes with financial options, from paying down debt to charitable giving to bolstering your emergency savings.
• Life events happen—supporting children or parents, divorce, marrying again—so check in with your financial plan as your life evolves.

Expand your retirement savings 

• Take advantage of your higher income to max out retirement contributions and broaden your investment portfolio.
• Try to keep those contributions up while establishing a college savings plan for your children.

Protect your #1 financial asset: you 

• If you haven’t by now, consider buying life insurance.
• Especially if you have children, now is also the time to create an estate plan, including a will, healthcare directive and more.

Make the most of your empty nester lifestyle 

• Are your children out of the home? Encourage their financial independence.
• Meanwhile, cut down on your own expenses, reconsider taking on debt, and save when you can.

Envision your retirement needs 

• It’s time to get practical about retirement.
• Envision what you’ll need in retirement and take advantage of 401(k) and IRA catch-up contributions.
• Make sure your asset allocation and investment risk align with your financial plan.

Consider your long-term care needs

• Your premiums will be at their lowest now, so consider purchasing long-term care insurance to help with future medical or personal needs.

Picture the legacy you want to leave 

• Your estate plan is the main way to leave the legacy you want, so make sure it’s up to date.
• Does a trust make sense for your situation?
• What about a plan for charitable giving?

Prepare to make the leap to retirement 

• There are several key milestones before you retire.
• Are you considering continuing to work after retirement?
• Plan your income—including when you’ll take Social Security.
• Try a practice run living off your projected income. 

Apply for Medicare 

• After you turn 65, you can apply for Medicare. You’ll have the option to buy supplemental coverage, as well as coverage for prescription drugs.

Re-evaluate your insurance portfolio 

• Depending on your needs, you may consider reducing or ending life and disability policies in favor of long-term and medical insurance.

Talk with family about estate planning 

• Your estate plan spells out the legacy you’ll leave loved ones, so get them involved in the conversation.
• Discuss topics like who should be beneficiaries for certain assets or who will take on a family business.