Financial Review for the New Year
A post from our Partners at the UF/IFAS Extension Office for Hernando County
Scott E. Taylor
Family and Consumer Science Agent
With hope springing into the New Year, now is a good time to review our financial situation for the upcoming year.
First, is our emergency fund big enough? Many of us have had to use some or all of our emergency fund during the uncertainty of the last year or so, so now is a good time to ensure we are prepared or at least building that reserve fund for emergencies.
Second, now is the perfect time do review our credit situation to ensure all information being reported is accurate and to protect against possible identity fraud. The recommended website to review your credit is www.annualcreditreport.com.
And third, now is a great time to review your financial goals and banking strategies to ensure the best fit for your current (and future) situation. Make sure your medium-term and long-term goals are still in line with your lifestyle and/or retirement strategy. Check to see if current financial (checking, saving, retirement, etc.) accounts are the best fit for your needs. Compare your financial institution products with those of competitors for fit and fees and are they still in line with your goals. If any need revising, then now is the best time to get started.