Your Essential Financial Toolkit
Pressed for time? We show you how to make short work of dozens of money tasks.
Laurin Mack is a PHD candidate in clinical psychology, which leaves her little time to bone up on her finances. But Mack, 29, wants to learn how to diversify a portfolio, monitor her investments online and roll over a retirement account into an IRA. Mack and other time-starved readers can use our absolutely essential financial toolkit to accomplish each of those tasks, and 33 others, in five easy steps or less.
These tasks are organized into four key areas: Personal Finances, Investing, Credit and Retirement. Take a look and see what you can accomplish today.
Personal Finance Toolkit
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Replace a Social Security Card
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Protect Your Home and Valuables
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Write a Will Without the Hassle
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Prepare for a Natural Disaster
Your Credit Toolkit
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Get Your Credit Report in a Flash
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Fix an Error on Your Credit Report
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Decipher Your Credit Card Statement
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Retirement Toolkit
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Transfer an IRA
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Buy a Medigap Policy to Supplement Medicare
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Investing Toolkit
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Find the Value of an Old Stock Certificate
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Understand a Mutual Fund Prospectus
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Get the Inside Skinny on a Stock
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How to Open a Brokerage Account
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Can Money Buy You Happiness? Yes, It Can. However…
Having a higher income doesn't mean you also have enough of the other things that make you feel truly happy and wealthy (relationships, hobbies, time).
By Richard P. Himmer, PhD Published
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Roth Conversions: Convert Everything at Once or as You Go?
Two hypothetical examples of Roth conversions made at different times (all at once vs as you age) show a stark difference in what could be left for your beneficiaries.
By Mike Decker, NSSA® Published
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403(b) Contribution Limits for 2024
retirement plans Teachers and nonprofit workers can contribute more to a 403(b) retirement plan in 2024 than they could in 2023.
By Jackie Stewart Published
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Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up for 2024. Here's what you need to know.
By Jackie Stewart Published
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7 Things Medicare Doesn’t Cover
Healthy Living on a Budget Medicare Part A and Part B leave some pretty significant gaps in your health-care coverage. But Medicare Advantage has problems, too.
By Donna LeValley Last updated
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Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
real estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
By Miriam Cross Published
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Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute Vacation
Travel Procrastinator? No matter. You can pull off a fun and memorable getaway on a moment's notice — without breaking the bank.
By Vaishali Varu Last updated
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How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
insurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life-insurance needs.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
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When Is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon Prime In 2023 Amazon had two Prime Day events — one in July and another, called Big Deal Days, in October. We expect 2024 to follow the same schedule.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
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How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Steps
insurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
By Kaitlin Pitsker Published