Career Transition? Three Steps to Protect Your Financial Health
Whether you’ve been laid off or are moving on voluntarily, career transitions can be stressful, but there are ways to help tame the uncertainty.
![A woman balances on one foot while facing a lake and mountains.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hiYy6QrJWAzx5uSHSn9uka-415-80.jpg)
They say change is the only constant in life, but that doesn’t make it any less challenging to navigate even under the best of circumstances. This is especially true when it comes to career transitions. Work is so often the bedrock of our financial stability — not to mention a key resource for our overall health, mental well-being and sense of identity — so even positive career transitions to pursue a passion or take a leap into something bigger can bring the stress of uncertainty.
Whatever your circumstances, there are steps you can take to harness a career transition, stay proactive and safeguard your financial health even when things feel out of control. Here are three tactics that can help you regroup and find your footing for the next phase of your professional journey.
1. Refocus
Making a career change can be turbulent whether it was voluntary or unplanned. If you’re facing a job loss, remember that curveballs like this are sadly sometimes a part of life. Take the time to refocus your attention on your financial health and take it one step at a time.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hwgJ7osrMtUWhk5koeVme7-200-80.png](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hwgJ7osrMtUWhk5koeVme7-320-80.png)
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
One way to chip away at uncertainty is to arm yourself with as much information as possible so you can form a personal plan of attack and control what you can. Ground yourself with the details of your employment contract, any severance package and how the dates of final payments will work out. Don’t forget to find out what’s happening with employer-sponsored benefits. Oftentimes, companies experiencing layoffs may extend coverage for a transition period for affected employees, giving you a buffer to access offerings such as health insurance, retirement savings accounts and company stock programs.
Having all these details in front of you can help you figure out more tangible next steps for yourself and organize a strategy to protect your overall financial trajectory. Even if your job is safe, it can be a good practice to build up the flexibility to make a pivot should the need arise.
2. Fill the gaps
Once you have a clearer picture of your workplace situation and choices, it’s time to connect the dots to your personal finances. Divide and conquer important areas of your financial health by identifying your needs and planning to cover any gaps between your prior job’s coverage and your next career step:
- Budget. Check your typical monthly expenses as well as any additional costs on the horizon, then take steps to preserve your assets and reevaluate your budget. If you’ve been laid off and meet certain work and wage requirements, you may qualify to receive unemployment benefits from the government (this will vary by state). This might be the time to fall back on your rainy-day fund, but you’ll want a solid idea of how long you can reasonably expect to rely on any emergency savings you have.
- Health insurance. Look into your coverage choices, such as paying to extend your former employer’s group plan through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA; purchasing a different policy through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act; or listing yourself as a dependent on a partner or parent’s plan if you’re under 26.
- Retirement. With your short-term financial transition at the top of the priority list, retirement may feel far away, but resist the urge to make any early withdrawals. Keep tabs on your prior workplace accounts. You generally have four options: leaving assets in your former employer’s plan; rolling over your savings to a new employer’s plan, if allowed by the employer; rolling over savings into an individual retirement account (IRA); or taking a cash distribution. If you’re not sure which route fits your needs, it can be a good idea to consult with a professional, such as a financial adviser or a tax adviser.
- Equity. And if you received equity awards from your former employer, the impact of the change in your employment status will depend on the type of plan you had and the specific details of your company’s plan. Find out how your former employer is managing the transition and any contact information you’ll need to tap into any resources they’re providing. Don’t leave any money on the table.
3. Dare to dream
You also don’t have to go it alone: There are professionals who can help you think through your decisions and plan for success, such as a personal counselor to help you manage the human side of your career transition, a financial adviser or coach to offer insights around the specifics of your finances, or an accountant or estate attorney to help you safeguard your assets and plan ahead.
Once you’re clear on what you want, it may be time to begin reconnecting with people in your network, brush up your résumé or work on learning something new. Remember that even though much of life happens outside our control, you are in the driver’s seat when it comes to the choices that lay ahead of you. And with these strategies and best practices, you can help maintain a sense of control over your financial health.
This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives.
When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account.
Morgan Stanley at Work, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, and its affiliates and employees do not provide legal or tax advice. You should always consult with and rely on your own legal and/or tax advisors.
Morgan Stanley at Work services are provided by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, member SIPC, and its affiliates, all wholly owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley. CRC 5557649 4/2023
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
Krystal Barker Buissereth, CFA®, is a Managing Director and the Head of Financial Wellness for Morgan Stanley at Work. In this role, she is responsible for working with corporate clients and organizations on creating, implementing and managing financial wellness programs that meet the needs of their employees.
-
Visa Is the Worst Dow Stock Wednesday. Here's Why
Visa stock is down sharply Wednesday after the credit card company came up short of revenue expectations for its fiscal Q3.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Another Analyst Moves to the Sidelines on Tesla Stock After Earnings
Tesla stock is spiraling Wednesday after the EV maker's big earnings miss and Wall Street has been quick to weigh in. Here's what you need to know.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Confused by Annuities? Making Sense of the Different Types
Many investors aren't sure if annuities are a good option for meeting financial goals. Let's look at the different categories, along with their pros and cons.
By Kris Maksimovich, AIF®, CRPC®, CPFA®, CRC® Published
-
Talkin' 'Bout My Generational Wealth: Baby Boomers
With retirement, each generation has different priorities and challenges. For Baby Boomers, it's a matter of ready or not, here it comes.
By Alvina Lo Published
-
How to Avoid a Big Hassle if Your Financed Car Gets Wrecked
How an insurance check is made out for repairs can cause a world of problems if the lienholder is left out.
By H. Dennis Beaver, Esq. Published
-
Estate Planning Strategies to Consider as Election Nears
Are big changes in tax laws coming soon? Not likely, but you might want to take advantage of higher estate and gift tax exemptions well before the end of 2025.
By David Handler, J.D. Published
-
How to Get Your Money's Worth From Your Financial Adviser
A good financial adviser will focus on how your financial planning and investment strategy align with your lifestyle and aspirations.
By Pam Krueger Published
-
Think of Prenups and Postnups as Financial Planning Tools
These contracts provide a clear framework for asset management and protection and are especially useful if you get married later in life.
By Andrew Hatherley, CDFA®, CRPC® Published
-
Congratulations on Your Raise: Three Things to Do With It
We're not saying you shouldn't spend it on a new car, but there are some considerations to guard against lifestyle creep and to help ensure a comfy retirement.
By Andrew Rosen, CFP®, CEP Published
-
Check Off These Four Financial Tasks to Finish 2024 Strong
The new year is a popular time to set financial goals, but now is the ideal time to check how you're doing. Four tweaks could make a big difference.
By Daniel Razvi, Esquire Published