One of the many challenges posed by COVID-19 is the end of the year celebrations for new grads. In the Lineweaver household, this has been especially difficult for my eldest daughter Tori, who graduated this year from Miami of Ohio! Kathy, myself, as well as Tyler and Delaney, could not be more proud of Tori and her success. I was lucky enough to have her join me for two of our weekly Financial QuarterbackSM segments, to talk about financial concerns and strategies that all new grads should consider.
The first thing Tori and I talked about is that choosing the right benefits is an important first step. Some new graduates might be able to stay on their parents’ health insurance until the age of 26, which can help save on some of the initial costs. If not, make sure to look over all the options to find the right insurance that fits your needs and budget. Many jobs will also give you options when it comes to life insurance and disability. When you’re young something such as disability or life insurance doesn’t strike you as important, but you have to be prepared for unexpected circumstances. It’s critical to protect your most valuable asset, your ability to earn an income.
We also talked about how important it is to set up your 401(k) or IRA, maximizing, and matching contributions. Compounding can help your money grow faster! Also, establishing and using credit responsibly, paying bills on time every time, is critical for future purchases like a car or a house!
I want to take this time to congratulate all new graduates, and while our show (and our newsletter) usually deals with retirement planning and strategies, we know that many of you have kids or grandkids who you want to set up for success, and so both shows will be on our website and social media for you to share. Congratulations to all the classes of 2020!