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Time for Your Yearly Financial Check-Up

Financial planners say you should check these things to ensure you are in control of your money:

Do You Have a Will? No one likes to think about it. But the experts say this is where you should start. Using a lawyer will cost you (probably a couple of thousand dollars). If you go the Do-It-Yourself route, you’ll save money, but pay attention to your state’s rules before you sign or your will might be invalid.

Can You List All Your Financial Accounts? More importantly, can your spouse and/or heirs list all your financial accounts. Take time to prepare a list as well as contact information for all your accounts and make sure someone else you trust knows where that list is located.

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage? Surprisingly, financial planners say that sometimes the answer is “no.” You may still get a tax benefit from mortgage interest and you’ll free up more cash to invest elsewhere or just to enjoy life. Before answering this question, consult your financial professional.

How Much Credit Card Interest Do You Pay Every Month? The average credit card charges 16%. So getting you answer to $0 or as close to it as possible is the right way to go.