Financial Priorities in your 30’s and 40’s

May 20, 2021

Your 30’s and 40’s tend to be the years when you start earning real money. If you’re in that age range here are the top financial priorities:

Pay Off Debt
Paying off non-mortgage related debt should be a top priority. Whether it stems from college loans, credit cards, or elsewhere, the higher the interest rate the higher the priority it should be. If you can afford to pay more than the required monthly amount, do it. You’ll pay off the loan sooner and save on interest.

Have an Emergency Savings Account
Cash reserves help cover expected and unexpected costs. If your car breaks down, your roof leaks, or you have a surprise medical cost, you’ll need cash.

How much cash? That’s a personal decision and there’s no “right” number, but I suggest at least 4 – 6 months of your post-tax salary. That number, however, depends on a few factors:

  • How stable is your job? If it’s stable, you could argue for holding less cash. If it’s unsteady, such as a commission-based job, a larger allocation is sensible.
  • For some people, having a lot in cash simply helps them sleep better at night. There’s nothing wrong with that.
  • If your spouse works, can you afford to live off one income if either of you unexpectedly loses your job?

Fund your 401(k) or 403(b)
At minimum, contribute enough so you receive the full company match, if that’s offered.

If you’re contributing to a pre-tax 401(k) those contributions will lower your taxable income, meaning you’ll save on taxes.

Try to save at least 10% of your income.

Set Up Life and Disability Insurance
If you have a spouse and children, consider what would happen to your family’s finances if you or your spouse passed away or became disabled and were unable to work. Insurance protects against these rare but catastrophic events. While it’s not fun to think about, having the appropriate level of insurance in place is important.

Determine the Right Investment Allocation
For your investment accounts, determine if you’re comfortable with, say, an 80% stock allocation and 20% in bonds versus something more conservative or aggressive.

It’s helpful to understand the past upside and downside performance during various periods.

Once an allocation decision is made, stick with it unless your risk tolerance, timeframe, or other changes arise.

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The information, analysis, and opinions expressed herein are for general and educational purposes only. Nothing contained in this commentary is intended to constitute legal, tax, accounting, securities, or investment advice, nor an opinion regarding the appropriateness of any investment, nor a solicitation of any type. The material has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, however Think Different Financial Planning cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information, and certain information presented here may have been condensed or summarized from its original source. All opinions and views constitute our judgments as of the date of writing and are subject to change at any time without notice.

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Disclaimer: Investments are not guaranteed and are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of the principal amount invested. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All allocations and opinions expressed are as of the date of this presentation and subject to change. The information contained herein does not constitute investment advice or a solicitation. Information obtained from 3rd parties is believed to be accurate, but has not been independently verified.

The opinions expressed in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security. The material is presented solely for information purposes and has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, however Think Different Financial Planning cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information, and certain information presented here may have been condensed or summarized from its original source. Think Different Financial Planning does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as such. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Think Different Financial Planning and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Think Different Financial Planning unless a client service agreement is in place.