Smart Financial Goals PDF

Smart Financial Goals Specific ○ State exactly what you want to achieve, how you’re going to do it, and when you want to achieve it. Measurable ○ A goal should be measurable so you know when you have achieved it. Achievable ○ Make su...

Smart Financial Goals Specific ○ State exactly what you want to achieve, how you’re going to do it, and when you want to achieve it. Measurable ○ A goal should be measurable so you know when you have achieved it. Achievable ○ Make sure the goal is within reasonable reach. Realistic ○ Don’t ignore your limitations. Your goals need to be tasks that you can reasonably accomplish. Trackable ○ Being able to track your progress encourages you to keep going and to reach your goal. The Difference Savings are usually put into the safest places or products that allow you access to your money at any time. Examples are savings accounts, checking accounts, and Certificates of Deposit. These are federally insured. Investments have a greater chance of losing your money than savings. Money is invested in securities, mutual funds, and other similar investments not federally insured. Your investment could be lost or you could earn a much higher amount of interest than a savings account would earn. Understanding Interest Interest is the money a financial institution pays you for the use of your money. The amount of interest depends on: ○ The rate of interest. The higher the rate the more money you will earn. ○ How the interest is calculated: Simple interest is paid only on the money initially deposited. Compound interest is paid on your initial deposit as well as on any interest you have already earned. Time is also a factor in determining the amount of interest you earn. The longer the money stays in savings, the more interest it will earn. Savings Accounts Regular Savings Account Can be started with only a few hundred dollars. The exact amount varies from bank to bank. Allows you to make deposits and withdrawals at any time and in any amount. No penalty fee for withdrawal. Convenient but pays the lowest interest rate. Money Market Deposit Accounts Pay a slightly higher interest rate than regular savings accounts. Require a higher minimum deposit, often $1,000 or more. You must maintain a minimum balance before the account earns interest. Withdrawals can be made but the number may be limited. These accounts are federally insured. Certificates of Deposit (CD) Pay a higher rate of interest because they require you to commit your money for a specific period of time.  Time frame - 30 days to 10 years. The longer the time, the more interest earned. Cashing in early (before the maturity date) will result in a significant loss of interest earned. The larger the deposit, the higher the interest rate. Investing Your Money Inflation is a general increase in prices. This price hike decreases what you are able to buy with the same amount of money. Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices for consumer goods and services over time. Securities Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and money market funds. Securities represent either ownership or indebtedness. Corporations and governments issue securities to get money to operate and expand. Many securities are sold and traded on security exchanges and markets. Securities can also be bought and sold at some banks and savings banks through investment divisions. Investments in securities are generally not insured and can be risky. Stocks A stock is a share in the ownership of a corporation. Purchasing stock in a corporation makes you part owner of that company. Stockholders share in the profits after debts and operating expenses are paid. You can make or lose money when you sell stocks. Types of Corporate Stocks Preferred stock is a more conservative investment that involves less risk than common stock. Preferred stockholders are paid set dividends at stated rates, regardless of the profit the company earns. These stockholders also have a better chance of getting some of their money back if a company fails. However, preferred stock values increase and decrease more slowly than common stock. Common stock involves more risk because the value of the stock and the amount and frequency of dividends depend on company earnings and economic conditions. When company earnings are good and the economy is expanding, a company’s common stock tends to increase in value. This will provide investors with a profit if they choose to sell the stock. Because of the higher degree of risk, common stocks offer great opportunities for large gains and losses. Stocks are designed to last a long time. They are long-term investments. Bonds A bond is a certificate of debt or obligation by a corporation or government. The issuing government or corporation promises to repay the bondholder the face value of the bond after a certain number of years. They also promise to pay a fixed rate of interest on the face value of the bond during the loan period. Bonds are among the safest investments you can make. The safety of the bond depends on the credit rating of the bond issuer. Bond investments have a minimum investment, usually $1,000. Therefore, investors who have limited funds and cannot afford to make a long-term investment in stocks may choose another form of investment such as a bond fund. Types of Bonds Corporate Bonds are issued by corporations. Municipal Bonds are issued by state, county, and city governments.  US Government Bonds are issued by the federal government. These include: Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes, and Treasury Bonds, all with varying minimum investments and length of maturity dates. US Savings Bonds are more of a source of savings rather than an investment and can be as little as $50. Mutual Funds A Mutual fund is offered by a company that collects money from a number of investors and investors that money in securities. If you buy shares in a mutual fund, you automatically become part investor in all the securities included in the fund. Mutual funds pay dividends on shares just as any stock does. Balances Funds are investments in a variety of securities, such as preferred stock, common stock, and bonds. They provide a safer investment with dividend income. Growth Funds are investments in common stocks with growth potential. Specialized Funds are investments focused on the following: ○ One specific industry: only health care or only retail. ○ One type of security: government bonds or all common stocks. Money Market Fund A money market fund is a type of mutual fund that deals only in high interest, short-term investments. These include government securities and Certificates of Deposit. Money market funds are managed and sold by mutual funds, investment firms, and some insurance companies. The rate of interest earned on these funds varies with money market rates. They provide a higher rate of return than a savings account. They can be cashed in at any time since they have no term and offer some check-writing privileges. The rate of return on money market funds is not a set rate and can change daily. Retirement Accounts It is best to start saving for retirement early in your career. 401 (k) plan is a retirement savings plan offered through an employer. Workers participate in these plans by agreeing to save a certain dollar amount from each paycheck. This amount is automatically deducted from the paycheck and put into a special account. The employee will be allowed to choose the types of investment for the money in the account. Some employers will also match the contributions of the employee to help add to the amount. Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is another types of retirement account. The amount you can save annually depends on your age, income level, and your ability to participate in a company-sponsored pension plan. ○ Traditional IRA: You pay taxes on your earnings and withdrawal after retirement. ○ Roth IRA: The amount you contribute is taxed but if all requirements are followed, withdrawals and earnings are not taxed. ○ Keogh Plan is a tax-deferred retirement plan for self-employed people or employees of unincorporated companies. Similar to an IRA, those eligible can invest as much as 25% of their annual incomes, up to $30,000 per year. Real Estate Investing in land or buildings. This should be considered a long-term investment. It requires a large amount of money to invest in real estate and is a high risk investment. The real estate market can become sluggish. Getting a return on your investment may take longer than you were hoping.  Owning a home or an apartment is a type of real estate investment. Real estate usually requires monthly payments as well as property taxes and insurance on the property. Becoming an investor in income-producing properties can be profitable. For example, the owner of apartments and condos rent them to generate income.