Your Financial Wellness Checklist

Keeping your account information up to date is important to ensure financial security. Regularly updating details like your address, subscription preferences, and financial records helps you stay organized, ensures you get important information sent to you, helps you plan for tax season and your financial goals. Learn how you can easily manage your finances and prevent any issues that may arise.

1. Keep Addresses Updated

   Keeping your address up to date is important for timely communication and ensuring the security of your documents. After moving, update your address so your mail doesn’t go to your old address and risk someone else seeing your personal information and finances. Not only does updating your address ensure your confidential documents remain in your hands only, it also ensures prompt communication so you don’t have to wait for the institution to resend your mail. It’s easy to update your address after you move, and you will thank yourself later.

2. Manage Your Subscriptions

   Keeping track and managing your subscriptions is important to make sure you’re not wasting any money. Make a list to keep track of all subscriptions, and check it often to see if there are any services you no longer want or are no longer utilizing. Canceling subscriptions ensures there are no unwanted charges, but can also help clear the amount of messages you receive. Make sure to keep track of free trial periods that last for a certain amount of days, and then switch to paid services.

3. Keep Your Checks up to Date

   When your account information changes make sure to order new checks. Ordering new checks with your updated account information ensures that the check can be processed with no issues. The account number, routing number, and the account holder’s signature are important to ensure the check’s functionality, and should be updated when changes appear. Ordering new checks with an updated address can help maintain consistency and avoid any confusion. Start by contacting your financial institution where your checking account is located. Always make sure to order checks from a reputable organization.
   
   

4. Check Your Credit Score

   It’s important to monitor your credit score and understand what it means for you. Checking your credit score allows you to see any problems and address them, making sure that your credit report is truthful of your financial habits. Understanding your credit score is important when you apply for loans or credit cards because it impacts your interest rate and the terms you're offered. Monitoring your credit score can help alert you when there is fraud or identity theft so you can keep your information safe!

5. Plan for Taxes

   Up to date information is important when tax planning. Accurately displaying your information and income sources can help you avoid penalties and ensure a smooth filing process, helping you reach your financial goals! Having an organization method for storing your records can alleviate stress when the time comes to file. When tax season hits, the last thing you’ll want to worry about is sifting through all your files to find the ones you need. Working with a financial advisor or tax professional year-round helps you stay on track and be prepared well before tax season arrives.

6. Set Up Financial Milestones

   Setting up financial goals is a fundamental part of financial wellness. Financial goals and milestones can serve as something to work towards, and can keep you motivated when you might want to give up. This not only keeps you disciplined but also creates something to look forward to completing. Setting achievable short and long term goals can ensure there’s always something you're working for in sight, and allows you to celebrate when you reach the finish line. Having financial goals ensures your hard earned money is managed effectively, and you are making the right steps towards financial security.