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By Bennett C. Whitlock III, Private Wealth Advisor
For most young adults, your 20s are all about learning—who you are, who you want to be, and where you want life to take you. Maybe you just landed your first “real” job, are moving out of your childhood home or working on a degree to consider a new vocation. It’s an exciting era filled with growth and exploration.
As you navigate these big life changes, it’s important to use this time to also consider your financial future. You’re never too young to get your finances in order, and the decisions you make now can help you develop positive habits to build wealth down the road. Whether you’re new to establishing money goals or simply looking to refine your spending and investing habits, making these four key moves in your 20s can help set you up for financial success before you reach your 30th birthday.
1. Set a Monthly Budget
If you’ve just started a new job, you might feel like you’re rolling in cash when those first few paychecks come in! Don’t let your finances get away from you just as you start bringing in an income. Document
your essential monthly expenses—such as rent, utilities, groceries, etc.—and add in other expenses important to your lifestyle, such as entertainment, a trip with friends, or a fitness membership. You may have to make tradeoff decisions between priorities month-to-month to be realistic with your monthly income. Budgeting may sound archaic—yet it can be dynamic and powerful. Knowing where each dollar is going is the first step to prioritizing the items most important to you.
2. Build a Strong Foundation
Once you have a handle on your monthly expenses, you can begin saving for the “what ifs.” Open a high-yield savings account with your bank and pad it until you have 3 to 6 months’ worth of monthly expenses
set aside as a safety net in case of emergencies. You can make this even easier by setting up automatic transfers to regularly move funds from your checking account into this high-yield savings account. At the very least, aim to save a little of each paycheck.
3. Invest Early
Yes, you can start investing in your 20s! An easy place to begin is by maximizing your 401(k) contributions. A 401(k) is a type of retirement savings plan that invests part of your paycheck before taxes are taken out. Maximizing these contributions is especially important if your employer offers any amount of matching funds. It’s so-called “free money” that can snowball into significant wealth over time.
4. Plan Ahead with What’s Left
Your 20s are a good time to consider larger life goals and, once you have that emergency fund in place, begin setting money aside to make them a reality. Do you dream of owning a home someday? Is a destination wedding on your vision board? How about kids? You don’t have to have all the answers
right now, but putting money aside today means you’ll be better prepared and have more flexibility financially when those big moments arrive.
Preparing for the future doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Working with a financial advisor can help you come up with a roadmap that keeps you focused on what’s ahead while allowing you room to explore and grow in the present.
Bennett C. Whitlock III, CRPC®, is a Private Wealth Advisor and CEO with Whitlock Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 30 years. To contact him visit whitlockwealth.com, call 877-WHITLOCK or email whitlockwealth@ampf.com. Offices are located at 12848 Harbor Dr, Ste 101, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 and in Downtown Historic Manassas at 9073 Center Street, Manassas VA 20110.
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