Note: For more information and resources on this subject, go to Financial Resource Center. Credit and Financing may also be of interest when looking for credit and financing options.
Need to Refinance or Find a Great Home Loan? Go to The Mortgage Center
Your First Step: Making a Financial Plan
What are the things you want to save and invest for?
- a home
- a car
- an education
- a comfortable retirement
- medical or other emergencies
- periods of unemployment
- caring for parents
Make your own list and then think about which goals are the most important to you. List your most important goals first.
Decide how many years you have to meet each specific goal, because when you save or invest you’ll need to find a savings or investment option that fits your time frame for meeting each goal.
Many tools exist to help you put your financial plan together. For example, the Ballpark Estimate,a
single-page worksheet created by the American Savings Education Council, can help you calculate what you’ll need to save each year for retirement. And The Consumer’s Almanac,published by the American Financial
Services Association Education Foundation, guides you step-by-step as you organize your finances, plan for the future, and learn to manage your credit.
You can get these publications—and many more—by calling us toll-free at (800) SEC-0330 and ordering a free "Financial Facts Tool Kit."
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