If 2020 is the year you plan to purchase your first home, you should consider six very important steps to take to become a smart and desirable home buyer. The market looks to continue to be competitive. Getting yourself prepared will ensure that the process is stress-free and that you get the home of your dreams because you are ready financially. 

If you struggle with how to teach smart financial habits to your children, start with looking at all the opportunities that the holidays can provide for financial education. Modeling good financial habits in a time that traditionally is all about forgetting smart money moves is a great way to help your children learn how to live a financially successful life as adults. 
 

Living a successful retirement requires more than just building a large nest egg. It is important that in retirement you also continue to practice smart financial money habits or start using them if you didn’t prior to retirement. Living a money smart lifestyle is extremely critical during your retirement years because it can make your money last longer.
 

Being financially successful requires making important decisions and taking the correct actions in every decade of your life. Some of the actions are very critical to your longer term success and are the reason they need to be taken earlier in your life. Others are strategies to implement as you are moving into and living in retirement. 
 

If your goal is to retire sometime in your early to mid-60’s then there are a few financial moves you should be making in your 50’s. These moves will help increase the chances that you can retire on your terms with the financial security that you need. If you have planned well prior to 50, you might discover that you are in good shape already. 

Whether a student is starting college soon or has been in college for a couple of years, there are certain financial tips that every student should know. These tips can help ensure their college years don’t leave them in a dire financial situation even before they begin their working careers. Students and parents should all understand how to use these tips every day.
 

There are several financial products that may seem boring but are very likely the financial tools you will have most of your life. These accounts provide many different advantages for every stage of your life and financial needs. Waiting to open some of these services can increase the cost or lower the benefit you will receive from having these products. 
 

The summer should be a time that our budget isn’t stressed and there should be few financial concerns. Unfortunately, the summer months have many potential financial mistakes just lurking in the background waiting for you to succumb to their pull. These can be increased spending, poor financial habits or just plain financial carelessness. Try to avoid these common summer budget mistakes.