Maybe you’ve been too busy with holiday bustle to notice, but the year’s almost over. Now that Christmas is in the rear-view mirror, it is time to take a breather and focus on some small things that might make a big difference in 2018.
These easy tasks can make your financial life simpler — and maybe more lucrative — next year.
Review your credit history
Time required: less than one hour
At AnnualCreditReport.com you can get a free copy of your credit history — everything the three major credit reporting agencies have in your file. Your credit history doesn’t include your credit score, but this is the information used to tabulate your score.
Check this history for accuracy. Take 10 minutes to download it, then a half-hour looking it over to make sure all is well.
For more, check out:
Check out your new tax situation
Time required: one to two hours
A lot of tax changes are coming in 2018 as a result of the recent GOP tax overhaul that the president signed Friday. If you have a tax professional, set a date early in 2018 to meet with him or her and discuss how the new tax law might impact your financial planning.
If you don’t have a tax professional, start educating yourself about the changes. Throughout 2018, Money Talks News will publish many stories breaking down the impact of the new legislation. For now, check out “6 Important Take-Aways From the Tax Reform Effort.”
Review/rebalance investments
Time required: less than one hour
Investments like your retirement plan shouldn’t require a lot of maintenance, but they do require some attention. Take a look at how your investments performed in 2017, and decide whether it’s time to buy, sell or leave well enough alone.
For more, check out “7 Tips for Stress-Free Retirement Plan Investing.”
Find a financial adviser
Time required: one to three hours
A financial adviser can help you with many important financial tasks. Even if you choose one who charges by the hour, you can probably get a free first appointment to make sure you feel comfortable with your choice.
For more, check out “How to Choose the Perfect Financial Adviser.”
Digitize documents
Time required: one hour to one month
If you’re buried in paper, maybe it’s time to invest in a document scanner. You can get a decent one for $50 and start transferring the contents of your filing cabinets and drawers to your computer.
Do you have more great tips for starting off 2018 on the right financial footing? Share them by commenting below or on our Facebook page.
Chris Kissell contributed to this report.
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