5 Money Questions to Ask Yourself Now

If you want a fatter bank account and a brighter future, it’s worth asking yourself a few questions about your money.

These aren’t necessarily convenient questions. But they’re important questions, and the answers may be simpler than you think.

These are questions about what you’re doing – and what you’re not doing – with your money, and they’re definitely worth your time. Not all of them may apply to you, but some will, so be sure to read them all.

1. ‘Will I ever get out of debt?’

Worrying about debt is probably the worst way you can spend your time, and paying interest and late fees is the worst way you can spend your money.

If you’ve got a problem, the sooner you deal with it, the better.

National Debt Relief is one of the most respected providers of debt relief in the U.S.

They’ve helped more than 500,000 people, are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and also are top-rated by Top Consumer Reviews, Top Ten Reviews, ConsumersAdvocate.org and ConsumerAffairs.

You simply fill out a form on the company’s website, then a debt coach will call you to learn more about your situation. If they can help you, they’ll set you up with an affordable plan that works for you — and give you an estimate of when you can expect to be debt-free. There’s no upfront fee and no obligation to get started.

National Debt Relief can help you with almost any unsecured debt, like credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, repossessions … even some student loan debt. Ready to start a new, happier chapter of your life?

2. ‘Am I maximizing my investments?’

To properly manage your money, work with a professional – it’s totally worth it. If you’re not doing this, you could be missing out on some serious financial gains.

A Vanguard study found that, on average, a hypothetical $500,000 investment over 25 years would grow to $1.7 million if you manage it yourself, but more than $3.4 million if you work with a financial adviser. That’s twice as much!

If you’ve got at least $100,000 in investments, check out a free service called SmartAsset. You fill out a short questionnaire and instantly get matched with up to three vetted financial advisers in your area, all legally bound to work in your best interests.

Even if you don’t want help picking investments, an adviser can help lower your tax burden, create a comprehensive financial plan for you, maximize your Social Security, and serve as a second pair of eyes to make sure you’re on the right track.

Using SmartAsset only takes a few minutes, and in many cases you’ll be offered a free consultation.

Please carefully review the methodologies employed in the Vanguard white paper, “Putting a value on your value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha.”

3. ‘Am I protecting my family?’

There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for your family, right? Well, if something happens to you, who’s going to pay the mortgage or college bills? This is why life insurance is so important.

Not everybody needs insurance. If your kids are grown and you have a nice, fat bank account, there’s really no need. But if your family would have a hard time getting along without you, life insurance is definitely something you should look into. Just don’t pay too much for it by buying the wrong kind, or buying from a commissioned salesperson.

Shopping for life insurance used to be a long, complicated process. Now? Not so much. For example, Ethos is a company that lets you apply online in minutes without getting off the couch. There are no medical exams, no blood tests. You can get term life insurance ranging from $20,000 to $2 million. And it may cost as little as $7 a month: less than you might be spending now on coffee.

This could be the most important thing you ever do for the people you love.

And Ethos is rock-solid: They’ve protected more than 100,000 families and provided more than $34 billion in coverage. So, why not check it out?

4. ‘Am I diversified?’

Saving money is great, but the only way to really grow your money is to invest it. For example, real estate has long been a path to wealth. But you need to be wealthy to get started, right?

Wrong. For as little as $10, Fundrise can get you started. Fundrise lets you buy into real estate properties the same way stocks let you buy into companies.

In effect, you’re a landlord without having to run background checks or serve eviction notices. While not a guarantee of future results, Fundrise investors have earned an average of 25% within three years; if they held on for five years, the increase was more than 50%.

People are always going to need a place to live – and recent rent jumps make real estate investing more profitable. Rent prices went up almost 18% in 2021, according to data from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Note: This is a testimonial in partnership with Fundrise. We earn a commission from partner links on moneytalksnews.com. All opinions are our own.

5. ‘Am I paying too much?’

If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably paying too much for car insurance. But shopping around for a better deal is such a hassle.

Well, it used to be.

Now you can just check out Provide Insurance, the largest online marketplace for insurance in the U.S. Provide Insurance lets you compare quotes from more than 175 different carriers in minutes.

All you have to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your driving history. Then Provide will show you the best options for your needs and budget.

You could save up to $610 a year on car insurance by using Provide Insurance. That’s money you could use for other things, like investing, saving or paying off debt.

Don’t let your current insurer overcharge you. Try Provide Insurance today and see how much you can save on car insurance.

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