=============================================================== Finances Forge — 50-Point Financial Health Checklist Downloaded from: https://financesforge.com Author: Claudio Galleguillos | CoreForge Systems =============================================================== Mark each item: [✓] Done [→] In Progress [ ] Not Yet ─── FOUNDATION (Do These First) ────────────────────────────── BUDGETING [ ] I know my exact monthly take-home income [ ] I have a written monthly budget [ ] I track my spending (app, spreadsheet, or notebook) [ ] My essential needs are under 50% of income [ ] I review my budget at the end of each month EMERGENCY FUND [ ] I have at least $1,000 as a starter emergency fund [ ] I have 3-6 months of expenses saved [ ] My emergency fund is in a high-yield savings account (4%+) [ ] I do NOT use my emergency fund for non-emergencies ─── DEBT MANAGEMENT ────────────────────────────────────────── [ ] I know the exact balance and interest rate of every debt I have [ ] I pay more than the minimum payment on my debts [ ] I have a clear payoff strategy (avalanche or snowball) [ ] I have not opened any new credit card debt in the past year [ ] My total debt payments are under 36% of gross income [ ] I understand the difference between good debt and bad debt ─── CREDIT ──────────────────────────────────────────────────── [ ] I know my credit score (check free at Credit Karma or Experian) [ ] I have checked my credit report in the past 12 months (annualcreditreport.com) [ ] I pay my credit cards in full each month [ ] My credit utilization is below 30% (ideally below 10%) [ ] I have no errors on my credit report [ ] I have at least 2-3 open credit accounts ─── INVESTING ───────────────────────────────────────────────── [ ] I contribute enough to my 401(k) to get the full employer match [ ] I have a Roth or Traditional IRA open [ ] I invest in low-cost index funds (expense ratio under 0.20%) [ ] I do NOT try to time the market or pick individual stocks [ ] My investments match my risk tolerance and time horizon [ ] I rebalance my portfolio at least once per year [ ] I am on track with retirement savings milestones ─── INSURANCE ───────────────────────────────────────────────── [ ] I have adequate health insurance coverage [ ] I have term life insurance (if I have dependents) [ ] I have disability insurance (often available through employer) [ ] I have renters or homeowners insurance [ ] I have auto insurance that meets or exceeds state minimums [ ] My insurance deductibles are amounts I can actually afford ─── ESTATE PLANNING ─────────────────────────────────────────── [ ] I have a will (critical if you have children or significant assets) [ ] I have designated beneficiaries on all retirement accounts and insurance [ ] I have a healthcare proxy / durable power of attorney [ ] Important documents are in a secure, known location ─── TAX OPTIMIZATION ────────────────────────────────────────── [ ] I maximize pre-tax retirement contributions to reduce taxable income [ ] I contribute to an HSA if I have a high-deductible health plan [ ] I understand which tax deductions and credits apply to me [ ] I file my taxes on time or request an extension properly [ ] I keep records of tax-deductible expenses throughout the year ─── FINANCIAL GOALS ─────────────────────────────────────────── [ ] I have clearly written financial goals with specific dollar amounts and dates [ ] I have a plan to reach each goal [ ] I review my financial goals at least every 6 months [ ] I am making measurable progress toward my goals [ ] I regularly learn about personal finance (books, articles, podcasts) ─── YOUR SCORE ──────────────────────────────────────────────── 40-50 checked: Excellent financial health — you are on track for wealth 30-39 checked: Good foundation — focus on the unchecked items 20-29 checked: Building momentum — prioritize the Foundation section Under 20: Start with the Foundation section — you'll make fast progress ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Use our free tools to work through each item: • Budget Planner: https://financesforge.com/tools/budget-planner.html • Debt Payoff Planner: https://financesforge.com/tools/debt-planner.html • Retirement Calculator: https://financesforge.com/calculators/retirement.html • Compound Interest: https://financesforge.com/calculators/compound-interest.html Questions? Contact: contact@financesforge.com Finances Forge | CoreForge Systems ===============================================================