Young Professionals

Personal finance goals look a little different when you’re in your 20s and 30s. While your parents are focused on managing retirement, you might be navigating the challenges of paying off student-loan debt, establishing yourself in a new career, buying a home, and having a family.

You may think that you have all the time in the world to set up a financial strategy, but time goes by more quickly than you expect. Working with a financial professional may help get you out of debt faster, save for important goals, and give you a head start on retirement.

So where do you begin? Here are six moves to consider to jump-start your financial future.

01.TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH

Wait, what? It may seem counterintuitive, but your health plays a huge part in your financial well-being. If you are not currently covered by health insurance, you should consider making it a financial priority. Even if you are generally healthy, a car accident or unexpected illness can set you back financially.1

Studies show that young Americans (age 18–34) are the age group most likely to go without health insurance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Census Bureau, 14.3 percent of 19-to-25-year-olds and 13.9 percent of 26-to-34-year-olds have no health insurance.