US Selective Service System

Failure to register with the US Selective Service System

may result in a fine, imprisonment, or both.

Also, there are many jobs and financial aid programs

that require Selective Service registration.

Voter Registration

Every state has its own voting and election rules.

Depending on your state, you may be able

to register online, in person, by mail, and through voter registration drives.

Voter Registration

You DO NOT need to re-register to vote in a few scenarios

including moving and changing your name.

Jury Duty

Jury duty is an obligation to serve in a court proceeding as a juror

(someone who decides if a person is guilty of wrongdoing).

Potential jurors are randomly selected from various lists and are sent a summons (a notice to report to a court).

Jury Duty

It is NOT mandatory to report to jury duty,

and participating in the process may disrupt your work or personal life.

Appropriate Documentation

Appropriate documentation includes receipts, income tax returns, insurance documents, contracts, and pricing quotes.

Appropriate Documentation

Only sign documents that you understand and agree with.

Purge supporting documents slowly.

Safeguarding Personal Information

Safeguarding personal information means sharing sensitive personal details

only when absolutely necessary,

and using precautions to prevent others from accessing them on their own.

Safeguarding Personal Information

Information that should not be shared carelessly includes

your Social Security number, driver’s license number, complete date of birth,

your mother’s maiden name, account numbers, account balances, and passwords.

Safeguarding Personal Information

Identity theft and fraud are serious problems

that can happen in the physical world or online.

If you make it easy for criminals to access your information,

you run the risk of becoming a victim.

Setting Goals

Goals should have the following characteristics to make them easier to achieve.

A deadline.

A detailed desired outcome.

Alignment with what you want to achieve in your life as a whole.

Consecutive stages that help you check your progress.

College Wage Premium

The college wage premium describes the fact that college graduates tend to have higher wages and better employment prospects

than people with only a high school diploma.

College Wage Premium

Degrees from low-cost colleges and universities can often lead to

the same jobs as expensive ones.

If college is not for you, you will still need to learn a skill to make a living.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

is the form used to determine

how much federal financial aid you can get to pay for school.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Many states and colleges use FAFSA data to determine their own financial aid awards. Student aid can include grants, scholarships, work-study jobs, and loans.

Resume

A resume (sometimes spelled résumé) is a document that summarizes your educational background,

training, professional experience,

qualifications, and accomplishments.

Resume

Resumes are often called CV (curriculum vitae).

Proof of Identity

A driver’s license, a state-issued ID, and a passport are commonly accepted proofs of identity.

Proof of Identity

Many activities depend on your ability to verify who you are.

Opening a bank account, getting a job, and traveling by plane are examples of situations that require proof of identity.

Proof of Identity

Some organizations may also require proof that you live at a certain address. A rental agreement, mortgage bill, and home utility bill can help confirm your residence.

At-Will Employment

At-will employment means that your employer can dismiss you at any time and for any reason, as long as the reason is not illegal.

At-Will Employment

Most jobs in the US are at-will, so you will rarely have guaranteed employment.

Taxes

Taxes refer to money that people must contribute to the government. You will

normally pay taxes for money you make, for stuff you buy, and for property you own.

Taxes

The best known tax organization is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is in charge of collecting federal taxes. However, states also have their own tax organizations.

Taxes

Taxes affect how much of your income you keep, and the cost of buying or owning stuff. You must file an annual tax return (a form used to calculate how much income tax you should pay).

Taxes

Tax returns must be filed by April 15th unless the government officially extends the deadline. If too much money is withheld from your paycheck for taxes, you should get a tax refund. If not enough money is withheld, you’ll need to pay the correct amount.

W-2

Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) is a document used by employers to report how much they paid you during the prior year. The form also shows the amount of federal, state, and other taxes withheld from your paycheck.

Social Security

Your Social Security number (SSN) is used to track your lifetime earnings, which determines the amount of your Social Security benefits.

Social Security

Social Security is only designed to cover a portion of your living expenses. You’ll need other sources of income when you retire.

Social Security

You’ll need your SSN to get a job, collect Social Security benefits, file taxes, apply for credit, open a bank account, and in many other scenarios.

Non-Compete Agreement

A non-compete agreement is a contract that prohibits you from working for a competitor or starting a competing business for a period of time after leaving an employer.

Non-Compete Agreement

Employers may fire you, or choose to not hire you, if you don’t sign a non-compete agreement. If you do sign, you may not be able to work in your industry for some time after your current job ends.

Non-Disclosure Agreement

A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a contract where you agree to not share private or confidential information.

Non-Disclosure Agreement

NDA’s are generally used by companies to protect trade secrets, proprietary information, and confidential business details. New employees, and sometimes job interviewees, can be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Non-Disclosure Agreement

NDA’s can force you to be silent about various matters, including some that you may find unacceptable. It is important for you to understand what you are being asked to sign.

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Violating an NDA can have serious consequences.

Unemployment Insurance

The unemployment insurance program provides payments to workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own, and who meet certain eligibility requirements.

Unemployment Insurance

Each state administers their own unemployment insurance program.

Unemployment Insurance

If you quit a job without a good cause, you may not qualify for unemployment benefits. The system is mainly funded by taxes paid by employers on behalf of their employees.

Paying Yourself First

Paying yourself first means that you automatically deposit a percentage of your

paycheck into a savings or investment account before doing anything else with your money.

Paying Yourself First

By paying yourself first, you “hide” money in an account you don’t touch. The approach works well for building your savings, emergency, and retirement accounts.

Paying Yourself First

By setting aside a percentage of your income instead of a set amount, your savings grows with your earnings. Start small and increase your savings percentage periodically.

FDIC and NCUA

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an agency that insures deposits in case of bank failures. FDIC insurance covers deposit accounts like checking, savings, and certificates of deposit up to a limit.

FDIC and NCUA

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) serves the same purpose as the FDIC, but it insures deposits for credit unions (financial institutions similar to banks, which are owned by the same people who use their services).

FDIC and NCUA

Not all banks and credit unions are federally insured. Investments like mutual funds, stocks, and bonds are not insured.

Interest

Interest is simply a fee. You pay it when you borrow money, and you earn it when

you save and invest it. It is calculated as a percentage, and it can be simple or compounded.

Interest

Compound interest is used on credit cards, savings accounts, and many investments. Instead of a fixed amount, you are charged or paid a percentage of your total balance (including any previously accumulated interest).

Interest

If your savings or investments pay compound interest, your balance will grow exponentially because you are paid interest on the interest already earned. If your debt charges compound interest, your balance will also grow exponentially until paid off.

Interest

Credit cards normally compound their interest charges daily.

Savings Account

A savings account is an account where you store money while earning interest.

Savings Account

Credit unions and online banks tend to pay higher interest for savings accounts. Losing a card with access to your account, or noticing unauthorized transactions, should be reported immediately to your bank or credit union.

Checking Account

A checking account is an account that gives you easy access to money you keep at a financial institution. It is normally used to pay for daily expenses like putting gas in the car, buying groceries, and paying bills.

Checking Account

Having a checking account greatly improves your ability to manage your finances as an adult. Your deposits are normally federally insured up to a limit.

Certificate of Deposit

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a type of savings account where you keep a specific amount for a fixed period of time in exchange for earning higher interest. The term can be from a few months to several years. The longer the timeframe, the higher the interest.

Certificate of Deposit

Withdrawing money from a CD before the agreed term normally carries a financial penalty.

Certificate of Deposit

CD’s are typically federally insured up to a limit. Online banks and credit unions tend to offer the best interest rates for CD’s.

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit describes the electronic deposit of funds into your bank account

instead of through a physical check.

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit can be a powerful tool to build your savings. Employers will generally agree to split your deposit between two accounts, so you can automatically divert some money to a savings account.

Direct Deposit

Many banks will not charge a monthly maintenance fee on your checking account if you have direct deposit.

Personal Budget

A personal budget is a document that tracks how much money you are making and how much you are spending.

Personal Budget

Effective budgets prioritize savings and retirement, and clearly show where the rest of your money is going.

Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is an amount normally kept in a savings account to cover unexpected financial situations.

Emergency Fund

The money is meant for things like car repairs, medical bills, losing your job, and replacing home appliances. There should be enough in your fund to cover at least 3 months’ worth of expenses.

Emergency Fund

Tax refunds, overtime pay, bonuses, birthday money and other unexpected income can help build your emergency fund. Be clear about what constitutes an emergency.

Unexpected Fees

Unexpected fees are charges that can be easily overlooked, or that may not be

commonly known. Examples of unexpected fees are:

Unexpected Fees

Unexpected fees are charges that can be easily overlooked, or that may not be

commonly known. Examples of unexpected fees are:

Convenience Fee – Charged by some companies to allow you to pay with a credit card.

Resort fees – A hotel charge for giving you access to specific amenities.

Restocking fee – Charged when you return an item for a refund.

Cancellation fee – Charged when you cancel a purchase or reservation.

Ticket service fee – Charged when buying tickets for events.

Unexpected Fees

If your finances are tight, unexpected fees can derail your budget. You

may also find yourself in a difficult position if you don’t have money to pay the extra fees.

Credit Reports

A credit report is a detailed record of how you have managed and repaid debt. It lists identifying information, account history, requests for a copy of your report, and public records.

Credit Reports

There are three national credit agencies (also known as bureaus), which compile information from lenders and other sources to create their own versions of a credit report.

Credit Reports

Many creditors and lenders use your credit reports to determine if they’ll let you borrow money.

Credit Reports

The information on credit reports is commonly used to calculate a credit score. You are allowed to dispute inaccuracies that appear on your credit report.

Credit Scores

A credit score is a three-digit number that rates your potential for paying your debts as agreed. A high score is good and a low score is bad.

Credit Scores

The data used to calculate your score normally comes from your credit reports and includes details like your payment history and your current debts. Scores offer creditors a faster and more convenient way to make lending decisions than reviewing your entire credit report.

Credit Scores

Your credit score will determine how much you can borrow and under what terms. People with low credit scores normally get smaller loans and have to pay higher interest rates because they are more likely to not pay as agreed.

Credit Scores

Potential landlords and employers can use your score to make decisions about you.

Secured Debt

Secured debt is money you can borrow after providing collateral (something of value to be taken if you don’t pay). Secured loans tend to have lower interest rates, longer repayment periods, and larger amounts than unsecured ones.

Secured Debt

A mortgage (a loan to buy a house) or a loan to buy a new car are examples of secured debt.

Secured Debt

Lenders can require you to purchase insurance to protect your collateral against damage or loss.

Unsecured Debt

Unsecured debt is money you borrow without pledging anything of value to

guarantee repayment. Most personal loans and credit cards are examples of unsecured debt.

Unsecured Debt

Since creditors take on more risk with unsecured debt, such loans tend to have higher interest rates, shorter repayment periods, and smaller amounts than secured loans.

Unsecured Debt

It is likely that you’ll need to borrow money at some point, and it’s better to do it without tying up your property. A good credit history can give you access to unsecured debt.

Unsecured Debt

Creditors can still collect the unsecured debt if you default (fail to pay as agreed).

Credit Cards

A credit card is an account, normally accessible with a physical card, which allows you to borrow repeatedly up to a dollar limit (called revolving debt).

Credit Cards

You can either pay the full balance at the end of each billing cycle or you can carry it over from one month to the next. If you don’t pay off the debt, a minimum payment will be calculated based on your balance and you will be charged high compound interest.

Credit Cards

Combining painless access to a lot of money, inexperience, and high compounding interest can easily lead to overwhelming debt.

Credit Cards

Minimum payments are only designed to keep the account in good standing, not to help you pay off the balance faster.

Cosigner

A cosigner is a person who adds their name to someone else’s loan because they can’t qualify for it on their own.

Cosigner

Cosigners are responsible for the entire loan if the primary borrower can’t make the payments. Also, any missed payments generally appear on the cosigner’s credit report and can affect their credit score.

Cosigner

Your cosigned debt may affect your own ability to borrow money.

Payday Loans

A payday loan is a short-term loan for a small amount, which is normally due within a couple of weeks. The loans are unsecured and charge interest rates that are very high.

Payday Loans

Most people who get a payday loan fail to pay it on time, so they have to roll it over into a larger loan with new fees. The cycle becomes almost impossible to escape because people need new payday loans just to cover the fees of the existing payday loans.

Debt Payment Approaches

Debt payment approaches are ways to prioritize your payments to get rid of debt faster. Some people suggest listing your debts based on their interest rate and paying them off from highest to lowest. Others suggest listing debts based on their balances and paying them off from smallest to largest.

Debt Consolidation Loans

A debt consolidation loan combines multiple debts into one loan that ideally has a

low interest rate.

Debt Consolidation Loans

Instead of making payments on multiple high-interest debts, like credit cards, you can pay off the same total debt with less money per month. Also, making only one monthly payment will make it easier to manage your finances.

Collection Agencies

A collection agency is an organization that tries to get you to pay off debt you have neglected. They typically don’t get paid unless you pay, so they are highly motivated to collect any delinquent amounts (not paid as agreed).

Collection Agencies

Having an account in collections has a long-term negative impact on your credit. Also, it is possible for collectors to get permission from a court to take part of your wages, or money in your bank account.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a process that allows people who cannot pay their creditors to seek relief from some or all of their debt. It is normally considered a last resort after all other options have been exhausted.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy can help you have your debts discharged (you don’t have to pay them back). However, bankruptcy does not excuse you from certain financial obligations like paying back student loans and providing child support.

Bankruptcy

A bankruptcy will also appear on your credit reports for many years, and will affect your ability to get future loans.

Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

Making money requires time and effort, so people are always looking for ways to minimize either factor. Scammers know how to take advantage of this dynamic.

Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

You can be especially vulnerable to falling for a scam when money is tight because you may be desperate to improve your situation. You can also become a victim by trying to cash in on the latest fast-money trend that everyone is talking about.

Index Funds

A market index is a measurement used to track the performance of a specific group of stocks or bonds. An index fund allows you to buy the same investments included in a particular index.

Index Funds

The cash invested in an index fund is spread across all the companies in the fund, which lowers your risk of losing all your money. Mutual funds work the same way, but index funds have lower fees and tend to perform better.

Index Funds

nvesting in the stock market is usually a part of saving for retirement. Index funds provide a lower risk, low involvement, alternative to picking individual stocks.

401(k)

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan. It allows you to save money taken automatically out of each paycheck before taxes are withheld. The money grows tax-free, and some employers will match your contributions up to a certain limit (that’s free money).

401(k)

When you retire, you will be responsible for paying your bills without income from a job. The government might provide you a monthly amount, but the money may not be enough to cover your expenses.

401(k)

When you retire, you will be responsible for paying your bills without income from a job. The government might provide you a monthly amount, but the money may not be enough to cover your expenses.

Roth IRA

A Roth IRA is a retirement account where your deposits grow tax-free, and the money can also be withdrawn tax-free in retirement. Roth IRA’s must be funded with taxed income from work.

Roth IRA

When you retire, you will be responsible for paying your bills without income from a job. The government might provide you with a monthly amount, but the money may not be enough to cover your expenses.

Roth IRA

A Roth IRA can provide you with tax-free money during retirement. The longer you give your money time to grow, the better.

Traditional IRA

A traditional IRA is a retirement account where your deposits are typically tax deductible (they reduce the amount of your income that can be taxed) and grows tax-free until you withdraw them in retirement. You pay income tax on your withdrawals.

Traditional IRA

When you retire, you will be responsible for paying your bills without income from a job. The government might provide you a monthly amount, but the money may not be enough to cover your expenses.

Traditional IRA

A traditional IRA offers an alternative for people who want to save for retirement while getting a tax break for their deposits now.

Passive Income

Passive income is money you earn continuously, with little effort, after an initial investment of money or time. Examples of passive income include interest from a bank account, rent from a tenant, sales of a digital product you created, and dividends (money corporations give you as a reward for owning their stock).

Passive Income

The money you can make from a job is limited by your wage and the hours in a day. Passive income, on the other hand, provides a continuous stream of money even if you are sleeping.

FIRE Movement

The Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement advocates reaching financial independence as soon as possible. That usually means saving 30 times your annual expenses and living on roughly 4% of your investments annually.

FIRE Movement

Followers of FIRE typically become financially independent many years before the standard retirement age. Their approach combines earning more than the average worker, saving more than 40% of their income, keeping expenses low, and investing in low cost index funds.

FIRE Movement

Becoming financially independent, or close to it, will give you the freedom to choose how you spend your time. You don’t have to stop working altogether. Instead you can work on the things you want, when you want.

Household Utilities

Household utilities are services that support your living space. They include electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, Internet, cable TV, landline phone, security, and trash pickup.

Household Utilities

If you have bad credit or no credit at all, you may be asked for a deposit (an amount meant to cover your bill if you don’t pay it on time) before services start.

Residential Lease Agreement

A lease agreement is a contract between a landlord (the owner of a residence) and a tenant (the person renting a residence) that allows the tenant to live in a property for an extended period of time.

Residential Lease Agreement

The agreement includes details like the monthly rent, when the lease expires, rules regarding pets and smoking, and the amount of the security deposit (a refundable fee generally meant to cover damage the tenant may cause to the rental unit).

Residential Lease Agreement

If you move before the end of your lease, you may need to keep paying rent until the lease expires or until the landlord finds a new tenant.

Residential Lease Agreement

Neither the landlord nor the tenant is usually allowed to break the lease.

Renters Insurance

Renters insurance is a type of insurance that can help you replace your belongings if they get damaged. The insurance can also cover medical and legal bills if you are responsible for someone getting hurt where you live.

Renters Insurance

Many landlords require tenants to have a renters insurance policy (a contract with an insurance company).

Renters Insurance

Your landlord’s insurance typically covers damage to the property being rented, but not the belongings in it.

Renters Insurance

Renters insurance may also pay for a hotel if the place you rent becomes uninhabitable.

Roommate Agreement

A roommate agreement is a contract signed by everyone sharing a residence to help clarify many aspects of the living arrangement.

Roommate Agreement

The agreement generally covers details like the division of bills, quiet hours, household chores, overnight guests, pets, and privacy.

Roommate Agreement

Aside from setting rules for all roommates, the financial obligations listed in a roommate agreement can be legally binding.

Private Mortgage Insurance

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is a type of insurance that homebuyers must have if their down payment is less than 20% of the home’s purchase price.

Private Mortgage Insurance

The insurance is meant to protect the lender in the event you are unable to pay your mortgage.

Private Mortgage Insurance

It may take you a long time to save 20% of a home’s purchase price to use as a down payment. Since PMI lets you use a smaller down payment, you can keep some money for unforeseen expenses.

Private Mortgage Insurance

PMI is an extra payment on top of your mortgage. The insurance can be cancelled after you meet certain requirements.

Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance (some call it homeowner’s insurance) is a type of insurance that can help repair or rebuild your house if it’s damaged. It may also pay to repair or replace personal items if they are damaged or stolen.

Homeowners Insurance

The insurance can sometimes be used to cover legal costs if you or your family members are sued for injuring someone or damaging their property.

Homeowners Insurance

A house is usually the most expensive property people have. If you don’t have insurance, you may have to pay out of pocket for a variety of mishaps involving your home, you, and your family.

Homeowners Insurance

A different type of insurance is normally needed to protect your house against damage from floods or earthquakes. Mortgage companies will require you to have homeowners insurance.

Change of Address

A change of address request means that you are asking the United States Postal Service (USPS) to reroute all your mail to a specific US address.

Change of Address

When you change your residence, you’ll need to have all future mail and packages forwarded to your new home. Aside from giving the USPS your new address, you should also update it with all the people and organizations that are part of your life.

National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry is a database with a list of phone numbers that

telemarketers cannot call. Certain types of calls are not covered by the registry. Registering your phone number is free and the registration does not expire.

National Do Not Call Registry

Telemarketers can call you relentlessly to try to sell you stuff unless your number is part of the Do Not Call Registry.

Driver’s License Point System

A driver’s license point system is used by many states to add points to your driver’s record every time that you are convicted of a traffic violation. The number of points that are added depends on the seriousness of the infraction.

Driver’s License Point System

Accumulating too many points within a certain timeframe will cause your license to be suspended. The points on your driver’s record can also affect the cost of your car insurance.

Bill of Sale

A bill of sale is a document that transfers ownership of goods from one person to another. It is commonly used to record the sale of cars, motorcycles, and watercraft.

Bill of Sale

A bill of sale serves as a receipt and helps protect you against future disagreements about the transaction. It generally includes information about the buyer, the seller, and the item that was sold.

Bill of Sale

If you buy an item “as-is”, it means that you accept it in its current condition and with all of its faults.

Car Registration

A car registration allows a car to be legally driven on public roads. The registration on your vehicle must be renewed regularly and requires payment of certain fees.

Car Registration

Failure to register your automobile or to renew the registration, can

result in fines, penalties, and with your car being impounded (taken away until you pay the fines).

Car Registration

A car registration is different than a car title. The car title is a document that establishes the owner of a vehicle, and it doesn’t need to be renewed.

Car Insurance

Car insurance is a type of insurance that covers the cost of damages and injuries resulting from a car accident. Your insurance will usually cover people and property outside your car. However, it can also pay for damages to your own vehicle, and injuries to yourself and your passengers.

Car Insurance

Car accidents happen all the time, and the cost of addressing the fall out can be high. Insurance is meant to cover expenses that you don’t want to pay on your own.

Car Insurance

When you lease or finance a vehicle, you will be required to insure it against damage. You’ll usually be responsible to pay a deductible (an amount you pay out of pocket before insurance starts to pay).

Car Lease

A car lease is an agreement to basically rent a new car for a few years. In exchange for a low monthly payment, you can drive the vehicle up to a maximum number of miles.

Car Lease

When the lease ends, you must return the car in the same condition you received it minus normal wear and tear. You may also have the option to buy the car instead of returning it.

Car Lease

When your lease is over, you don’t own anything. The car will be gone and you’ll be back to looking for a vehicle. Terminating a lease early, if allowed, generally costs a lot of money. High penalties also apply if you go over the miles allowed, or if the car is not in excellent shape when you return it.

Car Lease

Leased vehicles must be insured to protect the car against any damage.

Gap Insurance

Gap insurance is a type of insurance for people who have car loans. If your vehicle is stolen or considered a total loss (the cost to repair it exceeds its value), your insurance will only pay for the vehicle’s actual cash value.

Gap Insurance

Gap insurance covers the difference between what the car is worth and the amount you owe on the loan.

Gap Insurance

When you buy or lease a new car or truck, the vehicle starts to depreciate (lose value) as soon as you drive away from the dealer. You are responsible for the total amount of your loan, regardless of what your car is worth. Without gap insurance, the difference will come out of your pocket.

Gap Insurance

If someone else is at fault for totaling your car, they are only responsible for paying for the actual cash value of the vehicle.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

A manufacturer’s warranty is an assurance that a product will meet a certain quality standard and that it will work as expected. If the product doesn’t work as promised, a warranty allows you to return, replace, or repair it at no additional cost.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

Warranties generally apply for a limited amount of time. They can cover specific defects or may include any type of damage.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

Making a major purchase can be costly. A warranty lets you know that the manufacturer stands behind their product.

Extended Warranty

An extended warranty is a type of insurance that helps pay for unexpected repairs after the manufacturer’s warranty expires on a product. It costs extra and may only cover specific issues.

Extended Warranty

Cashiers and sales people often suggest buying extended warranties for many products.

Extended Warranty

While it is true that extended warranties can save you money when you need to repair an expensive item, they are widely viewed as not worth the cost for most purchases.

Roadside Assistance

You may not have the skills or equipment to address an unexpected issue with your car, or it may not be safe to do so. Roadside assistance is generally available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Roadside Assistance

Many plans cover you when you are driving someone else’s car, and may even cover a car where you are a passenger.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is a type of insurance that can pay for the cost of receiving medical care. It is normally expensive and it may not cover all medical services and procedures. Vision and dental benefits tend to cost extra.

Health Insurance

Getting injured or sick is part of life. Health insurance can help you get the care you need without wiping out your finances.

Health Insurance

If your parent’s insurance covers dependents, you can usually be included in their plan until you turn 26. Many plans require a co-pay (a small fee payable at every doctor visit), a deductible, or both.

COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a law that allows you to temporarily keep your employer-sponsored health insurance after your job ends or a reduction in hours makes you ineligible to get insurance.

COBRA

COBRA covers employees and their dependents. The insurance is expensive because your employer will no longer cover a portion of the cost.

COBRA

OBRA gives you a way to get health insurance while you find a new job that offers it as an employee benefit.

COBRA

ou should be eligible for COBRA even if you quit your job.

Health Insurance Exchanges

A health insurance exchange is a service that allows people to compare health plans and enroll themselves, and their families, as needed.

Health Insurance Exchanges

Health insurance exchanges provide an alternative for people who cannot get health insurance through their employer or a government program.

Holding Your Mail

The postal service allows you to pause mail delivery to your residence during a specific time period. Similar services are offered by companies that deliver packages.

Holding Your Mail

It is better to have mail and packages safely stored while you are away than to have them pile up by your front door.

Passport

A passport is an official travel document issued to the citizens of a country. It verifies your identity and nationality when you travel internationally

Passport

You should have a valid passport to leave and re-enter the United States. Many countries allow US citizens to enter with only a passport, but some also require a travel visa (a special authorization document).

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a type of insurance that can help cover the cost a trip cancellation, medical emergencies, trip interruption, medical evacuation, delays, and lost luggage.

Travel Insurance

You can lose the cost of your trip if you cancel prepaid or nonrefundable travel, and most US health insurance plans do not work overseas.

Trusted Traveler Programs

Trusted Traveler Programs allow members to use expedited screening lanes at US airports, or when entering the US by air, land, or sea.

Trusted Traveler Programs

If you travel by air domestically or internationally, a Trusted Traveler Program can make the experience a little easier. The expedited process is designed to be faster and more convenient than the standard approach used at security checkpoints.

Marriage Certificate

A marriage certificate is a document that verifies that two people are legally married.

Marriage Certificate

Prior to the wedding, a marriage license must be obtained. The person officiating the ceremony will send the license to the proper government official, so the marriage can be recorded and certified.

Marriage Certificate

Each state has different rules about when and if marriage licenses expire, and about the required waiting period between obtaining a license and getting married.

Marriage Certificate

A marriage certificate is typically required if you want to change your last name to that of your spouse, change your marital status for insurance, and get benefits associated with your spouse.

Safe Deposit Box

A safe deposit box is a secure container that is usually kept in a vault at a bank or credit union. The box is rented and is used to store things like jewelry, important documents, and collectibles.

Safe Deposit Box

Typically, you are the only person who knows what is in your box and the only person who can access it. To retrieve the contents of your box, you’ll need to visit the branch during business hours, provide proof of identity, and have your key available.

Small Claims Court

Small claims court is a special court where disputes involving small amounts of money can be heard by a judge. Attorneys are normally not allowed and the cases tend to be resolved quickly and inexpensively.

Small Claims Court

Examples of issues that are addressed in small claims court are:

Getting back your rental security deposit.

Trying to collect a small debt from an acquaintance.

Having the responsible party pay for your injuries or damaged property.

Having a company perform the services agreed on a contract.

Class Action Lawsuits

A class action lawsuit describes many individuals, who have suffered similar losses or injuries, bringing a combined case against the responsible party.

Class Action Lawsuits

Most people learn about their eligibility to join a class action after receiving a notification. Members of a class action generally don’t have to do much until the case is settled.

Class Action Lawsuits

Individual compensation related to a case may be small.

Class actions can take years to be settled.

Life Insurance

Life insurance is a type of insurance that pays your beneficiaries (people you select to get your money) a lump sum in the event of your death.

Life Insurance

“Term life” insurance is the most commonly purchased type of life insurance and is known for its affordable premiums (monthly payments).

Last Will and Testament

A last will and testament is a legal document that provides instructions about what to do with a person’s assets after they die.

Last Will and Testament

If you don’t have a will, a court will decide what to do with your belongings and minor children in accordance with your state’s laws.