Topics covered in the last of the 6-part series include: managing job loss, essential documents, record-keeping, and the basics of investing. Money Matters was created by the Athens-Clarke County Library. Money Matters is part of Smart investing @ your library®, and is brought to you by a joint grant from the American Library Association and FINRA, the Financial Regulatory Authority Foundation.
2. Managing Job Loss
Plan Ahead
Understand your Company’s Benefits
Understand your current Financial
Situation
3. Planning Ahead
Build an Emergency Fund: 3-6 month
expenses
Develop a budget
Contribute to a 401(k), if available
Do not take loans from your 401(k)
Use credit wisely
4. Company Benefits
What benefits do I have?
What are the time frames for continuing
coverage?
How do I continue my medical coverage
under cobra?
What job loss services are available?
How do I get unemployment benefits?
5. Do I qualify for public assistance such as
food stamps?
Am I entitled to sick pay? Vacation Pay?
Severance Pay?
How can I rollover my 401(K) plan?
6. Current Financial Status
Assess your short-term situation
Make a list of all financial resources
• Cash
• Savings
• Severance pay
• Unemployment benefits
Make a list of how much you owe
• Mortgage / rent
• Credit cards
• Loans
• Other debt
7. Set-up a short-term budget
What is your bottom-line monthly needs to
pay your bills
Cut expenses in every way possible
Make arrangements with creditors to reduce
payments temporarily
Project your cash flow. How long can you
afford to be out of work?
Use all FSA, before your employment
ends
Spend and Invest lump sums wisely
8. What to avoid
Using Credit cards
Increasing debt
Filing for bankruptcy
Using your 401(k) savings
9. Essential Documents
Personal Identification
Legal
Death
Work
School
Banking / Financial
13. Work Documents
History of work experience
Information about past employers
Name
Address
Phone Number
Position Held / Duties Performed
Training
14. School Documents
Transcripts
Photocopy or original
Children
Immunization Record
Report Cards
IEPs
Names / Addresses of School Attended
15. Banking / Financial Documents
Checking accounts
Savings accounts
IRA statements
401(k) statements
Investment Records
Account Disclosures
Account ID info
Monthly statements
16. How Long to Keep Records
TYPE TIME
Taxes 7 years
IRA contributions Permanently
Retirement Plan Statements Permanently
Bank Records Permanently - Statement
Pay Check Stubs 1 Year
Bills 1 year to permanently
Brokerage Statements Until you sell the securities
Credit Card Statements 7 years
17. Long-Term Storage
Fireproof Box at home or safe-deposit Box
at your bank
To prevent Identity Theft
Shred all documents with account numbers
and personal identification numbers
18. Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone obtains
your personal information and use it to
commit fraud.
8 million Americans are victims each year
19. Protect Your ID
Guard your information online
Clear your logins and passwords
Change your logins and passwords monthly
Pay for online purchases with a credit card
Check your bank and credit card statements
Verify your mailing address with the post office
and financial institutions
Beware of phishing scams
Monitor your credit report
Shred and destroy sensitive documents
20. Online Security
Safe Guard
Account Numbers
Personal Identification Numbers
Change Your Passwords Frequently
Be careful using Wi-Fi
Avoid going to your account on computers that are not
your own
Install firewalls and spyware on your computers
Be sure Financial web pages are secure and encrypted
Log Out Completely
If you think your security has been breached. Contact
your financial institutions immediately.
22. Investing
The act of choosing products and
strategies to make that money grow!
The prospective of time:
Short-term (1-2 years), savings
Mid-to-Long term (3-10 years), investing
23.
24.
25.
26. Quote of the Day
"A big part of financial freedom is having
your heart and mind free from worry about
the what-ifs of life.”
-Suze Orman
Hinweis der Redaktion
Do not take loans from your 401 (K), if you lose your job or leave your current employment the balance of the loan is due in full, within 60 days. Should the plan participant fail to meet the deadline, a default would be declared and penalty-fees and taxes assessed. You will pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty (before age 59 ½) and taxes on the withdrawn amount. 10% penalty waived in certain circumstances including certain non-reimbursed medical expenses, total and permanent disability, among others
How do I continue my medical coverage under cobra ? The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, and other life events. Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102 percent of the cost to the plan. What job loss services are available ? job placement, retraining, resume writing, labor union assistance How do I get unemployment benefits ? Do I qualify? How much unemployment money will I receive? For how long? Are the payments reduced if I take money from my employer?
Am I entitles to sick leave pay ? Vacation pay? Severance pay? Severance pay is money that an employer might want to provide for an employee who is leaving their employ due to layoffs, job elimination, and mutual agreement to part ways, for whatever reason. Severance pay usually amounts to a week or two of pay for each year the employee supplied service to the company. No law requires an employer to pay severance pay. Remember, severance pay is taxable income. * Check your employment manual for your benefits upon termination of employment How can I roll over my 401 (K) plan ? If I need to distribute the 401 (K), how do I do that? What will it cost me to distribute my 401 (K)? Defined contribution plans that allow you to contribute a portion of your wages to retirement savings, pre-tax. Generally, if you withdraw before age 59 ½ you will pay a tax penalty. Use only as a last resort, the penalties and taxes will reduce the available amount to you, significantly.
Contracts: Make sure to have copies of all your insurance documents
IEP – Individualized Education Program
TAXES - There is no time limit if you failed to file your return or filed a fraudulent return. BANK RECORDS - Go through your checks each year and keep those related to your taxes, business expenses, home improvements and mortgage payments. BILLS - bills for big purchases -- such as jewelry, rugs, appliances, antiques, cars, collectibles, furniture, computers, etc. -- should be kept in an insurance file for proof of their value in the event of loss or damage. CREDIT CARDS - Keep the statements for seven years if tax-related expenses are documented.
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