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• Use the budgeting tool in the RightCapital software to keep track of your spending.
• Build your emergency savings. Start from where you are today. Make a plan.
• If you are not applying for credit soon, freeze it for protection.
  • https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html
  • https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
  • https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze?atvy=%7B%22173185%22%3A%22Experience+B+-+New+Visitors%22%7D

• Review College Planning Essentials from J.P. Morgan to understand the current rules and tools available.
• Estimate the cost of college: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/get-started
• Estimate the financial aid need: https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/
  • Cost of Attendance – Student Aid Index = Financial Aid Need
• Learn about 529 plans: https://www.collegesavings.org/what-is-529
• Estimate tax savings https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/529-plan-calculator-estimate-your-federal-state-tax-benefits

Disability Insurance

Protects your income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.

• What it is: Replaces a portion of your paycheck if you can’t work because of medical reasons, either short-term or long-term.
• Why it matters: Most households depend on regular income—the loss can quickly strain finances. Disability insurance helps pay for essentials like housing, food, and bills while you recover.
• How much do you need?
  Most people target 60–70% of their gross income.
  • Step 1: List your monthly living expenses.
  • Step 2: Subtract any other dependable sources of income.
  • Step 3: The remainder is the gap you’ll want your policy to cover.
• Disability Needs Discussion Form
• Free Calculator:
  NerdWallet Disability Insurance Calculator – Estimate how much income protection you might need.

• Learn the basics of investing with Morningstar's free Investing Classroom.
• What does an ideal retirement look like for you? Take 2-3 minutes to imagine what a day in your life might look like.
  • Where do you live?
  • If money weren't a concern, how would you spend your time?
  • What relationships or experiences matter most?
• Create your online account with the Social Security Administration at https://www.ssa.gov/
• Use the budgeting tool in the RightCapital software to keep track of your spending.
• What is the difference between your budget and your projected Social Security benefit? That is your "gap" that your retirement savings will cover. You can change the assumed default numbers with this easy calculator at https://www.nerdwallet.com/calculator/retirement-calculator  by selecting "Advanced Details."
• Watch a video, "What is Your Target Savings Rate?" based on the "National Savings Rates Guidelines for Individuals"
• Estimate your Life Expectancy
  • https://www.blueprintincome.com/tools/life-expectancy-calculator-how-long-will-i-live/
  • https://apps.bluezones.com/en/vitality
  • https://www.livingto100.com/

• Are you a business owner that started a new retirement plan. We built a calculator on our website for you to calculate the tax credits available. Speak to your tax advisor, https://castlerockpep.com/employer-resources
• What about inherited IRAs? https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/inherited-iras-what-know-about-taxes-rmds-more
• Should your 401(k) contributions be made as Roth or Pre-Tax contributions?

• Disaster-Emergency Planning Highlights
• Add Emergency Medical Info to Your Phone
  1. Open Medical Info from Contacts or Emergency Settings.
  2. Enter name, medical conditions, allergies, and medications.
  3. Add height, weight, date of birth, and address.
  4. Confirm emergency contacts.
  5. Ensure Medical Info is visible from lock screen.
• Draft a free will at https://www.willscenter.com/
• Draft your Healthcare Power of Attorney (Living Will) at https://www.fivewishes.org/
• COLORADO Only:  Print your Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) form on Astrobrights "Vulcan Green" 60lb paper, bring it to your physician for signature, and stick it on your fridge for emergency personnel, https://civhc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/MOST-Form-2018.pdf
• NEBRASKA Only: Print your Nebraska Emergency Treatment Orders (NETO), from https://nebraskahealthnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NETO-ADULT-V2-FINAL-2019.pdf
  Important! Your signature must be witnessed by TWO Adults (only one of whom can work for health care provider) OR a NOTARY PUBLIC.
• Own a home and want to keep it out of probate? Consider filing a Beneficiary Deed.
  Colorado: https://eforms.com/deeds/co/beneficiary-deed-transfer-on-death/
  Nebraska: https://esign.com/deeds/ne/transfer-on-death/
• Own a vehicle and want to keep it out of probate? A Transfer on Death (TOD) registration for vehicles allows you to name a beneficiary by filling out a specific form (like Colorado's DR 2009) and presenting the form, along with the vehicle title, to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to add the beneficiary's name to the title, avoiding probate later.
  • Upon death of the owner(s) of the motor vehicle, the beneficiary must present the death certificate(s) which must be accompanied by the D R 2009 Transfer of Title Upon Death Designated Beneficiary form and the D R 2395 Application for Title and/or Registration.
• Survivor's Financial Checklist

• What's something new you've always wanted to try but didn't have the time for?
• What Would Your Younger Self Tell You About Your Best Future Self?
• What activities or experiences have brought you the most joy—and how can you bring more of that into your life now?
• How about filling out the "Rating Your Life Values Worksheet"
• If you could share one piece of wisdom or legacy with the next generation, what would it be?
• What do you want to be remembered for, and what small steps can you take toward that today?
• Consider filling out "Legacy Lifeprint" from Kathleen Rehl to share your values, hopes, dreams, memories
  and more with family and friends as your lasting legacy of love.
• Watch some educational videos about retirement income:
  • "Retirement Paycheck Income Solutions"
  • "How do I Create Monthly Income in Retirement?"