Financial Knowledge for Recent Graduates

Financial accounts.

Basic checking accounts from banks and credit unions are the underpinnings of financial life, allowing paychecks to be deposited (directly from the employer, through mobile banking, or in person), bills to be paid (by check or automatic account debits), and cash to be obtained from ATMs. While the use of paper checks is waning, it is still important to know how to write a check and balance a checkbook. Besides a checking account, other financial accounts come into play. These include bank savings accounts, which can help individuals maintain minimum balances needed to avoid fees at banks and brokerage companies.

Debt and credit.

The concept of debt and repayment may be superficially understood by young adults who borrow to go to college or buy a car, but it is all too easy to obtain a credit card and run up a balance that becomes difficult to manage. Debt can easily accrue and become overwhelming, leading to financial distress.

It is essential to have access to credit throughout one’s lifetime, for example, to buy a home or start a business. Whether a person can obtain a loan at a favorable interest rate depends in large part on that person’s credit score. This score is figured based on access to borrowing (e.g., credit lines on existing credit cards), loan repayment history, and other factors. It is critical to convey the importance of maintaining good credit by managing debt carefully and monitoring credit ratings to protect one’s identity.

Savings.

The concept of savings is elusive to many people, who unfortunately find themselves without funds to meet emergencies or the ability to have a financially secure retirement. Setting aside money is necessary to get through the ups and downs of life and the economy. The starting point for savings is having a basic emergency fund to cover expenses for three to six months (or more) if a job is lost and investment income is unavailable or insufficient. It is also helpful to have goals to which savings can be targeted, such as for a down payment on a home, starting a family, and retirement. Setting short-term and long-term goals helps motivate saving.

Taxes.

Taxes, in general, may be an unfamiliar topic to many young adults. Appreciating how income can be protected from current taxation is an important concept. Toward this goal, it is helpful to understand tax deferrals, such as salary deferrals in 401(k) plans and, typically, interest on U.S. savings bonds. In addition, it is helpful to seek tax-free fringe benefits that may be available through a job (e.g., health coverage), as opposed to paying for such benefits with after-tax dollars.

Time value of money.

This concept describes how money available now is worth more than the same sum in the future because of its earning capacity. This circles back to budgeting and saving; not buying a coffee at Starbucks today makes $4.75 available for other things, such as savings. If a person makes this choice 10 times a month over the course of a year and puts the $570 into a savings account that earns 3%, the account will have more than $6,700 in 10 years (assuming annual compounding and without regard to tax on interest). Recognizing the power of the time value of money can mean real savings over many years.

Insurance.

Insurance is an expense that cannot be ignored. Basic insurance needs, such as health insurance, car insurance, and property insurance (e.g., renter’s insurance) are likely the first products encountered, but depending on the young adult’s financial and job situation, a host of other products may come into play, including life insurance and disability insurance.

Selecting financial products.

Whether saving through a pretax retirement account, such as a 401(k) or individual retirement account, or in after-tax accounts, young adults are faced with an array of investment options: stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, annuities, real estate investment trusts, and more. It is vital to know how each of these options works and its place in a savings plan.

Charitable giving.

Beyond expenses and savings, giving to charity is a key part of a monthly budget for many people. It is helpful to know how to distinguish between legitimate organizations and scams.

Worker status.

Typically, when students graduate, they enter the full-time workforce; however, today an increasing number of individuals work in the “gig” or “sharing” economy, on a full-time or part-time basis. It is important to understand the distinction between being an employee (i.e., withholding for income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes, as well as fringe benefits) versus being an independent contractor (i.e., paying estimated income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes, as well funding one’s own benefits).