10 Steps to Building a Complete Financial Portfolio

The fact is you can’t afford not to contribute. If your employer matches $1-for-$1 up to the first 5% of your contribution, you are immediately earning a 100% return on your investment. There is no investment in the world that can guarantee returns even close to that amount. When you consider these funds will also grow tax-deferred in your 401k for the next twenty, thirty, or forty years, the opportunity cost over a career can be millions of dollars! The bottom line: even if you are buried under a mountain of credit card debt, can’t pay your monthly bills, and have your telephone disconnected, you must contribute to your 401k up to the amount of your employer’s match. If your employer doesn’t match, don’t contribute anything until you’ve completed the next several steps.

• Take Stock of Your Life
• Contribute to Your 401k up to Your Employer’s Match
• Pay Off High Interest Credit Card Debt
• Open and Fully Fund a Roth IRA
• Purchase a Home
• Build a Six-Month Emergency Reserve
• Pursue Other Investment Opportunities
• Invest in Yourself
• Save for Your Child’s Education
• Stay the Course