Connect with us

Personal Finance

Here’s what should be on your financial to-do list for 2025, advisors say

Published

on

Rgstudio | E+ | Getty Images

When it comes to financial resolutions, paying down debt is at the top of many to-do lists for 2025.

But financial advisors who work with clients every day have their own wish lists for what they think should be top financial priorities for 2025.

Here are some tips covering everything from budgeting to estate planning from experts who are members of the CNBC FA Council.

“Start slow and manageable with any new financial goals,” said Lee Baker, a certified financial planner and founder, owner and president of Claris Financial Advisors in Atlanta. “You’re better off getting some wins under your belt than trying to build Rome in a day only to end up frustrated.”

Make sure your budget aligns with your goals

A new year is a great time to revisit where your money is going.

“A little bit of time spent on understanding your actual spending and then deciding if it lines up with your goals and values is time very well spent,” said CFP Jude Boudreaux, a partner and senior financial planner with The Planning Center in New Orleans.

Ask yourself if your spending aligns with your goals and values and if it should continue, he suggested. Once you sit down and look at the numbers, it can help identify where you might want to make changes.

Bringing awareness to your spending can help ensure that you’re making the most of the money you’re taking in, advisors say.

“Mindful spending that reflects personal values can lead to greater satisfaction and stronger relationships,” said Rianka Dorsainvil, a CFP and founder and senior wealth advisor at YGC Wealth.

Evaluate where you can cut back on spending

While credit card debt has climbed to record highs and consumers still contend with higher prices, it’s a great time to streamline your spending.

The new year is also a good time to review your credit and debit card statements for the year, said Ted Jenkin, a CFP and founder and CEO of oXYGen Financial, a financial advisory and wealth management firm based in Atlanta.

Look for subscriptions, apps and memberships you don’t use and cancel them, he said.

Also be sure to take a look at how much you’re paying for streaming services, and where you might be able to cut back, Jenkin said. Multiple streaming service subscriptions can now add up to more than a cable bill. Families may save by cutting the number of subscriptions or by having multiple family members on one account, he said.

Also be sure to take a look at grocery bills and the tendency to add spontaneous purchases that can add up, Jenkin said.

Create a personal investment policy statement

When the market inevitably has ups and downs, the temptation is to react.

But research shows the market’s worst days are often closely followed by the best days. If you sell during a market drop, you’ll miss the upside.

By creating a personal investment policy statement, you can avoid reacting to what’s happening in the market and instead stay focused on your goals, said CFP Carolyn McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida.

For example, an investor with a long time horizon before retirement may choose to allocate 80% of their portfolio to equities and the remaining 20% to fixed income. When the market drops or soars, they can choose to rebalance back to that 80% equity allocation rather than give in to the temptation to react to the latest moves, McClanahan said.

Emotion-proof your portfolio: Here's what to know

Try to negotiate a higher salary

The start of a new year usually provides an opportunity to meet with your supervisor or boss to discuss your achievements and value to your team and company, said Cathy Curtis, a CFP and the founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning, a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm.

Before that meeting, research your market value and determine what salary or other compensation you want to ask for with a clear, concise pitch on why, Curtis said.

Also be sure to evaluate whether your work may be more highly rewarded elsewhere, she said.

Make sure your estate plan is up to date

One area of financial planning that people tend to avoid is estate planning, according to Louis Barajas, a CFP, enrolled agent and CEO of International Private Wealth Advisors in Irvine, California.

For anyone who has young children or who owns property, it’s particularly important to make sure you complete your estate plan, Barajas said.

Notably, estate planning does not necessarily have to be expensive, he said. For people who have financial situations that are not complicated, there are good online estate planning resources that help prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney and guardian nominations for minimal costs.

Proper estate planning can help ensure your wishes for where you want your money to go are honored when you die. Importantly, that should also include your digital assets, said CFP Preston Cherry, founder and president of Concurrent Financial Planning in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“These areas require annual reviews to help account for life and money milestones and adjustments in your value system,” Cherry said.

More from Personal Finance:
What it may cost to live like the ‘Home Alone’ family today
After the holidays comes the biggest return season of the year
How much Mariah Carey makes from ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’

Set time to meet with family to discuss money

More than half of Americans — 56% — say their parents never discussed money with them, according to a recent Fidelity survey.

To get a family money conversation going, it helps to set a formal time to discuss the topic.

Lazetta Rainey Braxton, a CFP and founder and managing principal of The Real Wealth Coterie, recommends scheduling at least two multigenerational family meetings per year to discuss intergenerational wealth.

Possible topics that could be discussed include financial resolutions, long-term care needs for older generations and the status of estate planning documents.

If married, make your spouse a priority

A successful marriage is often a predictor of personal happiness, said Tim Maurer, a CFP and the chief advisory officer at SignatureFD, with offices in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina.

If you have a spouse, investing more time and money in your marriage will pay off, he said.

Start with open money conversations, where both spouses answer the questions “What’s working?” and “What could work better?” Maurer said.

It also helps to have weekly standing meetings to discuss calendars and budgets, where you can identify any adjustments that need to be made, he said.

Be sure to create a new budget category that is kept sacred for date nights, and strive to schedule that time together weekly, Maurer said.

Identify key financial deadlines — and start early

Whether it’s getting your tax return in before April 15 or a required minimum distribution before Dec. 31, it helps to get started well before the deadline.

“Think about all the things that come up over the course of the year and plan for it early,” said Baker of Claris Financial Advisors in Atlanta.

“Avoid waiting until the last minute,” Baker said. “You and your advisors will benefit.”

Consider gifting money now

For people who are retired or close to retirement and who have the means, it can make sense to give away money to loved ones now rather than wait, said Boudreaux of The Planning Center in New Orleans.

It provides an opportunity to identify the family’s values, and direct money in alignment with that purpose, Boudreaux said. For example, that could include financial help for adult children who are raising grandchildren now, he said.

In 2025, the annual gift tax exclusion will go up to $19,000 per recipient. However, individuals can still make gifts over that amount by filing a gift tax return with the IRS and counting it against their lifetime gift tax exemption, which will be $13.99 million in 2025, Boudreaux said.  

Notably, direct funding for education is not subject to gift tax limitations, he said.

Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO

Continue Reading

Personal Finance

What student loan forgiveness opportunities still remain under Trump

Published

on

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images

Under the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Education made regular announcements that it was forgiving student debt for thousands of people under various relief programs and repayment plans.

That’s changed under President Donald Trump.

In his first few months in office, Trump — who has long been critical of education debt cancellation — signed an executive order aimed at limiting eligibility for the popular Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and his Education Department revised some student loan repayment plans to no longer conclude in debt erasure.

“You have the administration trying to limit PSLF credits, and clear attacks on the income-based repayment with forgiveness options,” said Malissa Giles, a consumer bankruptcy attorney in Virginia.

The White House did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

Here’s what to know about the current status of federal student loan forgiveness opportunities.

Forgiveness chances narrow on repayment plans

The Biden administration’s new student loan repayment plan, Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, isn’t expected to survive under Trump, experts say. A U.S. appeals court already blocked the plan in February after a GOP-led challenge to the program.

SAVE came with two key provisions that lawsuits targeted: It had lower monthly payments than any other federal student loan repayment plan, and it led to quicker debt erasure for those with small balances.

“I personally think you will see SAVE dismantled through the courts or the administration,” Giles said.

But the Education Department under Trump is now arguing that the ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals required it to end the loan forgiveness under repayment plans beyond SAVE. As a result, the Pay As You Earn and Income-Contingent Repayment options no longer wipe debt away after a certain number of years.

More from Personal Finance:
Nearing retirement? These strategies can protect from tariff volatility
Experts see higher stagflation risks. Here’s what it means for your money
Should investors dump U.S. stocks for international equities? What experts think

There’s some good news: At least one repayment plan still leads to debt erasure, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. That plan is called Income-Based Repayment.

If a borrower enrolled in ICR or PAYE eventually switches to IBR, their previous payments made under the other plans will count toward loan forgiveness under IBR, as long as they meet the IBR’s other requirements, Kantrowitz said. (Some borrowers may opt to take that strategy if they have a lower monthly bill under ICR or PAYE than they would on IBR.)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains

Despite Trump‘s executive order in March aimed at limiting eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, the program remains intact. Any changes to the program would likely take months or longer to materialize, and may even need congressional approval, experts say.

PSLF, which President George W. Bush signed into law in 2007, allows many not-for-profit and government employees to have their federal student loans canceled after 10 years of payments.

What’s more, any changes to PSLF can’t be retroactive, consumer advocates say. That means that if you are currently working for or previously worked for an organization that the Trump administration later excludes from the program, you’ll still get credit for that time — at least up until when the changes go into effect.

For now, the language in the president’s executive order was fairly vague. As a result, it remains unclear exactly which organizations will no longer be considered a qualifying employer under PSLF, experts said.

However, in his first few months in office, Trump has targeted immigrants, transgender and nonbinary people and those who work to increase diversity across the private and public sector. Many nonprofits work in these spaces, providing legal support or doing advocacy and education work.

For now, those pursuing PSLF should print out a copy of their payment history on StudentAid.gov or request one from their loan servicer. They should keep a record of the number of qualifying payments they’ve made so far, said Jessica Thompson, senior vice president of The Institute for College Access & Success.

“We urge borrowers to save all documentation of their payments, payment counts, and employer certifications to ensure they have any information that might be useful in the future,” Thompson said.

Other loan cancellation opportunities to consider

Federal student loan borrowers also remain entitled to a number of other student loan forgiveness opportunities.

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness program offers up to $17,500 in loan cancellation to those who’ve worked full time for “complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency,” among other requirements, according to the Education Department.

(One thing to note: This program can’t be combined with PSLF, and so borrowers should decide which avenue makes the most sense for them.)

Student loan matching funds

In less common circumstances, you may be eligible for a full discharge of your federal student loans under Borrower Defense if your school closed while you were enrolled or if you were misled by your school or didn’t receive a quality education.

Borrowers may qualify for a Total and Permanent Disability discharge if they suffer from a mental or physical disability that is severe and permanent and prevents them from working. Proof of the disability can come from a doctor, the Social Security Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

With the federal government rolling back student loan forgiveness measures, experts also recommend that borrowers explore the many state-level relief programs available. The Institute of Student Loan Advisors has a database of student loan forgiveness programs by state.

Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO

Continue Reading

Personal Finance

Many Americans are worried about running out of money in retirement

Published

on

M Swiet Productions | Getty Images

Many Americans are worried they’ll run out of money in retirement.

In fact, a new survey from Allianz Life finds that 64% Americans worry more about running out of money than they do about dying. Among the reasons cited for those fears include high inflation, Social Security benefits not providing enough support and high taxes.

The fear of running out of money was most prominent for Gen Xers who are approaching retirement. However, a majority of millennials and baby boomers also said they worry about their money lasting, according to the online survey of 1,000 individuals conducted between January and February.

Separately, a new Employee Benefit Research Institute report finds most retirees say they are living the lifestyle they envisioned and are able to spend money within reason. Yet more than half of those surveyed agreed at least somewhat that they spend less because of worries they will run out of money, according to the survey of more than 2,700 individuals conducted between January and February.

More from Personal Finance:
Nearing retirement? These strategies can protect from tariff volatility
Experts see higher stagflation risks. Here’s what it means for your money
Should investors dump U.S. stocks for international equities? What experts think

Meanwhile, a Northwestern Mutual survey reported that 51% of Americans think it’s “somewhat or very likely” they will outlive their savings. The survey polled 4,626 U.S. adults aged 18 and older in January.

Since those studies were conducted, new tariff policies have caused disturbance in the stock markets and prompted speculation that inflation may increase. Meanwhile, new leadership at the Social Security Administration has prompted fears about the continuity of benefits. Those headlines may negatively affect retirement confidence, experts say.

With employers now providing a 401(k) plan and other savings plans versus pensions, it is largely up to workers to manage how much they save heading into retirement and how much they spend once they reach that life stage. That responsibility can also lead to worries of running out of money in the future, experts say.

How to manage the ‘fear of outliving your resources’

Because of the unique risks every individual or couple faces when planning for retirement, the best approach is typically to transfer some of that burden to a third party, said David Blanchett, head of retirement research at PGIM DC Solutions.

Creating a guaranteed lifetime income stream that covers essential expenses can help reduce the financial impact of any events that require retirees to cut back on spending, Blanchett explained.

That should first start with delaying Social Security benefits, he said. While eligible retirees can claim benefits as early as 62, holding off up until age 70 can provide the biggest monthly benefits. Social Security is also unique in that it provides annual adjustments for inflation.

73% of Americans are financially stressed

Next, retirees may want to consider buying a lifetime income annuity that can help amplify the monthly income they can expect. Admittedly, those products can be complicated to understand. Therefore Blanchett recommends starting out by comparing very basic products like single premium immediate annuities that are easier to compare.

“Unless you do those things, you just can’t get rid of that fear of outliving your resources,” Blanchett said.

Without a guaranteed income stream, retirees bear all of the financial risk themselves, he said.

 “Retirement could last 10 years; it could last 40 years,” Blanchett said. “You just don’t know how long it’s going to be.”

Among retirees, there has been some hesitation to buy annuities, said Craig Copeland, EBRI’s director of wealth benefits research. Such a purchase requires parting with a lump sum of money in exchange for the promise of a guaranteed income stream.

“We see great increase in interest, but we aren’t seeing upticks in take up yet,” Copeland said. “I do think that’s going to start to change.”

What can help boost retirement confidence

To effectively plan for retirement, it helps to seek professional financial assistance, experts say.

Meanwhile, few people have a plan of their own for how they may live on the assets they’ve worked hard to accumulate, according to Kelly LaVigne, vice president of consumer insights at Allianz Life.

“This is something that you should not plan on doing on your own,” LaVigne said.

While the survey from Northwestern Mutual separately found individuals think they need $1.26 million to retire comfortably, the real number individuals need is based on their personal situation, said Kyle Menke, founder and wealth management advisor at Menke Financial, a Northwestern Mutual company.

In thinking about how life will look in 30 years, there are a variety of things to consider, Menke said. This includes stock market returns, taxes, inflation and medical expenses, he said.

Even people who have enough money for retirement often don’t feel confident in their ability to manage all of those factors on their own, he said. Financial advisors have the ability to run different simulations and stress test a plan, which can help give retirees and aspiring retirees the confidence they’re lacking.

“I think that’s where the biggest gap is,” said Menke, referring to the confidence Americans are lacking without a plan.

Continue Reading

Personal Finance

Trump tariffs will hurt lower income Americans more than the rich: study

Published

on

Shipping containers at the Port of Seattle on April 16, 2025.

David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Tariffs levied by President Donald Trump during his second term would hurt the poorest U.S. households more than the richest over the short term, according to a new analysis.

Tariffs are a tax that importers pay on foreign goods. Economists expect consumers to shoulder at least some of that tax burden in the form of higher prices, depending on how businesses pass along the costs.

In 2026, taxes for the poorest 20% of households would rise about four times more than those in the top 1%, if the current tariff policies were to stay in place. Those were findings according to an analysis published Wednesday by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Car prices are going up from Trump's auto tariffs 'unless something changes': Liberty Subaru owner

For the bottom 20% of households — who will have incomes of less than $29,000 in 2026 — the tariffs will impose a tax increase equal to 6.2% of their income that year, on average, according to ITEP’s analysis.

Meanwhile, those in the top 1%, with an income of more than $915,000 a year, would see their taxes rise 1.7% relative to their income, on average, ITEP found.

Economists analyze the financial impact of policy relative to household income because it illustrates how their disposable income — and quality of life — are impacted.

Taxes by ‘another name’

“Tariffs are just taxes on Americans by another name,” researchers at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, wrote in 2017, during Trump’s first term.

“[They] raise the price of food and clothing, which make up a larger share of a low-income household’s budget,” they wrote, adding: “In fact, cutting tariffs could be the biggest tax cut low-income families will ever see.”

Meanwhile, there’s already evidence that some retailers are raising costs.

A recent analysis by the Yale Budget Lab also found that Trump tariffs are a “regressive” policy, meaning they hurt those at the bottom more than the top.  

More from Personal Finance:
Consumers are spending as trade wars raise recession odds
Consumers make financial changes in response to tariffs
Can tariff revenue replace income tax?

The short-term tax burden of tariffs is about 2.5 times greater for those at the bottom, the Yale analysis found. It examined tariffs and retaliatory trade measures through April 15.

“Lower income consumers are going to get pinched more by tariffs,” said Ernie Tedeschi, director of economics at the Yale Budget Lab and former chief economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers during the Biden administration.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said tariffs may lead to a “one-time price adjustment” for consumers. But he also coupled trade policy as part of a broader White House economic agenda that includes a forthcoming legislative package of tax cuts.

“We’re also working on the tax bill and for working Americans, I believe that the reduction in taxes is going to be substantially more,” Bessent said April 2.

It’s also unclear how current tariff policy might change. The White House has signaled trade deals with certain nations and exemptions for certain products may be in the offing.

Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on imports from most U.S. trading partners. Mexico and Canada face 25% levies on a tranche of goods, and many Chinese goods face import duties of 145%. Specific products also face tariffs, like a 25% duty on aluminum, steel and automobiles.

Continue Reading

Trending