All Blogs | Debt | Financial Planning | Insurance | Investments | Kids | Personal Planning

15 FINANCIAL RULES TO LIVE BY

February 2, 2021 by

15 FINANCIAL RULES TO LIVE BY
The 15 Financial Rules are a checklist for our uncommon approach to financial thinking.

 

PROTECT YOUR TODAYS

1. Protection First: Protection should always be the first financial consideration.
Before focusing on plans that will build your tomorrows, it is prudent to properly
protect yourself against what might happen today.

2. Full Replacement:  The primary role of insurance is to fully replace the item being insured by maintaining
coverage equal to that item’s complete appraised value. Therefore, your insurance
should allow you to replace the whole house, the entire car, the real ring, and your
full economic or “human life” value.

3. Lifetime Protection: Self insuring rarely pays off. You should select insurance strategies that will properly
protect you — no matter how long you live.

 

LIFE EVENT FUNDS

4. Rate of Return: Savings or investment returns are important in order to keep pace with the
Real Cost of Living™.

5. Minimal Risk: Disciplined savings eliminates the need to take too much risk with your money.

6. Tax Advantages*: The impact of compounding taxes can be devastating to the performance of your savings
and investments. Strategies and products exist that allow you to reduce your tax burden.

7. Liquidity: Build an ample supply of short term capital before implementing illiquid wealth
building products.

 

LIVING DEBT-FREE

 

8. Eliminate Debt: Pay off all short term debt as soon as possible.

9. Reduce Taxes*: Certain assets create embedded taxes on your balance sheet that will be triggered upon
sale or liquidation. You should be aware of this possibility and take steps to minimize
the impact of these hidden taxes.

10. Mortgage Selection: If your mortgage payment is too high, it could be crowding out your ability to protect
properly, save for tomorrow, or maintain a balanced lifestyle. Ideally, your mortgage
payment should not exceed 15% of your monthly gross income.

 

WORLD-CLASS SAVINGS

11. Increase Gross Income: Rather than automatically compounding interest and reinvesting dividends and realized capital gains into the same accounts, seek to use this cash flow to satisfy other financial opportunities.

 

12. Protect First: Update your insurance coverage as needed so that you have the maximum protection in
every area — for the minimum cost.

13. Cost of Living Savings: In order to absorb the Real Cost of Living™, save at least 15% of gross income.

 

14. Debt and Tax Efficiency*: Pay off credit cards each month, avoid taxes, and make sure your monthly mortgage payment allows you to maintain overall financial balance.

15. Budgeted Lifestyle: After protecting properly, saving at least 15% of your gross income, and doing what you can to reduce the drag of debt and taxes, what’s left can be used for your current lifestyle. Creating a budget will help you stay on track and allow you to review your spending habits.

 

Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal or.accounting
professional regarding your individual situation.
2020-91999 Exp. 1/22
Wealth Steps®
is a service mark of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America®
(Guardian), New York, NY 10001. © 2020 Guardian