Despite the vast majority (75%) of Americans saying emergency savings are essential to financial security, one-third (32%) have no emergency savings set aside, according to a June survey by Empower. (1) That’s a huge increase from last year, when the financial services company published an April survey showing 21% of Americans had no emergency savings. (2) Must Read High living costs may be forcing Americans to squeeze their budgets, leaving less room for savings. The current state of affairs has left ...

Financial Planning Fundamentals - The session focuses on refreshing financial fundamentals: spending, saving, and paying down debt [1] - The session introduces an eight-step plan to grow savings and pay down debt simultaneously [1] - The "Four-Quadrant Exercise" helps organize finances by categorizing assets into owe, own, earn, and spend [1] - Fidelity's "Full View" tool allows users to digitally input financial information for a comprehensive overview [1] Budgeting Guidelines - The 50-15-5 guideline suggests allocating no more than 50% of pre-tax income to essential expenses, 15% to retirement savings (including employer match), and 5% to short-term/emergency savings [1] - The remaining 30% is allocated for "want-to-haves" or discretionary spending [1] - The industry emphasizes that the 50-15-5 framework is a guideline and should be adjusted based on individual circumstances [1][2] Debt Management and Credit Score - Making minimum payments on time is crucial to protect credit scores [2] - Building an initial cash buffer, such as $1,000 or one month's rent, is recommended for emergencies [2] - The snowball and avalanche methods are two common strategies for paying down credit card debt [3] - If unable to pay credit card bills, the industry recommends stopping card usage, contacting the issuer to negotiate, and exploring credit counseling [4] Retirement Planning - Contributing enough to capture the employer match in a 401(k) or 403(b) is essential [2] - If there is no employer-sponsored plan, consider contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA [3] - The industry highlights the importance of saving for the future, especially for women, due to factors like the pay gap and caregiving duties [3] Additional Tips - The industry suggests considering side hustles to increase income [5] - The industry recommends exploring ways to cut expenses by 10%, such as negotiating rates and embracing home cooking [6] - The "Rule of 6%" suggests prioritizing paying off debts with interest rates of 6% or greater before additional investing [5]

Core Insights - The importance of having an emergency fund is emphasized due to unexpected expenses that can arise in life [1][2] - A significant portion of Americans rely on credit cards for emergency expenses, which can lead to long-term financial pressure [2][3] - Many Americans lack emergency savings, with a notable percentage unable to afford expenses over $400 [3] Emergency Savings Accounts - A Pension-Linked Emergency Savings Account (PLESA) is a potential solution for Americans struggling to save for emergencies, with a high interest in such accounts among workers [4] - The PLESA was introduced as part of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, allowing employers to sponsor emergency savings accounts for employees [5] - Automatic enrollment in a PLESA can facilitate savings, with contributions typically set at 3% or less of an employee's paycheck, while allowing for manual adjustments [6] - PLESAs have a maximum limit of $2,500, though employers may set lower limits, pausing contributions once the threshold is reached [7]

Investment Opportunities - Goldco offers a gold IRA that allows investors to invest in physical gold and other precious metals while benefiting from the tax advantages of an IRA [1] - The company provides free shipping and access to retirement resources with a minimum purchase of $10,000, and matches up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver [5] Inflation Hedge - Precious metals like gold have been shown to retain their value over time, increasing in value as the purchasing power of the dollar declines [2] - Real estate is highlighted as another effective hedge against inflation, with the rising costs of raw materials and labor driving up property values [6] Real Estate Investment - Companies like First National Realty Partners enable individual accredited investors to access institutional-quality commercial real estate properties leased by national brands [7] - Mogul offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, providing monthly rental income and tax benefits without the high entry costs typically associated with real estate investments [12] Financial Perspectives - Cardone argues against maintaining emergency savings, suggesting that individuals should focus on generating income through work rather than saving [4] - Contrarily, Robert Kiyosaki advocates for an emergency fund that covers three to twelve months of expenses, emphasizing the importance of investing excess funds [15]

Early 401k Withdrawal Trends & Impacts - 5% of participants took withdrawals this year, indicating potential financial pressures [4] - One in three workers tend to cash out their entire 401k balance when they change jobs [7] - Cashing out happens more with people whose income can be fluctuating, such as gig economy workers and hourly workers [8] Reasons for Early Withdrawal - Top two reasons for early withdrawals are avoiding eviction and paying for medical expenses [2] - People need cash and liquidity due to emergencies [2] Downsides of Early Withdrawal - A 10% penalty is applied on the surface [1] - Taxes must be paid on the money that was previously tax-sheltered [4] - Foregone investment gains over many decades of long-term compounding significantly impact retirement wealth [4] Recommendations - Emphasize the need for an emergency reserve to protect long-term savings [3] - Workers facing a cash crunch should consider financial planning [9] - Having an emergency savings of $2,000 can significantly reduce the likelihood of cashing out and improve savings behaviors [9] - Rebuilding a 401k after withdrawal requires saving and maximizing employer match [11] Positive Trends - Eight out of 10 workers are saving towards their retirement [6] - Workers are saving at the highest rate seen, which is 12% [6]

Financial Perspective on "HENRYs" (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) - The feeling of needing $520,000 per year to feel rich is the average for many Americans, and this need increases with income [1] - Approximately 14% of Americans earn $200,000 or more annually, but many still do not feel rich [2] - 62% of individuals earning over $300,000 per year struggle with credit card debt, indicating that spending, not earning, drives the feeling of wealth [3] Lifestyle and Spending Habits - "HENRYs" often experience a disconnect between earning more and feeling financially secure due to not living within their means and lifestyle creep [4][5] - Lifestyle creep, the phenomenon of increased spending with increased income, impacts various tax brackets, with higher-income households increasing spending on both necessities and discretionary items [16][17][18][19] - Social circles influence spending habits, as individuals tend to spend in alignment with their friends' economic bracket, which can contribute to the feeling of not being rich [20][21] Strategies for Achieving Financial Well-being - Budgeting and financial planning are essential for "HENRYs" to feel rich and escape the "hamster wheel" [24] - Understanding one's net worth (assets minus liabilities) is the first step toward building wealth and achieving financial goals [25][26] - Building significant emergency savings (e.g., six months of expenses) is closely tied to financial well-being and the feeling of security [26][27] - Prioritizing values and discretionary spending, and rerouting excess funds to savings, can help individuals feel wealthier [29][30][31]

even heard this term like revenge saving. What's the deal here. People are getting serious about saving right now.There's a lot of concern about your financial situation, what's happening with the economy. People worried about inflation. They're not splurging like they did after the pandemic.That was revenge spending. Now they want to revenge savings. That's what they're committed to. Committed to not buying more than they need.That low those lowby, no buy challenges you see on social media. That's what the ...