With the start of a new season, CFP Board Ambassador shares tips on tidying up your financial life.
LIVONIA, March 31, 2018 --There’s no better way to celebrate the end of tax season and the beginning of warmer weather than Spring cleaning your finances, according to CFP Board Ambassador Robert Schmansky, CFP®.
“Spring is a great time to use the momentum of tax time to figure out what paperwork can stay and what should go,” said Robert Schmansky, CFP®. “It’s an opportunity to get organized and step back into control of your finances.”
While this can be a daunting process, CFP Board Ambassador Schmansky shares a list of best practices to keep in mind when getting your financial house in order:
Shred it & Forget it (After 45 Days): Unless you need to reference a transaction for tax or business purposes, or for proof of purchase for a specific item, you can shred credit card statements after 45 days. But, be sure to hold on to statements you may need for your taxes, such as charitable contributions. Same rule applies for utility and phone bills, once you’ve paid them feel free to shred, unless they contain tax-deductible expenses.
Short Term Relationship (About 1 Year): Hold on to bank and investment statements for a year and be sure to flag any taxable investments. However, hold on to records that are related to home improvements and major purchases until you dispose of the asset. Similarly, you should hold on to medical records for at least a year.
Lucky Number 7: Because the IRS has seven years to audit your returns if the agency suspects you made a mistake, it’s recommended to keep your returns, and all supporting documents, for seven years. If you work with a tax preparer, ask whether they will maintain electronic copies of all returns filed.
Declutter for the Win: If you have any orphan accounts, consider consolidating them—same for old retirement or investment accounts. Combining accounts streamlines your financial life, makes it easier to monitor your entire portfolio and ensures that your money is properly diversified.
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional can help Americans determine which documents are important to keep for future reference and how to consolidate accounts.
ABOUT CFP BOARD
The mission of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is to benefit the public by granting the CFP® certification and upholding it as the recognized standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning. The Board of Directors, in furthering CFP Board's mission, acts on behalf of the public, CFP® professionals and other stakeholders. CFP Board owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. CFP Board currently authorizes nearly 80,000 individuals to use these marks in the U.S.
ABOUT ROBERT SCHMANSKY, CFP®
Robert Schmansky is the founder of Clear Financial Advisors of Metro-Detroit and Ann Arbor. Rob has over a decade of experience helping individuals and families meet their financial goals and overcome money concerns. He is frequently quoted in the media on issues regarding personal financial planning, and has been a contributing writer for U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Investopedia, and Yahoo!Finance, and an investment expert for FiLife, a former Dow Jones/IAC joint Internet venture. He has been an adjunct instructor of economics and the required courses for candidates to sit for the CFP® exam. Rob was named a Top 100 Most Influential Advisor by Investopedia, 40 Under 40 financial planning professional by InvestmentNews, and he is the 2013 PlanPlus Global Financial Planning Awards North American finalist.
CONTACT: Robert Schmansky, CFP® P: 248-677-1762 E: rob@clearfinancial.net W: www.clear.financial Twitter: @moneyclarity
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