What should she do to plan for the future?
An audience member's daughter has just graduated college—with no student loans and no credit card debt! "She started her new job this week. So what should she do to plan for the future?" she asks.
Suze has a very quick financial plan for her daughter and others in the same situation.
- Establish a six-to-eight month emergency fund. "That way if something happens, she has a place to go and get money."
- If her employer offers a 401(k) or 403(b) plan with matching funds, she should put as much as she can to maximize her employer's match. "I don't care what else is going on in her life, she cannot afford to pass up that free money. But she is only to contribute up to the point of the match."
- After that, start saving for a down payment on a house. "Nothing will give her a better tax write-off and future security than owning a home she can call her own. Even in these real estate times, if you are a buyer, there are tremendous values out there. If you do it correctly, you will be so happy you did years from now."
- Then put money in a Roth IRA. "The absolute best place to save for your future. Even better than a 401(k) plan."
"If she can just do that, you're going to be one happy mama," Suze says.
Next »