USAA - Spring 2014 - (Page 15)

services and an attic-mounted antenna. "People can greatly reduce the cost of all the technology they are subscribed to," Howard says. 6.USE TECHNOLOGY TO SHOP. When shopping online, visit USAA MemberShop (mall.usaa.com), a shopping site that provides members with bonus rewards or cash back on qualifying purchases. When shopping in stores, use a bar code-scanning smartphone app such as Pic2Shop, Price Check by Amazon, TheFind, ShopAdvisor or RedLaser to find the best deal by comparing prices at local retailers and online. Also, use cash or debit to keep credit card balances in line with your goals. 7.STREAMLINE YOUR ACCOUNTS. When it comes to savings and investment accounts, having too many can be problematic. "While not putting your financial eggs in one basket is typical advice, having so many baskets that you can't keep track of them can defeat the purpose," Halliwell says. "It's very difficult to manage and maintain your portfolio when your money is strewn across multiple accounts and institutions." Come up with a plan and consolidate your holdings.† 8.SOCK AWAY YOUR RAISE. Use pay raises, longevity increases and promotions as opportunities to jump-start retirement savings or reach other financial goals. "Raises offer an opportunity to increase what you're saving without feeling it from a cash-flow perspective," says JJ Montanaro, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with USAA. 9.CONSIDER INVESTING AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. Investing when you are young can help provide for your financial future. Consider investing at least 10 percent of your income in your 20s, Halliwell says. "If you wait until your 30s," he says, "you have to step it up" to perhaps 15 to 20 percent. If you wait until your 40s, he says, you will probably need to bump it up more. And if you wait until your 50s, you may need to save as much as 40 percent of your income. "There are very few people who can pull that off." usaa.com See legal information on page 30. †There may be tax consequences associated with the transfer of assets. Indirect transfers may be subject to taxation and penalties. Consult with your own advisors regarding your particular situation. SPRING 2014 USAA Magazine 15 https://mall.usaa.com/?wa_ref=USAAmag http://www.usaa.com

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USAA - Spring 2014