开始你的职业生涯，了解你的财务状况

Budget andSpend Wisely Pay Down Debt Build Your Credit YOUR WE ALTH JOURNEY—NAVIGATING LIFE’S FINANCIAL MILESTONESBeginning Your Career and Understanding Your FinancesTips for managing your moneyas you start your career Check YourCredit Score Understand YourCompany’s Benefits Entering today’s workforce may mean navigating a hybrid environment and anuncertain economy. As you start your job, here are some important steps you cantake to continue focusing on your financial future. Save for Retirement Private WealthManagementwilliamblair.com Budget and Spend WiselyDeveloping a monthly budget can help keep expenses under Build Your Credit It is best to begin building your credit slowly by payingmonthly bills, such as rent and utilities, and starting to payoff any debt you may have, such as student loans or auto loans.In some cases, you may need to create a credit history beforegetting approved for a traditional bank card. If so, beginwith a store credit card, which is often easier to get approvedfor because of lower spending limits. But be mindful of thehigher interest rates on store cards. Once you build a paymenthistory, it will be easier to transition to a bank card. control. Even if you have significant debt, consider “payingyourself first”—saving a portion of your income so you havemoney in the future for large purchases or emergencies.Signing up for direct deposit allows you to automaticallydeposit a portion of your paycheck into an interest-bearingsavings account. Do not miss or be late with payments. Just one past duepayment can lead to exorbitant fees and affect your creditscore. Charge only what you can pay off each month.Carrying a credit card balance is an expensive way to borrow.Remember a credit card is more than just plastic—it is money. Pay Down Debt Whether it is student loans or credit card debt, build apayment plan into your monthly budget. Note:If you borrowed money for school, your first billis due six months after graduation. If those paymentsare high relative to your income, opt for a manageablerepayment plan that includes schedules and options forfederal loans. Private WealthManagementwilliamblair.com Check Your Credit Score Understand Your Company’s BenefitsLearning what benefits are offered may help you make a decision when considering a job offer. Thoroughly explore andunderstand your company’s benefits, including its retirementplan, insurance options, tuition reimbursement, student loanrepayment assistance, stock options, and profit-sharing.Two of the most popular savings plans companies offer area 401(k) and a health savings account (HSA), both of whichcan stay with you throughout your career even if you changeemployers. A credit score is essentially a report card of your credithistory expressed as a number. It follows you throughoutyour life and determines your access to credit as well as theinterest rate you will pay on large purchases such as a caror home. Checking your credit report periodically will give you anidea of how your credit is building and help flag if yourfinancial accounts were hacked or your identity was stolen.Scores range between 300 and 850, with most fallingbetween 600 and 750. A credit score of 700 or more isconsidered good. Knowing your credit history and score canbe especially helpful if you are applying for a loan or rentallease. A 401(k) or 403(b) is a retirement savings plan. You can enrolland have automatic deductions of pretax dollars taken fromyour paycheck, thus lowering your taxable income. Mostcompanies will match a portion of your contribution. Yoursavings plus the company match can grow quickly and youbenefit from the power of compound earnings. Most 401(k)plans offer a variety of investment options, including mutualfunds of stocks, bonds, and money market treasuries. You can access your credit score by contacting a creditreporting agency. The three largest areEquifax,Experian,andTransUnion.AnnualCreditReport.comalso offers a freecopy of your credit report every 12 months from each creditreporting company. To keep up with changes to your creditreport, credit reporting agencies and credit card companiesoffer fraud alerts. Check with your provider on how to signup for alerts. An HSA is like a personal savings account that can only beused for qualified healthcare expenses. To enroll, you mustchoose a high-deductible health insurance plan through youremployer. HSA contributions are pretax and tax-deductible,so the money grows tax-free. Withdrawals for eligible healthexpenses are not taxed and contributions can be investedin mutual funds, stocks, and other investment vehicles.That money can grow throughout your career for medicalexpenses. There is no minimum required distribution at 73as with other retirement accounts. Private WealthManagementwilliamblair.com Contact Us: Please contact yourWilliam Blair wealthadvisor or contact us atpwm@williamblair.com. Save for Retirement Contributing to your company’s retirement plan as