What’s Your Financial Animal?
Find out what kind of animal you are when it comes to your finances
Apparently, I am a Coyote (well it’s better than a COUGAR I guess!) when it comes to my financial habits. It was fun to take the quiz and see what kind of animal I am. What kind of animal do you think you would be? Why not take the Find you Financial Animal quiz developed by TCF BANK and find out? Just click this picture below to head to the TCF Facebook page. Let me know in the comments what animal you are…it only takes about 3 minutes.
April is National Financial Literacy Month
April is a great month to consider your financial habits. It’s tax time, spring has arrived, and many life changing events aren’t far around the corner! Kids are starting school soon or graduating. You may be starting a new job or retiring. I have an MBA from a major financial focused school (University of Chicago) so I always have financial thoughts on my mind. But even I was surprised at some of my answers the quiz. One quiz question asked, “What would you do if you had lunch with Bill Gates?” The fact that I choose the answer “I would manage his portfolio for a month and take half the profits” made me chuckle. Though, Financial Literacy is NO LAUGHING MATTER!
Understanding your finances is your security for the future
Even with an MBA, I constantly need little refreshers on aspects of my finances and my financial literacy. This year we paid off our mortgage (WHOOT!), but now we have to make a plan for Walt’s retirement which may be coming in the next few years. We have to make sure everything is in order so we know we are looking at a secure future. These are the questions we need to investigate over the next year:
- All my stocks are scattered all over the place (in different brokerage houses, in DRIPS). How do I consolidate them all?
- At what age can we start withdrawing money from our 401K?
- Do we have enough saved?
- What tax laws are going to affect us?
Even typing those question scares me! What aspects of your financial literacy need improving?
TCF Bank’s Financial Literacy Resource Center
TCF Bank has a Financial Literacy Resource Center. The aim is to arm you with practical and impartial information about money management. They have 8 modules that you can work your way through to improve your financial literacy. I liked how the tour of the CF Bank Financial Learning Center combined many different visual aspects incorporating video, animations, gaming and social networking to simplify complex financial concepts. I gave the “Saving and Investment” module a try and the “Insurance and Taxes” module, as well.
The savings and investment module would help me..I am never quite sure where to save money especially with the different risks involved with stocks and the low low interest you earn in regular savings accounts.
I couldn’t find the quiz on their facebook page but I think I am the coyote. I am always looking for a bargain. And it might sound crazy but I will buy things I do not need just because I got them for a great deal.
since ido not have any thing or any one aroudn i do not have any type of stuff do to any thing
I didn’t realize that it was financial month, but it is always good to look at your finances and make goals. You are right with taxes and kids graduating soon, finances need to be looked at. Students going out into the “real” world really need to take a moment to think over questions and expenses. It is important for me and most people to build up a savings.
We need a savings!! We need to learn to save and not touch saved money!! We are so bad at saving 🙁
My finances are in order.Interesting and informative article.
I`m trying to get my finances in order. I think I`m getting to the finish line soon. I hope to have my finances in order by the end of the year.
Identity protection and financing higher education would be key for me. Our daughter already needs to head to private school so this is information we really need.
I definitely need help with credit scores. I am trying to raise mine
I think the Credit Scores and Reports would help me most. I don’t like credit cards (seen too many people get in trouble with them) so I’ve never had one!
I think the Savings and Investments module would be most helpful for me. My husband is very interested in investing.
I’m pretty financially literate but you can always use identify protection. You never know.
Identity protection probably – I am super paranoid about that
I took this fun quiz and I am a seal. The one item from the 8 to help me develop better financial literacy would be the identity protection model.
Insurance and taxes…I just realized how clueless I am about taxes. I have no idea what means what and the words just confusing!
It says I’m an Owl. However, there were some categories that I wish had a option to select, “no”, because I just wouldn’t do some of them.
I took the quiz and I also got Coyote! Definitely true, too, because I’m always the one pulling out free product coupons or BOGOS when out shopping ^.^
While I like to think I’m good with money I definitely have a lot to learn! Insurance and Taxes would probably be my choice pick; not so much for the insurance part but I really need help when it comes to taxes and my businesses!
As someone who is working towards buying their first home, all of these are really valuable to me right now. Since I’m not quite to Mortgages yet, I think Credit Reports and building credit would be the biggest asset to me. Then again, I’ve had issues with identity theft, so that’s really appealing too!
Congratulations on paying off your mortgage. It’s great living without one. It was good planning that let us retire early and live mortgage free.
I think the Identity Protection module is one that everyone could benefit from in this day and age
Mortgages would be good for me, as I hope to own a house someday. I bank with TCF too so I’ll have to check this out.