Invest in you why this matter

Education Investment

  1. Plan ahead for a career. Having a haphazard career and training plan — or no plan at all — can delay the potential for future career advances and income increases. Aim to take charge of your own future earlier rather than later by proactively planning to complete prerequisite courses or essential credentialing that gets you started on a career path.
  2. Consider education an essential investment throughout your work life. Gain new skills and sharpen existing skills to be “marketable” for ever-changing conditions. Pay attention and keep up to date on market needs and employment trends so you can adapt readily to job and career transitions.
  3. Be intentional with education choices. Establish must-have and nice-to-have criteria for circumstances that align to your values, lifestyle, financial means and career goals. Weigh the payoffs and tradeoffs of multiple solutions before making a commitment. Include consideration of on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs, military options, two-year college programs, university degrees, public and private schools, and employer-sponsored programs.
  4. Manage education costs. Your current income resources might not cover the additional expenditures for education. Take time to calculate what you can afford to pay for education and training. Select an option that realistically matches your financial means. Avoid taking on student loan debt if possible by first looking for funding sources that won’t need to be repaid. Invest time to apply for grants, scholarships or employer reimbursement programs to avoid the need to repay funds later. Streamline your living expenditures while dedicating resources to investing in yourself through skill training.

Employment Conditions

  1. Set criteria for acceptable employment. Similar to selecting education options, establish criteria for your preferred work conditions. Along with identifying preferences, clarify your deal breakers to weed out circumstances that are not worth pursuing.
  2. Jumpstart the journey. Lack of experience can be a barrier when starting a career or seeking a new job. Seek ways to creatively sharpen skills and gain experience, such as relevant volunteer work, internships and part-time or temporary jobs. Join professional associations to tune into industry issues and to connect with people in your desired field.
  3. Compare job offers. Consider more than pay when deciding whether or not to leave a current job or when faced with multiple job offers. Take into account the whole compensation package plus work conditions, work-related expenses, management style, company culture, location and the local cost of living. If you have the option to choose, assess whether or not the transition as a whole will enhance or impair your financial situation.
  4. Pay attention to your paycheck and benefits. When starting a new job, carefully read through the paperwork sooner rather than later to ensure you meet required enrollment deadlines. Take advantage of the convenience of auto deposit if that is an option. If an employer-based retirement savings plan is available, learn about your investing options to make informed, intentional decisions focused on long-term benefits. When filling out the W-4 form, use the Personal Allowance Worksheet and the Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet to withhold the correct amount of income tax from your paycheck.

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