YOUR MONEY Money Management Tips Help Boomers Navigate Finances (NAPSA)—In today’s turbulent economy, it is more important than ever for consumers to be on top of their finances. For baby boomers, it’s especially critical. Whether they are approaching retirement or just sending kids off to college, they have a lot to consider. More than one in eight boomers age 40 to 60 is caring for both a child and an aging parent. This “double duty,” coupled with saving money, managing debt and building budgets, is an often daunting task. Manyfinancial services companies offer tools and resources that can help baby boomers manage their financial demands. Through its relationship with AARP, Chase has created interactive online tools, calculators, worksheets and other financial resources for consumers age 50 plus. One particularly useful tool is Chase’s interactive financial guide, “50 Ways to Love Your Money,” developed in collaboration with AARP Financial and Visa. A few of the 50 tips in the guide for boomersinclude: Question Your Needs and Wants: Asking yourself some simple questions can help you under- stand the difference between what you need and what you want. Armedwith this information, you'll do a better job building a budget that lets you live well within your means—something particularly important when planning for retirement and fixed incomes. Make No Mistakes: Over 13 million people a year find inaccuracies on their credit reports. Do you know what is in yours? The “50 Ways” guide provides a sample credit report and instructions on what to look for and how to get errors corrected. Clean Your Financial House: You can’t predict life Creating a budget for both the present and the future is a key element of any financial plan. events, but you can plan for them. Take steps to protect yourself and your family by getting your financial housein order. It will give you some breathing room when you most need it. Organize your financial life and let your children or trustees know where important documentsare kept. “We are constantly thinking of new interactive tools and resources to help our customersbetter meet their financial challenges,” said Mark Conces, general manager, Chase Card Services. “With our enhanced clear and simple approach and new financial guide, we are working to empower consumers age 50 plus with useful tools and information.” While financial planningis crucial for boomers, it’s no less important for those of other generations. Chase’s Clear & Simple Web site also offers tools, calculators, worksheets and otherfinancialliteracy resources to help consumers in all phases of life manage their finances. Chase financial tools including the “50 Ways to Love Your Money” guide are available at www.chase clearandsimple.com/aarp.
