Starting your first job

Set up direct deposit

Have a voided check or your bank's routing + account number ready on day one.

Fill out your W-4 thoughtfully

This controls how much federal tax comes out of each paycheck. IRS has a free withholding estimator.

Enroll in the 401(k) up to the full employer match

The match is free money — often a 50% or 100% guaranteed return. Nothing else beats it.

Pick Roth or Traditional deliberately

If your tax bracket is low now (early career), Roth almost always wins over the long term.

Choose your health insurance during the enrollment window

Miss the window and you wait a year. Compare premium + deductible + out-of-pocket max.

If eligible, open an HSA

The only triple-tax-advantaged account there is. Pair it with a high-deductible health plan.

Enroll in life and disability insurance if offered

Employer-subsidized coverage is typically much cheaper than buying it yourself.

Open a high-yield savings account

For your emergency fund. Online banks pay 10–20× a traditional savings rate.

Start building an emergency fund

Target three to six months of essential expenses. Start with one paycheck and build.