Kick-starting your fitness journey or trying a new hobby may sound like a fun way to start 2024. Signing a power of attorney on a gloomy day in January? Maybe not so much. However, in the long run, getting your finances in order may be a better use of time than learning how to ride a unicycle.
And whether you're a seasoned investor or have a couple of months' savings in the bank, there are always new tips and tricks that could improve your financial health.
With 2024 being hailed as a return to the new normal by many on Wall Street, it may also be time for cash-strapped consumers to set themselves up for post-COVID reality.
Put your wealth in buckets
Kiran Ganesh, multi-asset strategist at UBS Global Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Office, told Fortune that ever-increasing access to data can be "daunting" for consumers.
As a result, he suggests two tacts: creating a target-focused plan and locking in yields. "Building a clear plan that links finances with goals can help investors cut through the noise. We often talk about segmenting wealth into three buckets: liquidity, longevity, and legacy," he explained.
"Liquidity, for shorter-term spending plans, should be invested in safe and low volatility assets like deposits or short-term bonds. Longevity, for medium-term, can be invested in balanced portfolios—to balance growth and protection. Legacy, for longer-term plans, can be invested more aggressively."
One of these buckets in particular should be prioritized in 2024, says Amanda Lott, managing director and head of wealth planning strategy for J.P. Morgan Private Bank.
"Your liquidity bucket should be a primary focus this year," she said. "With interest rates higher today than they have been for more than 10 years, how you implement your liquidity matters more than ever."
Lott advises focusing on short-term investment vehicles like a short-duration bond strategy, which can help enhance yield, keep funds readily available and avoid significant market risk for near-term goals.
Lock in yields
With interest rates currently high but expected to fall by mid-2024, Ganesh and Lott both advised locking in yields that will stay relatively higher for years to come.
"If bonds and equities rally further, investors risk being left on the sidelines holding progressively lower-returning cash," Ganesh said.
"Consider locking in today’s higher yields on a municipal bond rather than rolling over T-bills," echoed Lott, "given the potential for capital appreciation when interest rates eventually fall."
She also encourages borrowing from a line of credit or home equity loan if needed, instead of taking money out of longer-term investments. She explained this "may force you to realize capital gains or reduce market exposure at inopportune times. After earmarking enough in your liquidity bucket for near-term expenses, the excess cash can be deployed in the markets for your lifestyle and legacy."
Retirement ready
A host of personal finance experts Fortune spoke to had the same message: If you're not doing so already, start taking your retirement planning seriously.
Matthew Weller, head of market research at Forex.com, encouraged Fortune readers to start as early as possible: "The power of compounding interest is immense. Start saving as early as possible, even if the amount is small."
"Stay Informed, but avoid knee-jerk reactions," he added. "Stay updated on financial news but avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations."
Weller also warned consumers to be wary of fees associated with retirement accounts, a point echoed by U.K.-based James Beckett, owner of advice website MoneyStocker.com.
According to the Center for American Progress, the average American pays a 1% fee on pension assets—which on the surface seems minimal. However, if consumers have the go-to benchmark of $1 million in savings for retirement, that's still a $10,000 hit.
On top of that, a survey from TD Ameritrade found that around three-quarters of Americans don't fully understand the fees they face: 37% erroneously believed they had no fees, 22% didn't know their plan came with fees, and 14% didn't know how to find out what their fees were.
"We worry about the interest rate of our savings account, about getting discounts on our car insurance, and about changing energy suppliers for better deals. But half of us do not seemingly care that we are hemorrhaging money in the form of pension account fees," Beckett told Fortune. "My suggestion for 2024 is that we all take a good look at our pension and make sure we are not being overcharged by the platform provider or in fund fees."
Make sure you don't have unclaimed cash
A largely unknown fact is that there are billions of dollars worth of unclaimed cash floating around the U.S. and U.K.
According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, one in seven people has unclaimed property (stocks, checking accounts, savings, and more) in their name, with states handing back over $4 billion every year to unsuspecting recipients.
Meanwhile, in the U.K. there's reportedly up to £77 billion unclaimed across pension pots, investments, and policies—and all people need to do to claim is get online, or get their paperwork in order.
"In a time when every penny counts, these dormant assets can be a lifeline for many," said Duncan Stevens, CEO of money recovery expert Gretel.
“While one in seven would use any reclaimed money to support their everyday living costs—particularly as we reach the festive season and finances have to extend further—a far greater number would reinvest it or consolidate it among other existing accounts.
"This New Year the message is clear: Taking a moment to explore the potential of dormant accounts could unwrap a financial boost that keeps on giving."
Where there's a will, there's a way
It may not be the most festive way to spend the holidays, but while everyone's at home it might be time to do a touch of estate planning, be it appointing a power of attorney or writing a will.
With just 33% of Americans reportedly having an established estate plan, experts told Fortune that 2024 is the year to check it off the to-do list.
Eliana Sydes, head of financial life strategy at investment portfolio site Y Tree, said: "As a society, we are notoriously bad at sharing financial information with other people, including our family, so talk openly with the person you want as your attorney. Choose someone who shares your beliefs and values, which, contrary to common perception, might not necessarily be your children or next of kin."
Sydes warns that while these conversations can be tough, they must involve a conscious decision made in advance of declining health or death. And, she adds, wills go out of date quickly: "Our lives change substantially every decade—you might get married, have children, grandchildren, et cetera—and the will you wrote before will no longer be relevant," she said. "Reevaluating your will every five years is essential to account for the twists and turns of life."
Stop winging it
Carra Cote-Ackah, head of philanthropy engagement and legacy planning for the Goldman Sachs Family Office, told Fortune that setting out goals for 2024 is all well and good—but only if individuals stick to them.
"In 2024, we're encouraging families to more proactively set goals and plans to achieve more of what they want," Cote-Ackah said. "Plan for and host frequent family meetings, even just at your kitchen table, to keep you family aligned to your goals and values. This does not have to be an all-day affair, but it does have an end in mind: What and how do you hope to learn and accomplish this year together?"
She added families could also learn more about their values through philanthropy: "This can look like an afternoon volunteering for causes you all care about, or, for older kids, consider sharing budget for donations from your private foundation or donor-advised fund. Remember, engagement is a two-way conversation."
Health and wealth
Turning over a new fitness leaf is the most common New Year's resolution in the U.S., and yet studies have shown that by March just 10% of people think they'll stick to their goal.
Yet Judi Leahy, senior wealth advisor at Citi Personal Wealth Management, told Fortune financial and health fitness go hand in hand: "When we’re diligent about investing in one part of our lives, it becomes much easier to apply those same habits to other parts of our lives."
To this end, Leahy suggests applying the same tracking techniques that work in health to finances.
"The New Year is a great time to apply that tracking mentality to your financial goals. First and foremost, assess what’s available to you. If you can participate in a 401(k) retirement plan and your company matches, make sure to contribute whatever you can. If you’re on the distribution side of retirement planning, gauge your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) amount early on so you can plan how and when you’ll take it."
