Use Leap Year to Get Financial House in Order: American Financial ...

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 28, 2012

For some, the day will come and go with little to show for it. However, with a little forethought, people can use the extra hours to make a difference in their financial lives. American Financial Solutions suggests that consumers dedicate this gift of time to tackling the financial tasks they may have been putting off.

Prepare federal income taxes. Gather all 1099s, W-2s, and receipts related to eligible deductions. Whether filing on your own or through a professional, these items will be needed to prepare an accurate return.

Create or organize a home financial center. Since the financial documents are out, create files for each category. This step will help you stay organized all year long, and will make preparing next years tax return much simpler.

Review all insurance policies. The time to become familiar with insurance policies is not when you make a claim. Insurance is not something to buy and forget, as life changes often dictate adjustments to the policy. Make an appointment with your insurance provider to confirm that your current needs match your coverage.

Review retirement contributions. Due to the payroll tax cut, working Americans now have extra money in their paychecks. The best use of this money could be increasing the retirement contribution at work. Make sure to maximize the benefits of an employer match and age-related allowable contribution increases.

Order your credit report and score With good reason, people are very interested in their credit score. However, many do not realize that the score is based on the information in the credit report. In spite of it being free through http://www.annualcreditreport.com the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) Financial Literacy revealed that 65 percent of Americans had not ordered their credit report in the last 12 months. The credit score didnt fare any better, with 63 percent of respondents indicating theyd not ordered their score. Even though there will be a small fee charged to obtain the credit score, it will be money well-spent, as these three numbers dictate much of your financial future.

Those who use the extra time afforded by Leap Year to accomplish these five financial moves will wake up March 1st with a well-earned sense of accomplishment, said Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the NFCC. The efforts they put forth on this bonus day will yield rewards throughout the year.

If you need free or low-cost professional help putting your financial house in order, reach out to American Financial Solutions today. To schedule an appointment with a Certified Credit Counselor dial (888) 864-8659, or go online to Myfinancialgoals.org.

American Financial Solutions (AFS) is a non-profit 501(c)3 financial education and credit counseling agency that helps people find solutions for managing their money and improving their financial lives. Since 1999, AFS has helped individuals across the United States through one-on-one counseling, classes and the use of debt management plans. AFS is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) as well as the Association for Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA). AFS is also accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and has an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. Find us and add us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

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