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{"s" : "bnd,vt","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Christine Benz, On Sunday May 22, 2011, 7:00 am EDT
“I want to say one word to you. Just one word.”
Benjamin: Yes, sir.
“Are you listening?”
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
“Plastics.”
Benjamin: Just how do you mean that, sir?
What would you tell a new college graduate if you could? Would you espouse the virtues of starting a career in the plastics industry, wearing sunscreen, or having the courage to follow your heart?
I recently asked Morningstar.com users to weigh in with their best financial advice for new college graduates, and they were eager to share their wisdom. A few key themes quickly emerged: Live frugally; start saving, even if it means starting small; and do what you love. And when it comes to your investments, stick with the basics.
Driving Old Honda Now = Peace of Mind Later On
One of the key pieces of advice readers imparted falls into the category of what not to do: Don't let those first paychecks slip through your hot little hands. Users shared firsthand experience, noting that driving older cars and bunking with Mom and Dad had paid great dividends in the form of peace of mind later on.
VALUEINVESTOR wrote, "One of my finance professors told our class 'Buy a used Honda and save as much as you can in your retirement account in an index fund.' I have never forgotten this advice. I think one of the most common things graduates do when beginning their career is acquire all the trappings of success before they are successful. I see most of them buying new cars, nice clothes, fancy apartments or the biggest house they can afford. At the same time they put little emphasis on building an emergency fund and saving for retirement. I would repeat the advice I received: Don't waste money on material things and save as much as possible, as early as possible. Most grads are accustomed to living on a small budget, so keep it that way for a while. It could save years of misery ahead."
The virtues of debt avoidance was a recurrent theme, with posters noting that taking on debt isn't only financially crippling but can also limit one's life choices.
MarginofSafety stated it plainly: "'Stuff' will accumulate over time. Do not accumulate debt to pay for 'stuff.'"
Cutthroat agreed: "Don't apply for every credit card that comes along. Find one that fits your needs best and pay that one off every month. Never buy anything on credit that is certainly going to decline in value, such as cars, stereos, or big-screen televisions."
Allenjam also advised discipline on the credit card front: "Pay cash or at least pay off your single credit card every month. That kind of discipline will pay off handsomely by preventing unneeded purchases and avoiding usurious credit charges by the card companies."
Rathgar wrote, "If you start off with debt you will be trapped by debt your entire life. Buy the used car, live with roommates or your parents, spend only what you need and save 15% of every monthly paycheck the rest of your life. If you get ahead of the game, you will have financial freedom and independence. If you are indebted, you will have jobs you don't like--since you took the job to pay off your bills--and stuff you don't need."
Scott123 amplified the debt-avoidance theme, writing, "Live like a pauper after you start work, at least for a few years, and save hard and pay off those loans or make a very serious dent in them. If you're not already married, with the spouse comes children and added financial strain. When you hit middle age, your parents' finances become an issue as they become older, as well. Don't obligate your income to the lender before you get the paycheck."
Finally, Bill1234, ever the romantic, wrote, "Bag that big, lavish wedding when the day comes. You are not a prince or princess. The day is not made special by how much you spend. Take the money that would have been spent on your special day to pay off debt. Go into marriage with a clean slate."
Have a Backup Plan
Several users noted that the key way to stay out of debt is to make sure you have ready cash on hand to pay for unanticipated expenses.
Scott123 laid the groundwork, writing, "Set up an emergency fund of at least three months of living expenses in a high-interest online bank account. If you're self-employed or work on commission, you will want to have more cash liquid regardless."
MarginofSafety noted that the having an emergency fund can have spillover benefits for other parts of a person's financial life. "Learn that by having an emergency fund, you can save a large amount on insurance costs of all types (vehicle, home, and health insurance) by having a larger deductible. A basic principle of insurance is to exchange a certain small and known cost for an uncertain and unknown large cost. I see a large number of otherwise intelligent people of all ages paying huge insurance costs, to have first dollar coverage--this is a waste. An emergency fund also helps you not have 'emergencies' that require debt to fund them, especially credit card debt."
Just Do It
For other users, their key advice to new grads was to get started with saving and investing, even if it means starting small.
FidlStix spoke from experience about the virtues of not tarrying when it comes to saving and investing. "Coming out of a famous West Coast college in the mid-60s, idealistic, and very much into the hippie scene, I was totally impervious to financial advice or anything to do with saving money.
"Now, these older, wiser eyes see my world quite differently. I'd tell a new grad to save, save, save, and learn the basics of investing your money, so you have a shot at being financially independent when you're no longer working. I waited almost too long to take hold of the notion of saving and investing."
AnaRegalia agreed about the benefits of starting early. "It's the discipline of saving, not just how much you can save that will allow the average American to reach critical financial mass. I have a daughter in college, and we started a retirement account for her when she got her first job at 16. That money has more than 40 years of growth potential. Now that the retirement account is open, she has an awareness that she has a responsibility to save for retirement, no different than the responsibility to pay any other bill."
"Likewise as soon as a child is born, start a college fund--even if you only open it with $100. Determine how much you can afford to save annually and fund it every month, just as if it were another bill."
Darwinian noted that putting money to work on a regular basis is the best way to impose discipline on an investment program. "Use 'dollar cost averaging,' investing a fixed amount every month, preferably as an automatic paycheck deduction. It is easier to save money you never see, and this strategy will increase your investment returns because you will be buying more shares when their prices are low."
Winstondunn urged new grads/new investors to not be deterred if they make a few mistakes along the way. "As soon as you have a job and stable income, invest in stocks every month. Put aside the money that you need for living that month, put aside an emergency fund (for example, three months of living (expenses)), then invest in stock. You will be clueless in the beginning and make a few mistakes. But you will lose little money because you don't have much money at the beginning. You will gain experience from your mistakes. In a few years, you will have more money to invest, with more experience."
Cutthroat pointed out that you don't even need to have cash to start the learning process. "Even if you don't have the cash to do it, create a phantom portfolio and watch it. Learn how the markets move and how to balance the portfolio regularly."
Users also enthused about the virtues of taking advantaged of tax-sheltered vehicles. Rathgar advised, "Save the 15% in a tax-sheltered retirement plan and start at age 21. Everyone is eligible for an IRA once they have income."
Taylor Larimore was on a similar wavelength: "'What do you wish someone had told you when you were 21 and had a fresh diploma in hand?' Open a Roth IRA at your first opportunity."
Method13 advised, "Max out the 401(k) match at work!"
Other users provided specific ideas for a new grad's investment plan.
Rossinator suggested, "A portfolio for a young person? You could do a lot worse than 75% Vanguard Total World Stock Index ETF (NYSEArca:VT.TO - News) and 25% Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NYSEArca:BND - News)."
Darwinian offered a wealth of sensible advice about how young folks should craft their portfolios, including the following: "Invest in a diversified portfolio of low-cost mutual funds. If you aren't sure what funds are low-cost, stick with Vanguard's. Don't buy individual company stocks--you will not be compensated for the added risk of holding a security whose returns are totally dependent on one company's success. Once your nest egg is established, put all, or nearly all, of your money in equity (company stock) mutual funds. You will not need most of your money for more than 40 years, and there has never been a such a period in the past when diversified stock investments have failed to outperform every other asset class."
Career Opportunities
Recognizing that many college grads are feeling their way for their next step in life, several users were happy to oblige with guidance on matters of careers and education.
Dragonpat wrote, "Nowadays it is even more important to do what I did when I was 21 if you can. Go to graduate school/med school/vet school/physician's assistant training in something that you like and you can earn enough to support yourself and possibly dependents in the future."
Scott123 opined that individuals should balance career and education plans with the return on investment. "Do what is fulfilling and what you are good at. If that means grad school, go. Work hard to get that scholarship, and if it means state school rather than the Ivy, do it. Every employer you would want to work for understands that going to a second-tier school with a full ride was a better decision than taking out $200,000 in student loans to go to Harvard."
Some posters were more equivocal, urging young folks to stay out of debt when pursuing advanced degrees.
Teacherman opined, "The economic universe is completely different from the way it was when I was a graduate. The job market is much more precarious. I would advise graduates to be very wary of incurring additional debt for graduate studies. A generous fellowship is essential for those whose parents are not loaded. Do not attempt to pay for post-graduate work yourself."
In a related vein, CashMoneyMD is grateful that he didn't go into hock to obtain an advanced degree, even if it meant some lifestyle compromises. "I'm 29 years old now. I went through an engineering undergrad and then went to medical school afterwards. I have no loans to pay back. Why? Because my amazing parents [saved to send me to college], and after I got out of college I worked as an engineer for a couple of years. While my counterparts were leasing/financing BMWs and renting nice apartments downtown, I was living at home, driving the same car I had since high school."
Life Matters
Recognizing that personal finances are deeply intertwined with a person's priorities and values, some posters offered advice on life matters as well as financial ones.
In addition to providing some financial pointers, Larry3 advised, "Work hard and have fun" and “Do something good for someone every day." Can't argue with that.
Scott123 wrote that squirreling away money isn't the only worthwhile way to deploy cash. "Make investing/saving a priority, but don't forget to set aside some funds for your quality of life, like going to sporting or entertainment events, taking vacations, particularly to see family (why haven't you called?), or giving to charity."
Finally, RetiredinFL spoke for all of us with this evergreen life advice.
"Be yourself, not what somebody else wants. Set short- and long-range goals. You will achieve what you really want. Help others who are in need."
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