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November 29, 2024
Add These Six Tasks to Your Year-End Financial Checklist
We wouldn’t let 2025 sneak up on you without first reminding you about a few important financial tasks to put on your radar. By taking some time at the end of the year to reflect on where you’ve been, you’ll have an easier time getting where you want to go. Before you ring in the new year, add these six tasks to your year-end financial checklist.
1. Review your budget.
Does your budgeting plan still line up with your goals? Take a look at your spending habits, income and savings, then consider any adjustments you want to make for the upcoming year. New to budgeting? Get started with these three simple steps.
2. Consolidate high-interest debt.
If high-interest debt is a burden, consider consolidating your debt into one place with a lower interest rate. By doing this, you’ll potentially save big on interest and be able to pay down debt faster. Plus, there will only be one monthly payment to manage, instead of several. Learn more about balance transfers.
3. Check your insurance coverage.
Have your insurance needs changed? Maybe you’ve expanded your family, got a different vehicle, changed jobs or purchased a home. No matter what your life circumstances are, it’s a good idea to review your insurance policies to make sure they still work for you. Since insurance costs and coverage can vary widely, now is the time to do some rate shopping to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
Need insurance but hate shopping for it? Grow Financial members are eligible for help from Quorum Insurance LLC.* Quorum is a one-stop shop for insurance and will do the research for you to help you select the best coverage for your needs and budget. Recently, Quorum helped members save an average of $825 annually on their auto insurance premiums by recommending changes that fit their needs. Call 800.714.1447 for your no-obligation, free quote, or visit quoruminsurance.com to learn more.
4. Get ready for tax season.
Uncle Sam will come knocking at your door again in the spring, so start getting ready for tax season ahead of time to avoid stress. When adding tax preparation to your year-end financial checklist, don’t forget to:
- Make charitable contributions. If you want to deduct charitable contributions for this tax year, be sure to make those donations soon.
- Reconcile and file receipts. If you take any deductions requiring documentation, start reconciling and sorting relevant receipts now.
- Schedule an appointment with your tax professional. During tax time, accountants get busy, so get ahead of the game by scheduling your appointment.
5. Review your financial plan and retirement contributions.
No matter where you are on your financial journey, it’s important to have a financial plan. It guides your financial decisions and helps you stay on track to meet your goals. Consider these questions:
- Am I saving enough for retirement?
- Do I need to make changes to my retirement plan after getting a new job?
- Should recent life events change how I’m saving?
Want to learn more about saving for retirement? Check out Retirement Planning Basics.
6. Update your beneficiary designations.
Your year-end financial checklist wouldn’t be complete without a review of your beneficiary designations — the person or persons your money will pass to after your death. Double-check that all your beneficiary information is correct for all of your accounts, whether through Grow or other financial institutions, so your assets pass along as you intend. For more about estate planning, including wills, trusts and beneficiaries, read Estate Planning Basics.
Complete your year-end financial checklist to ensure you’re ready for 2025. By addressing key tasks like budgeting, debt consolidation and tax preparation, you’ll start the new year on solid financial footing.
*Quorum Insurance LLC is an affiliate of Grow Financial. Insurance products purchased through Quorum Insurance LLC are not deposits of Grow Financial and are not protected by NCUA. They are not an obligation of or guaranteed by Grow Financial and may be subject to risk. Business conducted with Quorum Insurance LLC is separate and distinct from any business conducted with Grow Financial. Grow Financial is in no way responsible for the services provided through this program.
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How to Find Your Routing & Account Numbers
When you make a payment online, by phone or on a mobile device, you may be asked for our routing number and your checking account number. Credit unions and banks use these numbers to identify accounts and make sure money gets where it’s supposed to be. You’ll also need to provide your routing and checking account numbers for:
- Direct deposits
- Electronic checks
- Military allotments
- Wire transfers
Where to Find Your Routing & Checking Account Numbers
Your personal checks include both our routing number and your account number, as shown on the Grow check example below.
Don’t have a Grow check? No worries.
Visit any Grow store and ask for a Direct Deposit Form. It lists both your routing number and checking account number.
Making a Loan Payment
When it comes to making payments, we try to make it as painless as possible to pay your loan every month. We have several different ways to pay, including convenient online options.
Pay Online
You have two ways to pay online by transferring funds from another bank or credit union.
- Grow Online Banking (Preferred payment method for any loan)
This is the simplest way to pay your loan. You can make one-time payments or set up automatic recurring payments in Grow Online Banking. Once you log in, select “Transfer/Payments” from the menu. If you’re not enrolled in Grow Online Banking yet, you can set up your account in just a few minutes.
Log In
- Debit Card or ACH (Available for auto, personal loans and HELOCs)
Note: ACH and debit card payments are not available for credit cards or most mortgages, except HELOCs.
We accept ACH payments with no additional fees or Mastercard® and Visa® debit cards with a convenience fee of $4.95. To get started with an online ACH or debit card payment, select Pay Now below.
Pay Now
Pay by Mail
You can also pay any Grow loan by check through the mail. Please remember to include your account number and Grow loan number on the check. (For credit card payments, please do not write your 16-digit credit card number on the check, which can cause a delay in processing the payment.)
Address for auto, credit card, personal loan and HELOC payments:
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 75466
Chicago, IL 60675-5466Address for personal first or second mortgages and home equity payments:
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 11733
Newark, NJ 07101-4733You Are About To Leave GrowFinancial.org
At certain places on this site, there are links to other websites. Grow Financial Federal Credit Union does not endorse, approve, represent, certify or control those external sites. The credit union does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness or accurate sequencing of the information contained on them. You will not be represented by Grow Financial Federal Credit Union if you enter into a transaction. Privacy and security policies may differ from those practiced by the credit union. Click CONTINUE if you wish to proceed.