A complete financial wellness checklist — every component of financial health assessed and prioritized.
The Complete Wellness Picture
Financial wellness is multidimensional — it encompasses current financial management, resilience against disruption, progress toward long-term goals, and the knowledge and habits that sustain all three. A complete checklist covers each dimension, identifies your position within it, and points toward the highest-priority improvements available.
Foundation: Cash Flow and Basic Management
- Monthly income exceeds monthly expenses
- All bills paid on time each month
- Working budget reviewed at least monthly
- Spending generally aligned with the budget
- No new debt being created from monthly shortfalls
Resilience: Protection Against Disruption
- At least $500 in accessible emergency savings
- At least $1,000 in emergency savings
- At least one month of essential expenses in emergency savings
- Health insurance coverage in place
- Renters or homeowners insurance in place
- Retirement savings contributions in place
- High-interest debt actively being reduced
- Net worth improving year over year
- At least one specific financial goal with a written plan
- Annual financial review completed
Using the Checklist
Score each item as complete, in progress, or not yet started. Your lowest-scoring section is your highest-priority improvement area. Within that section, your highest-priority action is the first unchecked item. The checklist does not produce improvement — the actions it points toward do. Use it as a diagnostic to identify the next most valuable step from where you currently stand.
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