Dana Miranda

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Use these practical strategies to help you navigate seasonal spending in a less stressful way. Amid all the joy and cheer the end of the year brings, the holidays can be a hectic — and expensive — time. Purchasing gifts for loved ones, making travel plans, attending parties and enjoying the multitude of festive celebrations and events that crop up can end up putting a strain on one’s finances and detracting from the positive spirit of the season.  But whether money is a bit tight this year or you are working toward a particular financial goal, you don’t have to sacrifice holiday cheer to stay on track with your spending. Consider implementing one or more of the following tips, as recommended by the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, to help you avoid overspending and enjoy this special time with your family and friends.

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The best financial education starts at home. Every parent wants what’s best for their children, and part of that is ensuring they have a bright financial future. Talking to children about money can start at an early age, but it becomes especially important as they enter their teenage years and begin to take on more adult responsibilities. While every family situation is different, and some may have access to different resources than others, there are always steps you can take to give your teen a jump-start on their financial journey. From helping them understand the ins and outs of basic financial literacy to encouraging them to start their own business, there are a range of ways to help, from the simple to the complex. Consider these nine recommendations from the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective to help set your teen up for a secure financial future.

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With a bit of knowledge and a plan, you can find your way to financial freedom. With student loans, rising housing costs and the ease of credit card use, it’s become all too simple to get into debt. In fact, it’s estimated that about two-thirds of U.S. adults carry some form of debt. And while being debt-free can provide some much-needed emotional freedom and relief, getting out of that debt can sometimes feel like a gargantuan task, especially if you've accumulated a large amount.  But according to the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, paying off debt doesn’t have to be intimidating. If you’re ready to tackle your debt and take charge of your finances, consider these best practices for making debt repayment easier on you and your wallet. 

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The stock market can be a confusing place for beginners, but it doesn't have to be. Often accompanied by words like “volatile” and “risky,” the stock market is an intimidating and confusing place for many. While beginner investors may know investing in the stock market is a key part of building wealth, they may also tend to avoid it because they feel it’s too complicated for them to get involved in or that they don’t have the knowledge necessary to make smart investment choices. Here, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective seek to demystify the stock market and break down some of the fears people may have around investing. Below, they discuss some of the key steps you’ll want to take when jumping into the stock market for the first time and why a little education and a plan can go a long way toward investing successfully.

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Even small changes can make a big difference to your financial journey. As with tackling any new goal, it helps to have the right habits in place to help lead you across the finish line. Whether you’re saving up for a house, thinking about retirement or just hoping to achieve a feeling of security, building the right habits is crucial to ensuring you have the tools you need to accomplish your goal.  And while there are some habits you may be able to identify for yourself, there are others financial experts wish people would give more thoughtful consideration. Here, 11 members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective discuss some of the most important money habits they think more people should cultivate and why they’re so essential to building true wealth throughout your life.

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In the financial world, it’s not just about knowing your numbers. Many think of finances as purely a numbers business, but in reality, it’s a people business too. Financial advisers work closely with their clients, often getting to know them on a deeper level than others might due to the sensitive nature of the work they do together. Discussing and receiving advice about one’s financial goals and personal money habits can be very vulnerable, and so working with a financial adviser who puts focus on their “soft skills” can be a much more comfortable and rewarding experience. Below, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective touch on nine other reasons why financial advisers and other financial professionals should sharpen their soft skills, and address why doing so can make for much better client-adviser relationships.