Starting a career
Welcome to your career
Your first job in an industry you love is the start of a lot great things, including learning how to manage your finances and help your money grow.
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3
How to negotiate salary
Get to know 401(k)s
Automate your finances
Consider valuable non-monetary compensation like additional time off.
Look through your benefits information and see if your company offers a 401(k); it’s designed to help you save for retirement.
Schedule automatic transfers to savings or retirement accounts. Even if you start small, building the habit pays off over time.
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Save for the unexpected
Create a good credit routine
Create a financial plan for your success
A separate emergency fund could help you protect your savings. It should hold enough for 3 to 6 months of essential expenses, like food and rent.
Paying bills on time and in full are two keys to a high credit score. Also important: Apply only for credit you need and avoid maxing out your cards.
Celebrate raises and create a rewarding plan for them. For example: Use your pay bump to save for a down payment on a home.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized professional advice. Articles on this site were commissioned and approved by Marcus by Goldman Sachs® but may not reflect the institutional opinions of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries or divisions.
1
How to negotiate salary
Consider valuable non-monetary compensation like additional time off.
2
Get to know 401(k)s
Look through your benefits information and see if your company offers a 401(k); it’s designed to help you save for retirement.
3
Automate your finances
Schedule automatic transfers to savings or retirement accounts. Even if you start small, building the habit pays off over time.
4
Save for the unexpected
A separate emergency fund could help you protect your savings. It should hold enough for 3 to 6 months of essential expenses, like food and rent.
5
Create a good credit routine
Paying bills on time and in full are two keys to a high credit score. Also important: Apply only for credit you need and avoid maxing out your cards.
6
Create a financial plan for your success
Celebrate raises and create a rewarding plan for them. For example: Use your pay bump to save for a down payment on a home.
of Americans opened their first savings account once they started working
The Financial Literacy 2020 Survey was conducted by Marcus by Goldman Sachs® in March 2020 among 2,516 Americans. Savings accounts defined as savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs) and money market accounts.
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