Outline of financial planning

The following outline is provided as a topical overview of financial planning:

Financial planning is the long-term process of managing your finances so you can achieve your goals and dreams, while at the same time negotiating the financial barriers that inevitably arise in every stage of life.

A financial plan covers day-to-day finances, insurance, education, taxes, estate planning, investments, charitable giving, and retirement planning. Each of these topics is described in detail below. (Investing is covered elsewhere, such as Getting started.)

Financial planning overview

 * Financial planning
 * Life-cycle finance

Basics

 * Living below your means
 * Household budgeting
 * Net worth
 * Record retention
 * Emergency fund
 * Roth IRA as an emergency fund

Credit and debt

 * Credit cards
 * Credit score
 * Paying down loans versus investing

Estate planning

 * Estate planning
 * Estate and inheritance tax
 * Probate
 * Asset protection

Insurance

 * Insurance
 * Life insurance
 * Disability insurance
 * Homeowner's insurance
 * Flexible spending arrangement
 * Health savings account
 * High deductible health plan
 * Long-term care insurance
 * Medicare

Investments

 * Bogleheads Investment Philosophy
 * Asset allocation
 * Investment policy statement
 * Prioritizing investments

Education savings

 * Expected Family Contribution
 * EE savings bonds - Tax-free growth for Qualified Education Expenses
 * I savings bonds -Tax-free growth for Qualified Education Expenses

Savings plans

 * Coverdell Education Savings Accounts
 * 529 plan
 * 529 cost comparisons
 * 529 plans indexed options
 * 529 plan account transfers
 * 529 plan recapture tax on rollovers

Taxes

 * Tax basics
 * Marginal tax rate
 * State income taxes
 * Federal tax credits for individuals
 * Tax-efficient fund placement

Charitable giving

 * Donating appreciated securities
 * Charity selection links
 * Donor advised fund
 * Qualified charitable distributions
 * Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program

Retirement

 * Checklist of important retirement dates
 * Preparing for retirement
 * Early retirement
 * Retirement risk

Special situations

 * Managing a windfall
 * Military finances
 * Sharia investing for US investors

Professionals

 * Financial planner
 * Investment adviser
 * Broker