Here's why a financial checkup matters and when to get started Miranda Marquit for Achieve Oct 19, 2026 Oct 19, 2026 Updated Oct 19, 2026 0 A piggy bank illustrated with financial checkup graphics as a concept of financial planning. Natalya Kosarevich // Shutterstock Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Miranda Marquit for Achieve kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp?J E:>6 @7 J62C :D 2 8C62E E:>6 7@C 2 7:?2?4:2= 4964<FA] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmp 7:?2?4:2= 4964<FA 42? E6== J@F H96E96C J@F’C6 DE:== @? EC24< H:E9 E96 7:?2?4:2= 8@2=D J@F D6E 62C=:6C] k^Amk9b 5:ClQ=ECQmw@H E@ A6C7@C> 2 7:?2?4:2= 4964<FAk^9bm kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq67@C6 86EE:?8 DE2CE65[ :E 96=AD E@ D4965F=6 2 E:>6 7@C J@FC 4964<FA] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^Qmp49:6G6k^2m DF886DED D4965F=:?8 @?6 367@C6 9@=:52J DA6?5:?8 DE2CED 2?5 282:? :? =2E6 pAC:=[ 27E6C J@F’G6 7:=65 J@FC E2I6D] w6C6’D 9@H E@ 86E E96 >@DE @FE @7 2 7:?2?4:2= 4964<FA] k^Am People are also reading… 82-year-old man charged in Rocky Mount homicide Human trafficking hallmarks linked to Roanoke County's illicit massage parlors Virginia Tech fans unhappy with long lines to enter Lane Stadium Lake couple to renovate brewery into a Nashville-themed destination In need of a forever home: Britney Spears and Toebias 3 takeaways from Virginia Tech football's win over Georgia Tech Franklin County supervisors gather input on data centers from experts Trump approval falls to record low of 31% as midterms near, poll finds Virginia Tech football takes recent lessons into Clemson College football's hottest coaching seats after Week 6 see Shane Beamer cool Franklin County pushes for 1% sales tax Roanoke Valley residents join statewide 'March for a Moratorium' rally against data centers Ferrum park hosts haunted trail starting this weekend Criticism grows over Ramaswamy attack ad featuring Amy Acton's mother Blue Ridge Folklife Festival returns this Saturday kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8m%2<6 DE@4< @7 H96C6 J@F 2C6k^DEC@?8mk^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmu:CDE[ J@F 92G6 E@ <?@H H96C6 J@F DE2?5] #6G:6H E96 32D:4Dik^AmkF=mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6`6be6```e3f26adchg5f_4dea3ged2g6Qmx?4@>6 k^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6fb3ah4b2f67733edh`_524fggfa_a6a6Qm$A6?5:?8 k^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ62b``3_bdg3d_eg2h44fdg6gh5h6`h5deQm#68F=2C 3:==D k^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ66da7c5bc533h`_`3b4e_c736geh55fb4QmrFCC6?E 563E k^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6e66ee3f673h6`_he_d6f6dcc7fb2`gd7Qm!C@8C6DD E@H2C5 7:?2?4:2= 8@2=D k^=:mk^F=m kA 5:ClQ=ECQm*@F >:89E C6G:6H >J DA6?5:?8 2?5 7:?5 E92E D@>6 @7 H92E J@F 3FJ 5@6D?’E >2EE6C E@ J@F] ~C >2J36 J@F’G6 =6E “=:76DEJ=6 4C66A” BF:6E=J :?4C62D6 E96 E:>6D J@F 8@ @FE E@ 62E :?DE625 @7 >2<:?8 >62=D 2E 9@>6] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(92E J@F H2?E E@ 7:?5 @FE :D :7 J@F 2C6 244:56?E2==J D23@E28:?8 J@FC 8@2=D 3J DA6?5:?8 >@?6J @? E9:?8D E92E 2C6?’E J@FC 9:896DE AC:@C:E:6D] *@F 4@F=5 ECJ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^>@=@\2AAQm7C66 E@@=k^2m E92E 8:G6D J@F 2 D?2AD9@E @7 J@FC DA6?5:?8 G6CDFD J@FC :?4@>6 6249 >@?E9 2?5 2=D@ 96=AD J@F E2<6 2 92C5 =@@< 2E J@FC “6DD6?E:2=” G6CDFD “?@?\6DD6?E:2=” DA6?5:?8] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm&?56CDE2?5:?8 H96C6 J@F’C6 2E 2?5 36:?8 3CFE2==J 9@?6DE 23@FE E96 D:EF2E:@? 42? 96=A J@F E2<6 2 DE6A 324< 2?5 564:56 H96C6 E@ >2<6 492?86D] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8m#6G:6H J@FC 3F586Ek^DEC@?8mk^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQm*@F >2J 7:?5 J@F’C6 ?@E :? =:?6 H:E9 >J 3F586E] r2E49:?8 E96 >:D2=:8?>6?E 42? 96=A J@F 86E 324< @? EC24< 367@C6 E@@ >F49 7:?2?4:2= 52>286 :D 5@?6] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{@@< 2E J@FC A=2??65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^8=@DD2CJ^3^3F586EQm3F586Ek^2m 2?5 7:?5 H96C6 J@FC 3:886DE AC@3=6> 2C62D 2C6] %96? J@F 42? >2<6 2 ?6H A=2? E@ 36EE6C C6249 J@FC 8@2=D]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmu@C 6I2>A=6[ J@F >2J 5:D4@G6C E92E DA6?5:?8 >@C6 E92? A=2??65 @? 62E:?8 @FE 2?5 6?E6CE2:?>6?E >62?D =6DD >@?6J E@ AFE E@H2C5 A2J:?8 5@H? 563E] tG6? S`__ 2 >@?E9 42? >2<6 2 9F86 56?E :? 563E @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 2 J62C[ D@ E9:D D66>:?8=J D>2== 923:E 42? 36 2 3:8 562=]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm*@F 42? 492?86 J@FC A=2? E@ 4@>A6?D2E6[ A6C92AD 62E:?8 @FE 5FC:?8 =F?49[ H96? :E 4@DED =6DD[ 2?5 >2<:?8 >@C6 5:??6CD 2E 9@>6] %92E 4@F=5 7C66 FA 7F?5D E@ AFE E@H2C5 J@FC 563E C65F4E:@? 8@2=]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8m{@@< 29625k^DEC@?8mk^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm!2CE @7 2 7:?2?4:2= 4964<FA :D E@ 4@?D:56C H92E >:89E 36 4@>:?8 5@H? E96 =:?6] $@>6 :>A@CE2?E 6IA6?D6D E@ A=2? 7@C >:89E :?4=F56i k^AmkF=mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6babhgah4`77c5_a_f77_7b434e3f`d6_Qmx?DFC2?46 A@=:4J C6?6H2=D k^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6635`3fh26_d5febfbbceb2`5_56e64_cQmw@=:52J 6G6?ED 2?5 8:7ED k^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6_ed2422c`5c4_2h_5b5_fg6a5f4abf`bQm$F>>6C G242E:@? k^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQ 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6bhd57h3e6b36bheh4c46h56`e74ad75fQmq24<\E@\D49@@= D9@AA:?8 k^=:mk^F=mkA 5:ClQ=ECQm*@F >:89E 2=D@ 92G6 D@>6 >2;@C =:76 6G6?ED @? E96 9@C:K@?[ =:<6 86EE:?8 >2CC:65[ 92G:?8 2 323J[ @C >@G:?8] r@?D:56C E9@D6 :? J@FC 7:?2?4:2= 4964<FA 2?5 4C62E6 2 DA64:2= 3F586E E@ 4@G6C 6249 >2;@C 4@DE] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8m!C@ E:Aik^DEC@?8m $6E FA 2 DA64:2= 244@F?E 7@C 2 DA64:7:4 8@2= E@ DE2J @? EC24< 2?5 ?@E =@D6 EC24< @7 E9@D6 7F?5D]k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8m|2<6 2 A=2?k^DEC@?8mk^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm}@ >2EE6C H96C6 J@F’C6 2E :? J@FC k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^8=@DD2CJ^A^A6CD@?2=\7:?2?46QmA6CD@?2= 7:?2?46k^2m ;@FC?6J[ 2 A=2? 32D65 @? J@FC 7:?2?4:2= 4964<FA 42? 36 2 8@@5 H2J E@ E2<6 492C86 @7 J@FC >@?6J] p7E6C 4@>A=6E:?8 J@FC 7:?2?4:2= 4964<FA[ 3C62< 5@H? 2 =:DE @7 E9:?8D J@F 42? 5@ E@ H@C< E@H2C5 J@FC 8@2=D] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmu@C 6I2>A=6[ J@F 4@F=5 D6E 2D:56 2 76H 5@==2CD 6249 H66< J62C\C@F?5 :? 2 9:89\J:6=5 D2G:?8D 244@F?E 56D:8?2E65 7@C DA6?5:?8 @? 8:7ED] %92E A=2? 96=AD E@ 2G@:5 3C62<:?8 J@FC 3F586E 5FC:?8 E96 9@=:52JD @C H96? J@F 2EE6?5 2 3:CE952J A2CEJ]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQms@?’E 8:G6 FA :7 J@F 92G6 2 D6E324<] p 7:?2?4:2= 4964<FA D9@HD J@F H96C6 J@F 2C6 2?5 9@H 72C J@F’G6 4@>6 H9:=6 DE:== 8:G:?8 J@F C@@> E@ EH62< J@FC A=2? 2?5 8C@H]k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^=62C?^6G6CJ52J\7:?2?46D^96C6D\H9J\2\7:?2?4:2=\4964<FA\>2EE6CD\2?5\H96?\E@\86E\DE2CE65Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3J k^6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>Qmk6>mp49:6G6k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3J k^6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am 0 comments Originally published on achieve.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Student loan forgiveness is a ticking tax bomb again, study warns Borrowers who earn IDR cancellation could see tax increases of roughly an additional $6,000 to nearly $12,000 depending on their income, tax s… Exploring cheap auto insurance options for high-risk drivers AssuranceAmerica reports that high-risk drivers can find affordable insurance through competitive quotes and discounts, despite generally high… 7 wedding expenses that are tax deductible Intuit TurboTax reports seven tax-deductible wedding expenses, including donations to charities, leftover food, and wedding attire, boosting t… How to prevent elder fraud and financial abuse Wells Fargo reports that elder fraud losses reached $7.7 billion in 2025, up 59%. Scams targeting seniors include imposter and romance schemes. Money is a top stressor. Here’s what you can do. Ally Financial reports that 65% of Americans stress over money. Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! October 12, 2026: Richmond Folk Festival; Korn Ferry Tour Championship; Henrico’s Cactus House A1 Minute! October 9, 2026: Fall foliage predictions; Behind the scenes at Korn Ferry Championship; Weekend Top 5 A1 Minute! October 9, 2026: Fall foliage predictions; Behind the scenes at Korn Ferry Championship; Weekend Top 5 A1 Minute! October 5, 2026: Crab festival pulls in $30,000 in three hours; Famed doughnut makers return; Top 25 RVA employers A1 Minute! October 5, 2026: Crab festival pulls in $30,000 in three hours; Famed doughnut makers return; Top 25 RVA employers The 10 safest cities in the United States The 10 safest cities in the United States
Student loan forgiveness is a ticking tax bomb again, study warns Borrowers who earn IDR cancellation could see tax increases of roughly an additional $6,000 to nearly $12,000 depending on their income, tax s…
Exploring cheap auto insurance options for high-risk drivers AssuranceAmerica reports that high-risk drivers can find affordable insurance through competitive quotes and discounts, despite generally high…
7 wedding expenses that are tax deductible Intuit TurboTax reports seven tax-deductible wedding expenses, including donations to charities, leftover food, and wedding attire, boosting t…
How to prevent elder fraud and financial abuse Wells Fargo reports that elder fraud losses reached $7.7 billion in 2025, up 59%. Scams targeting seniors include imposter and romance schemes.
Money is a top stressor. Here’s what you can do. Ally Financial reports that 65% of Americans stress over money.
A1 Minute! October 12, 2026: Richmond Folk Festival; Korn Ferry Tour Championship; Henrico’s Cactus House
A1 Minute! October 9, 2026: Fall foliage predictions; Behind the scenes at Korn Ferry Championship; Weekend Top 5
A1 Minute! October 9, 2026: Fall foliage predictions; Behind the scenes at Korn Ferry Championship; Weekend Top 5
A1 Minute! October 5, 2026: Crab festival pulls in $30,000 in three hours; Famed doughnut makers return; Top 25 RVA employers
A1 Minute! October 5, 2026: Crab festival pulls in $30,000 in three hours; Famed doughnut makers return; Top 25 RVA employers