10 Financial Bucket List Items to Check Off Before 60

Turning 60 is a major milestone. But before you hit the big 6-0, there are some key financial goals you’ll want to strive for.

Whether retirement is on the horizon or still a distant dream, ticking off these financial bucket list items can set you up for a more secure and enjoyable future. From protecting your family to shoring up your savings, we’ve got you covered.

So, let’s dive in and make sure you’re going to be ready to rock your 60s!

1. Max out retirement contributions

Take advantage of catch-up contributions to retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs to put as much as possible in your retirement savings.

And if your retirement savings are starting to build up, maybe it’s time to at least talk to a professional and see if they can add value.

A Vanguard study found that, on average, a hypothetical $500,000 investment over 25 years would grow to $1.7 million if you manage it yourself, but more than $3.4 million if you work with a financial advisor. That’s twice as much!

If you’ve got $100,000 or more in investments, check out a free service called SmartAsset. You fill out a short questionnaire and instantly get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors in your area, all legally bound to work in your best interests.

Even if you don’t want help picking investments, an advisor can help lower your tax burden, create a comprehensive financial plan, maximize your Social Security, help with estate planning and making sure you’re on the right track. They can also be there in case one day, you’re not.

Using SmartAsset only takes a few minutes, and in many cases you’ll be offered a free consultation.

Nothing to lose and lots to potentially gain. Take a minute and check it out right now!

Please carefully review the methodologies employed in the Vanguard white paper, “Putting a value on your value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha.”

2. Prepare for health care costs

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 7 in 10 people who turn 65 today will probably need some kind of long-term care. “But won’t Medicare take care of all that?” Nope. Medicare doesn’t cover long-term custodial care — and paying for it out of pocket could take a huge chunk of your retirement savings. That, plus inflation, could mean near or total depletion of your nest egg.

Without long-term care insurance, your options aren’t great: running through savings, borrowing money, burdening your family with your care, and possibly losing independence because you can’t live on your own.

One place to find long-term care insurance is GoldenCare. (Unless you live in the four states where GoldenCare doesn’t operate: Alaska, Florida, Hawaii and Washington.)

At least check it out and see if it’s a fit. Because a little planning today could mean a more secure tomorrow.

3. Ditch the debts

Do you really want to spend your retirement income on interest payments? Then do what you can to turn your debts to dust.

One way to do it? A consolidation loan.

Imagine this: One lower-cost, streamlined monthly payment instead of a chaotic web of high-interest ones. Lower interest, no more late fees, no more juggling deadlines, just smooth sailing with a single payment at a radically lower rate. Result? A stress-free, and soon to be debt-free you!

With a credit score of 620 or higher Upgrade will lend you up to $50,000 to pay off high-interest debt. (Of course, you could also use the money to improve your home, make a major purchase or cover unexpected expenses.)

And the best part? Two minutes. That’s all it takes to see if you qualify, and it won’t affect your credit score.

Ready to stop juggling debts and paying stupid amounts of interest? Click here right now and see if Upgrade can make your life better, and get you a bit closer to financial freedom.

4. Create a will and estate plan

When you’re gone, your problems will be over. But the problems for the ones you leave behind will be just beginning.

Show your loved ones you care by creating a will, a trust or both. It won’t take you much time or cost you much money. But it will save a ton of both for your family.

A will is a simple legal document that outlines how you want your assets to be distributed, and you can have one in minutes for $159.

A trust allows you to place conditions on how and when your assets are distributed to your beneficiaries. You can get one of these created for as little as $599.

An hour or two preparing these documents means providing for your family, minimizing potential conflicts, and potentially reducing estate taxes. Do yourself and your family a favor and at least check it out right now.

5. Review insurance coverage

There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for your family, right? Well, if something happens to you, who’s going to pay the mortgage or college bills? This is why life insurance is so important.

Not everybody needs insurance. If your kids are grown and you have a nice, fat bank account, there’s really no need. But if your family would have a hard time getting along without you, life insurance is definitely something you should look into. Just don’t pay too much for it by buying the wrong kind, or buying from a commissioned salesperson.

Shopping for life insurance used to be a long, complicated process. Now? Not so much. For example, Ethos is a company that lets you apply online in minutes without getting off the couch. There are no medical exams, no blood tests. You can get term life insurance ranging from $20,000 to $2 million. And it may cost as little as $7 a month: less than you might be spending now on coffee.

Simply answer a few online health questions and get a personalized quote in less than five minutes. This could be the most important thing you ever do for the people you love.

And Ethos is rock-solid: They’ve protected more than 100,000 families and provided more than $46 billion in coverage. So why not check it out? Click here for a quick, free quote.

6. Diversify your investments

If a large part of your savings is in the stock market — as it should be — you’re well aware that what goes up can also go down. You can’t control the market, but you can hedge against uncertainty by having other forms of wealth.

One of the best ways to protect your savings is diversification: keeping money in different types of investments, including ones that go up when others are going down. For example, stocks tend to do poorly when inflation and interest rates are rising and there’s political turmoil brewing.

But there’s one investment that thrives in this scenario: gold.

Be careful who you deal with, though. Some companies in the gold business are shady and won’t hesitate to sell you gold and silver at vastly inflated prices.

Rosland Capital, on the other hand, has been seen on Fox since 2008 and is recommended by William Devane. They have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and an AAA rating from Business Consumer Alliance. They offer just about everything, from precious-metal IRAs to gold coins and gold bars.

You’ll even receive up to $15,000 in free gold on qualified purchases. If you’ve ever thought about investing in gold, check it out right now!

7. Get a test that could save your life

A simple health screening could be worth a lifetime. You see, cardiovascular disease and strokes are two of the leading causes of death in America. And 80% of them are preventable, according to the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control.

There’s someone on your side, too. A company called Life Line Screening is the leading provider of annual screenings for risk of cardiovascular disease, strokes and other chronic diseases. Screenings provide peace of mind or early detection, and both are a good thing.

Getting a screening is convenient and easy. Just go to Life Line Screening’s website and schedule an appointment at one of more than 14,000 locations across the U.S. The screenings are fast, painless and noninvasive. Results are posted in an online portal within a few days.

It’s not just about preventing death, either — it’s about saving money, too. Strokes and cardiovascular disease are two of the leading causes of serious long-term disability, which could cost you a lot of money. Knowledge is power, and early detection enables you to take action before it’s too late. That’s why Life Line Screening has been trusted by more than 10 million customers since 1993.

These screenings are recommended for everyone over 40. If you’ve never gotten one, now’s the time. Schedule an appointment here to get 50% off.

8. Don’t pay to fix your car

The cost of car repairs is skyrocketing. One shop told Consumer Reports that a decade ago, their average repair was $1,600. These days, the average bill is $4,000.

If you’re concerned about coming up with thousands of dollars for a repair bill, protect your investment with a CarShield auto warranty.

CarShield provides extended warranty plans of up to 24 months, and allows you to choose from at least six different plans, so you’ll only pay for the coverage you need. They cover cars up to 20 years old and offer flexible month-to-month plans so you’re not locked in for years.

CarShield has a network of thousands of ASE-certified repair shops, and they pay the repair bill. All you cover is the deductible. All their warranties include 24/7 roadside assistance and rental car benefits while your vehicle is being repaired.

ConsumerAffairs calls CarShield “a solid choice” for drivers of any age, and “particularly appealing” for those with older vehicles.

Take a minute right now and get a quote.

9. Use this secret source for discounts

Since you’re over age 18, you’re eligible to save hundreds of dollars every year simply by joining AARP.

“What?” You say, “I thought AARP was for retired people.”

As it turns out, you don’t have to be 50 or older to join AARP. And members get discounts on hundreds of things, like:

• Up to $200 per person off flights
• Up to 30% off rental cars
• Up to 15% off restaurants
• Up to 20% off hotels

You’ll also save on eyeglasses, prescriptions, meal deliveries and lots more. And that’s not all. AARP offers a Fraud Watch Network, job listings, retirement planning tools, games, and tons of information, programs and resources.

Anyone trying to save money can’t afford not to join AARP, especially since the cost is as low as $12 per year with auto-renewal. You’ll likely recoup the cost in the first week. Click here and check it out.

10. Get cash from the value of your home

If you purchased a home in the past 10 years, you likely have significant home equity — equity you could harness to improve your home, pay down high-interest debt or accomplish a million other things.

The problem? Traditional home equity loans require a long approval process, interest and monthly payments.

That’s where Unlock Technologies comes in. Their home equity agreement (HEA) allows you to tap your equity without the hassles of a traditional home equity loan.

You can see how much equity you can unlock in less than a minute. No credit score impact. No strings attached.

Unlock could offer you cash in exchange for a portion of your home’s total value. Because an HEA isn’t a loan, there are no monthly payments or interest charges. The Unlock HEA has a 10-year term, and has flexible repayment conditions.

Unlock currently operates in these states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

If you’d like to tap your equity without going into debt, check out Unlock.