Nobody teaches dads this stuff. You figure out taxes by doing them wrong. You learn about life insurance when someone asks if you have it and you don't. You hear about HSAs at a barbecue and nod like you know what they are.
Here are 10 financial milestones to hit by 35. You don't need to hit all of them right now. But knowing what they are and having a plan to get there is the difference between building wealth and winging it.
Download the milestone checklist
One-page printable. 10 milestones with checkboxes. Links to the detailed guide for each one. Stick it on the wall or the fridge.
Get the checklist (free)1. Emergency fund: 3-6 months of expenses
Before investing, before paying extra on debt, before anything else: cash in a high-yield savings account that covers 3-6 months of your family's expenses. Not income. Expenses. If your family spends $5,000/month, you need $15,000-30,000 sitting in savings. This money buys you time when something goes wrong. And something always goes wrong.
2. Get the employer match (free money)
If your employer matches 401k contributions, contribute at least enough to get the full match. If they match 4%, contribute 4%. This is a 100% return on your money instantly. There is no investment on earth with a guaranteed 100% return. If you're not getting the match, you're leaving part of your paycheck on the table.
3. Life insurance
If anyone depends on your income, you need term life insurance. Coverage should be 10-12x your annual income. A healthy 30-year-old can get a $500,000 20-year term policy for $25-35/month. If you die (uncomfortable but important), that money replaces your income long enough for your family to adjust. Don't buy whole life. Buy term. Invest the difference.
4. A will
If you have kids and no will, a judge decides who raises them if both parents die. Not your mom. Not your brother. A judge. A basic will costs $200-500 from an estate attorney or $150 from an online service like Trust & Will. It takes 30 minutes. Do it this month.
5. Know your net worth
Assets minus debts. Track it monthly. You need to know this number the same way you know your weight. Not to obsess over it. To know if the trend is moving in the right direction. If you've never calculated it, do it today. It takes 10 minutes.
6. A budget that works
Not a complicated one. A one-page budget that you and your partner review monthly. Ten categories. Ten minutes a month. The goal isn't to restrict spending. It's to spend intentionally instead of accidentally.
7. Debt payoff plan
If you have high-interest debt (credit cards, personal loans), you need a plan to pay it off. Not "I'll pay more when I can." A specific plan. The avalanche method (highest interest first) saves the most money. The snowball method (smallest balance first) builds momentum. Pick one and start. A $5,000 credit card at 22% interest costs you $1,100/year in interest alone. That's $92/month going nowhere.
8. HSA or similar tax-advantaged accounts
If you have a high-deductible health plan, open and fund an HSA. It's triple tax-advantaged and can function as a stealth retirement account. If you don't have an HDHP, at least know what an HSA is and consider one during your next open enrollment.
9. A 529 plan for each kid
College costs are rising faster than inflation. A 529 plan lets you invest for education expenses tax-free. Even $100/month from birth to 18 can grow to $40,000-50,000 at average market returns. That won't cover everything, but it covers a lot more than starting from zero at 18.
10. Your credit score above 740
A credit score above 740 gets you the best rates on everything: mortgage, car loans, insurance, credit cards. The difference between a 680 score and a 760 score on a $300,000 mortgage can be $50,000+ in total interest over 30 years. Check your score for free at Credit Karma or your bank's app. If it's below 740, the biggest levers are: pay everything on time, keep credit utilization below 30%, and don't close old cards.
The priority order
If you're starting from scratch, hit them in this order: emergency fund (even a starter $1,000) > employer match > life insurance and will > debt payoff > full emergency fund > HSA > 529 > credit score optimization. You don't need to do them all this year. You need to know the order and be working toward the next one.
The checklist has checkboxes for each milestone and space to write your target date. Print it. Stick it somewhere you'll see it. Cross them off as you go. Over 2-3 years, you'll hit most of them. And each one you hit makes the next one easier.
Get the checklist
One page. 10 milestones. Printable. Links to every guide you need to complete each one.
Download now (free)