Monday, September 3, 2012


Knowing Your Financial IQ – Important Questions
If you are not financially savvy, you are making yourself vulnerable to any breath of adversity. Generally speaking, most people get into trouble with their finances due to one simple reason: procrastination.  It is thus very important  to break that bad habit now. To do that, you will need to learn your financial IQ  by  answering the following questions . What is clear, though, is that these questions can help you to turn your thinking inside out in a way that will yield new insights into how you rate financially. The answers to the questions are also presented below.
1. How long do you expect to live (based on actuarial charts)?

2. If you are a worker born between 1943 and 1954, at what age  will you be eligible for full Social Security benefits?
          A. 62                 B. 64               C. 66               D. 68
Source: Baltimore Sun Media Group, 2011

3. On average, what percent of a retiree’s income will be spent on healthcare?

        A. 5  percent                   B. 10 percent   C. 15 percent   D. 20 percent

Source: Baltimore Sun Media Group, 2011

4. When a worker retires, his or her income taxes go away.
                 A. True                               B. False

Source: Baltimore Sun Media Group, 2011

5. On average, how many years  will you spend in retirement(assuming you are a U.S. citizen)?
                    A. 10                   B. 15               C. 20               D. 25

Source: Baltimore Sun Media Group, 2011

6. Some early baby boomers (age 56 to 62) are expected to run out of money to cover basic retirement living expenses. What  percent of them belong to this category?
                    A. 17 percent      B. 23 percent               C. 42 percent               D. 47 percent

Source: Baltimore Sun Media Group, 2011

7. Your surviving spouse  will be granted all or most of your assets if you die without a will.
                  A. True                  B. False.

Source: Baltimore Sun Media Group, 2011

8. Insurance is considered to be a way of:
A.    Saving for a rainy day
B.     Preventing unplanned events
C.     Handling risk
D.    All of the above.

Source: Baltimore Sun Media Group, 2011

9. Your credit history or credit score is:
A.    a snapshot of your credit risk
B.     an objective measurement  used by lenders
C.     available to you  upon request
D.    All of the above

Source: Baltimore Sun Media Group, 2011

10. You can improve your credit rating:
A.    By correcting inaccurate information as soon as possible
B.     By disputing negative information in your credit report
C.     By correcting only the worst credit report
D.    By asking that negative information not be included in your credit report.

Source: Baltimore Sun Media Group, 2011
Your Grade Book
10 Correct: Excellent - You are financially smart
9 Correct: Satisfactory
8 or less correct: Unsatisfactory – you need to do more homework on personal finance.
Answer Key
1. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, you can expect to live until age 85 if you are a woman turning age 65 today. In addition, you can expect to live, on average,  until age 83 if you are a man reaching age 65 today. Go to the following website to calculate your expected lifespan:
2.  C
3. D
4. False. Pre-tax money  a worker contributed to a retirement plan  is subject to income taxes  when it is withdrawn  during retirement years.
5. C
6. D
7. False. Every U.S. state  has unique laws  governing who will  own the property.  To calculate the outcome  in your state, go to   www.mystatewill.com
8. C
9. D
10. A

Reference
How Do You Rate?(2011, November 6). Baltimore Sun Media Group, p. 2

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