Smart Money: How to Invest your Income Tax Refund

2016 is fast approaching which means income tax season is coming! If you are like many Americans who receive an income tax refund, you have already estimated your refund and you're anxiously awaiting W-2s! So while you are mapping out what you could potentially do with your refund (if you get one), make sure you prioritize. Put the most important things FIRST: life after tax season! There are several things you can do to maximize the use of your refund and position yourself for life after refund. Including (not limited to):

• invest in bonds
• invest in stocks
• pay your current bills up for 6 months
• buy & pay up your life/health insurance for a year or two
• start a business
• DO NOT buy or finance a vehicle, jewelry, anything from Aarons, Rent-a-Center, etc!

Let's focus on two options: business and insurance. In 2013, I received an income tax refund of $1,118 and started my natural product line. I invested those funds to start a business that I was passionate about without going into debt. Another great option is life insurance. Life insurance is a great investment tool to have in your portfolio (not term or whole life). When you receive your income tax refund, pay it up for year or two! No new "bills," and your life is covered!

Let's take a look at some numbers for me. I am a 25 year old female, no tobacco usage, with no medical issues, and I have not been prescribed any medications in several years (since a bad stomach flu in 2012). I also have a four year old son that I want to protect. Here are a few options available to cover me and my son for a year (these numbers are for 12/17/2015):

Foresters
Smart UL $250,000: $1,275.31
20 Year Term: $484.60

AIG
Elite Index II $250,000: $817.60
20 Year Term $250,000: $186.50

Mutual of Omaha
Guaranteed UL $250,000: $$1,144
20 Year Term $250,000: $452


These are just a few options that I have available. Keep in mind that permanent insurance is customizable, and the right agent will customize a protection plan that fits your needs and your budget. Stay tuned for more information about how to customize your life insurance to fit your needs and your budget. Be blessed!

~Shanta Wilkerson

***UPDATE***

Oh my goodness, I didn't realize that I'd allowed 3 months to pass by with out posting to my blog! What on Earth was I doing? Well, I'll let you know exactly what I was doing: building my knowledge of Finance! In the past three months, I've spent countless hours going back over what I learned in college and putting it with what I am experiencing in the field, and I have to say that I've learned so much since I became a licensed life, health, & annuities agent than I ever did in a classroom!

When I go out and talk to people, I get the opportunity to see real world scenarios (not the simplified examples that we get in textbooks!). I have the opportunity to see in real time what the stock market has done, is doing, and will do to the retirement plan for the working class (401(k)), and I see the inequality in financial services that the middle class and lower income Americans receive EVERY DAY!

The systems in place are being re-written by a select few companies, and I am thankful that I partnered with one of them! I'll be talking a lot more about finance and many of the different ways to make your financial goals a reality! STAY TUNED!

~Shanta