Three Easy Financial Tasks You Can Do in Just One Hour
Managing your finances can sometimes feel overwhelming, but small, intentional steps can make a big impact over time. The truth is, improving your financial life doesn’t always require a full weekend of budgeting or a complicated spreadsheet.
In fact, here are three simple financial tasks you can complete in about an hour that will set you up for greater clarity and confidence with your money.
1. Check Your Beneficiaries and Account Titles (15 Minutes)
Life changes, marriages, births, divorces, and even moving to a new state, can impact how your accounts are structured. But many people forget to update their beneficiaries and account titles.
Spending 15 minutes to check your 401(k), IRA, life insurance, and bank accounts can prevent serious problems for your loved ones later.
Make sure your primary and contingent beneficiaries are correct.
Check if your accounts are titled correctly: joint, individual, or trust-owned.
Update any outdated information to reflect your current wishes.
Why it matters: Beneficiary designations override your will in most cases. This quick task ensures your money goes exactly where you intend.
2. Review Your Automatic Payments (20 Minutes)
It’s easier than ever to sign up for monthly subscriptions and just as easy to forget about them. Streaming services, apps, and online memberships can quietly add up to hundreds of dollars a year.
Take 20 minutes to:
Log in to your bank and credit card statements for the last 30–60 days.
List all recurring charges: music, streaming, apps, magazines, and software.
Cancel or pause anything you don’t use or don’t value anymore.
Quick win: This small audit often frees up $50–$200 a month that can be redirected to savings, investments, or a fun splurge you actually enjoy.
3. Calculate Your Net Worth (25 Minutes)
Knowing your net worth, your assets minus your liabilities, is like getting a health checkup for your financial life. It gives you a clear picture of where you stand and helps you track progress over time. Ecos Wealth Advisors offers an account aggregation tool with online access for clients. For those that don’t utilize our program, here’s how to calculate it in under 25 minutes:
List all your assets: checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, home equity, vehicles, and any other valuables.
List all your liabilities: mortgages, car loans, credit cards, student loans, and other debts.
Subtract your total liabilities from your total assets.
Your net worth number becomes your financial scorecard, helping you see whether your wealth is growing and where you might want to focus next.
The Power of Small Steps
In just an hour, you’ve: protected your family by updating beneficiaries, found extra money by eliminating waste, and measured your progress with a clear net worth snapshot.
These small steps create momentum. They don’t just make you feel more organized; they empower you to make bigger financial decisions with confidence.
If you want to turn these quick wins into a comprehensive financial plan, we can help.
📞 Call Ecos Wealth Advisors to schedule a Financial Clarity Session.
In just one meeting, we’ll help you turn your small steps into a clear path for your financial future.