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From the hope that came with reopening to the disappointment of another COVID-19 resurgence, 2021 is panning out to be another roller-coaster year. With the fourth quarter upon us, one routine remains consistent: it’s time to start organizing your finances for the new year. New rules related to the pandemic, coupled with tax and retirement changes that carried over from last year, means there’s a lot to consider. This checklist highlights some key points to help guide you as you get started.

October is the kickoff season for financial aid. That's when incoming and returning college students can start filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for the next academic year. The FAFSA is a prerequisite for federal student loans, grants, and work-study, and may be required by colleges before they distribute their own institutional aid to students.

Whether you need life insurance depends partly on your stage of life. If you’re younger, you may have less need for coverage. As you move along the path in life, you’ll likely have more of a need. And, as your responsibilities lessen, your need may decrease.

For many Americans, social security benefits make up a significant portion of retirement income. When it comes to how much you will receive, you may be surprised to learn that you have a choice in the matter—and timing is everything. The longer you wait to claim your benefits, the larger your monthly payment will be, so when you start can determine whether you’ll have sufficient funds to achieve your retirement goals.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 makes substantial, temporary improvements to the child tax credit for 2021, which may increase the amount you might receive on qualifying children under the age of 18.

Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts change annually. Here's a look at some of the costs that will apply in 2021 if you're enrolled in Original Medicare Part A and Part B.

After months of extensions, most of the benefits included in the CARES Act are expiring at the end of the year. Learn how this affects you and what you can do to move forward with financial certainty.

The Social Security Administration announced a 2021 Cost of Living Increase of 1.3% on Oct. 13, 2020. Whether you’re currently working or enjoying retirement, here’s how you may be affected.

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period — which begins on October 15 and runs through December 7 — is your opportunity to switch Medicare health and prescription drug plans to better suit your needs.