10 Financial Must-Dos Before You Turn 65

Matthew Young

March 11, 2025

Turning 65 is a major milestone. But before you get there, you need to dot some i’s and cross some t’s.

From protecting your family, shoring up your savings, and making sure you’ve got the right health coverage, here’s everything you need.

Not all of these ideas will work for you, but some will, so be sure and read the entire list.

1. Turn your biggest asset into a payday

If you’re 62 or older, you might be sitting on a goldmine without even realizing it. Like discovering an emerging investment opportunity, a reverse mortgage could be your power move to supercharge your retirement strategy.

The remarkable truth about this financial tactic: Your home isn’t just a place to live – it’s a powerful asset waiting to be unleashed. And just like smart investors who look for unique opportunities, savvy retirees are discovering how to make their homes work for them.

Think about it: No more monthly mortgage payments. Instead, you’re converting your home equity into cash that you can use to:

  • Invest in your dream retirement lifestyle
  • Create an emergency fund for unexpected expenses
  • Make home improvements that boost your property value
  • Build a legacy for your family

Now, it’s your turn to discover how a reverse mortgage could be your next smart money move.

Check them out right now.

2. Get Medicare that works for you and your wallet

With massive health and financial implications, choosing a Medicare plan is one of the most important decisions retirees face in the US.

Unfortunately, most Americans receive poor support when trying to compare the hundreds of Medicare plan options available to them. 90% of Americans are on suboptimal Medicare plans that may cost more or limit their access to care.

Chapter’s free Medicare advisors put you first. They provide unbiased guidance for better clarity and cost savings, earning Chapter an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and thousands of 5-star ratings from happy customers.

Whether you’re enrolling for the first time, considering a Medigap policy, or hoping to change your Medicare Advantage plantake a minute right now and see how Chapter can boost both your budget and peace of mind.

3. Stop losing up to $600+ on your car insurance

How would you feel if you found out you’re throwing away $600 annually just to pad some insurance company’s bottom line?

It’s very possible. But there’s only one way to know for sure.

Take a minute and use this new insurance shopping tool from FinanceBuzz. It can tell if you’re overpaying for your car insurance with just a few clicks.

Savings will vary by driving history and how many discounts you’re eligible for, but don’t be surprised if you can find the same coverage for hundreds less. And if not? You’ll get peace of mind by knowing you’re already getting the best possible deal.

To find out if you’re losing up to $600 or more a year, just click this link, answer a few questions, enter your ZIP, email, and phone, and within two minutes you’ll see if you qualify for a lower rate.

See if you’re overpaying.

4. Get a will and/or trust

When you’re gone, your problems will be over. But the problems for the ones you leave behind will just be beginning.

Show your loved ones you care by creating a will, a trust or both. It doesn’t take much time and doesn’t cost much money. But it will save a ton of both for your family.

A will is a simple legal document that outlines how you want your assets to be distributed, and you can have one in minutes for $199.

A trust allows you to place conditions on how and when your assets are distributed to your beneficiaries. You can get one of these created for as little as $499.

An hour or two preparing these documents means providing for your family, minimizing potential conflicts, and potentially reducing estate taxes. Do yourself and your family a favor and at least check it out right now.

5. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

One of the best ways to protect your savings is having money in different types of investments: ideally, ones that can go up when others are going down. For example, stocks tend to do poorly when inflation and interest rates are rising and there’s political turmoil brewing.

One investment that thrives in this scenario: gold.

Keep in mind, though, that not everyone in the gold business is on the up-and-up. Be careful who you deal with.

American Alternative Assets is a privately held firm that specializes in wealth and asset protection, their commitment to transparency, integrity, and high ethical standards has earned them an A+ rating and accreditation from both the Better Business Bureau and the National Ethics Association.

They offer gold and silver IRA’s, popular coins like 2023 Defender One ounce gold, 2023 Heraldic Eagle silver coins, CombiBar™ and more, plus enjoy up to $15,000 in complimentary gold and silver, upon qualified purchase.

They also lead the industry in retirement account rollovers and will help to facilitate a transfer from your current custodian into a precious metals IRA, fully insured elite storage options, and industry buy back guarantees.

Gold has been hitting record highs. Why not take a look right now?

6. Don’t pay to fix your car

The cost of car repairs is skyrocketing. One shop told Consumer Reports that a decade ago, their average repair was $1,600. These days, the average bill is $4,000.

If you’re concerned about coming up with thousands of dollars for a repair bill, protect your investment with a CarShield auto warranty.

CarShield provides extended warranty plans of up to 24 months, and allows you to choose from at least six different plans, so you’ll only pay for the coverage you need. They cover cars up to 20 years old and offer flexible month-to-month plans so you’re not locked in for years.

CarShield has a network of thousands of ASE-certified repair shops, and they pay the repair bill. All you cover is the deductible. All their warranties include 24/7 roadside assistance and rental car benefits while your vehicle is being repaired.

ConsumerAffairs calls CarShield “a solid choice” for drivers of any age, and “particularly appealing” for those with older vehicles.

Take a minute right now and get a quote.

7. Make your home work harder for you

Why settle for less when you can create the home of your dreams right where you are? Or use the cash for anything else you need?

With today’s soaring real estate prices, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) could be the answer to unlocking your home’s full potential without breaking the bank.

Instead of stretching your budget on an overpriced new home, tap into the equity you’ve built to finance those renovations you’ve longed for. Upgrade your outdated kitchen, build your dream master suite, or finally add that home office. But the flexibility doesn’t stop there – use your HELOC funds for other goals like consolidating debt, paying for education, taking a dream vacation and more!

The best part? HELOCs typically offer lower interest rates than credit cards or personal loans since they’re secured by your home’s equity. That means big savings while you build lasting value.

Don’t wait any longer to unlock your home’s potential. Visit Money.com’s home equity loan table today to easily compare HELOC rates from multiple lenders and find the most affordable option. With just a few clicks, you could be on your way to an envy-worthy dream home or funding anything else on your list!

8. Have this company pay off your credit card debt

Worrying about debt is probably the worst way you can spend your time, and paying interest and late fees is the worst way you can spend your money.

If you’ve got a problem, the sooner you deal with it, the better.

If you have over $10,000 of debtNational Debt Relief is one of the most respected providers of debt relief in the U.S.

They’ve helped more than 500,000 people, are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and also are top-rated by Top Consumer Reviews, Top Ten Reviews, ConsumersAdvocate.org and ConsumerAffairs.

You simply fill out a form on the company website, then a debt coach will call you to learn more about your situation. If they can help you, they’ll set you up with an affordable plan that works for you — and give you an estimate of when you can expect to be debt-free. There’s no upfront fee and no obligation to get started.

National Debt Relief can help you with almost any unsecured debt, like credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, repossessions … even some student loan debt. Ready to start a new, happier chapter of your life?

Don’t wait another minute. Check them out right now.

9. Earn up to $1000 per month for doing simple tasks

Lots of companies let you earn money by filling out surveys, completing tasks, signing up for stuff, or playing games.

But FreeCash is in a league of its own.

Freecash boasts the fastest payouts (we’re talking instant!), with minimum withdrawals as low as $5. Plus, you can cash out with PayPal, crypto, gift cards – the choice is yours. FreeCash users have already earned more than $150,000,000!

So try FreeCash. It’s the fast, fun way to earn real cash. Don’t waste another minute – Freecash is waiting!

10. Steal this billionaire wealth-building technique

The ultra-rich have also been investing in art from big names like Picasso, Banksy, and Basquiat for decades. And it’s for good reason: Contemporary art sales have outpaced the S&P 500 by 43% over the last 30 years (1995-2024).*

Fine art’s appreciation and diversification potential has historically been out of reach. However, since their founding in 2017, a company called Masterworks has allowed everyday investors to get in on this otherwise exclusive investment. You can easily invest in shares of multi-million dollar artwork offerings featuring iconic artists, all without needing millions or art expertise. Masterworks’ experts take care of everything; from authentication and storage, to insurance and final sale of the asset.

To date, each of Masterworks’ 23 sales has individually returned a profit to investors, and with 3 illustrative sales Masterworks investors have realized net annualized returns of +17.6%, +17.8%, and +21.5% (among assets held 1+ year, not including unsold).

If you have at least $15k to invest (subject to waiver) and want to diversify a slice of your portfolio beyond stocks and bonds, skip the waitlist to invest with Masterworks. (Hurry; new art offerings can sell out quickly!)

Investing involves risk. Past performance not indicative of future returns. See Important Disclosures at masterworks.com/cd.

*Based on Masterworks analysis of internal sales index of Post-War & Contemporary Art market prices and S&P 500 annualized return (includes dividends reinvested) from 1995 to 2024. Masterworks investors cannot invest directly in this index.

Investing involves risk. Past performance not indicative of future returns. See Important Disclosures at masterworks.com/cd.

*Based on Masterworks analysis of internal sales index of Post-War & Contemporary Art market prices and S&P 500 annualized return (includes dividends reinvested) from 1995 to 2024. Masterworks investors cannot invest directly in this index.