12 Things to do before buying stocks

There is an abundance of activity going on right now, but today’s show is all about taking it back to basics. How can you make the right personal finance decision today that will set you up for the next 10 years? Are you in the position to make investment choices based on your current finances? What will we do if the coronavirus returns? All of these questions are answered with these 12 tips that can be used a model for your stock market investing practices.Is it too late to fix my retirement at 50?No — the 50s are the catch-up years by design. Catch-up provisions let you contribute above the standard limits to 401(k)s and IRAs, the HSA offers triple tax advantages for future healthcare costs, and a backdoor Roth can build a tax-free bucket even if your income is too high for direct contributions. Pair those with a segmented "bucket" strategy — instead of retreating to CDs and cash — and most late starts can still be rescued. The first step is knowing your income need, not chasing a number.