Your Financial Readiness Checklist

Your Financial Readiness Checklist

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Omni Financial  ·  Financial Literacy Month 2026  ·  Thu, April 30  ·  Printable Resource & Lead Magnet

April is Financial Literacy Month. You’ve covered the fundamentals — pay, credit, debt, savings, and real-world military money moves. Now it’s time to bring it all together.

Use this checklist to assess where you stand and identify exactly where to focus next. Print it, share it with your unit, or use it as your starting point for a conversation with a financial counselor.

Foundation: Know Your Numbers

  • – I know my monthly take-home pay after all deductions
  • – I have reviewed my LES in the last 30 days and understand every line
  • – I know my total debt balance and the interest rate on each account
  • – I know my current credit score
  • – I have pulled my credit report in the last 12 months
  • – I have a written or tracked monthly budget

Emergency Fund

  • – I have at least $500 in a dedicated savings account separate from checking
  • – I have at least $1,000 saved
  • – My savings transfers are automated (allotment or split direct deposit)
  • – I have a plan for the next windfall (tax refund, bonus, deployment income)

Retirement

  • – I am enrolled in TSP
  • – I am contributing at least 5% to capture the full government match (BRS members)
  • – I understand the difference between traditional and Roth TSP
  • – I have considered or opened a Roth IRA in addition to TSP
  • – I know my current TSP fund allocation and whether it matches my timeline

Credit

  • – My credit score is above 670
  • – I have no accounts in collections or delinquency
  • – My credit card utilization is below 30%
  • – I pay at least the minimum on every account, on time, every month
  • – I have disputed any errors on my credit report

Debt

  • – I have no payday loans or rent-to-own agreements
  • – My highest-interest debt is identified and I have a payoff plan
  • – I am not carrying a credit card balance at a rate above 15% APR
  • – My total monthly debt payments are below 20% of my take-home pay

PCS and Life Events

  • – I know my current BAH rate and what it is based on
  • – I have updated my BAH and pay records after any life event (marriage, child, etc.)
  • – I have a PCS savings fund or plan if a move is likely in the next 12 to 24 months
  • – I understand my advance pay entitlement and when to use it
  • – I have reviewed my SGLI coverage level and beneficiary designation recently

Score Your Results

  • – 22–28 checked: Strong financial readiness. Identify any remaining gaps and address them.
  • – 14–21 checked: Good foundation with clear room to improve. Focus on the unchecked items by category.
  • – Below 14: Prioritize stabilization. Start with the Foundation section and work forward.

Resources

  • – myPay — mypay.dfas.mil (LES, TSP enrollment, allotments)
  • – TSP — tsp.gov
  • – Military OneSource — militaryonesource.mil / 1-800-342-9647
  • – AnnualCreditReport.com — free credit report
  • – DFAS — dfas.mil
  • – Army Emergency Relief / Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society / Air Force Aid Society / Coast Guard  –  Mutual Assistance — zero-interest emergency loans

Omni Financial  ·  Financial Literacy Month 2026