FIRST STEPS

h IN H

FINANCIAL PLANNING
A checklist for your babys first year

Sponsored by The Hartford SMART529

The Hartford SMART529 is offered by the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees.

EVERY STEP COUNTS

The birth of a new child is an exciting and exhausting experiencewhich is exactly how you might think of nancial planning. Fortunately, you have help. This checklist is a starting point to help you think of some of the issues you need to consider as you take the rst steps toward planning your familys nancial future.

Start a College Savings Plan

As a new parent, you may have to pay a total of $209,280 to send your child through four years at a public, in-state institution 18 years from now.1 Planning for your childs future educational costs may be the most important thing you can dobut it doesnt have to cost a fortune! While money can be very tight for new parents, you can easily begin saving for college through a 529 college savings plan with a small, automatic investment of $25 or $50 a month.

$209,280

To calculate the cost of sending your newborn to college and nd out more about The Hartford SMART529 college savings plan options, visit the College Savings tab on HartfordInvestor.com, and talk to your nancial professional.

Balance College Savings With Retirement Savings

Contrary to what you may think, you dont have to choose between sending your child to college and funding your retirement. Consider enrolling in your companys 401(k) planor the equivalent if youre self-employed. Your contributions may lower your taxable income and can accumulate tax-deferred until you begin making withdrawals. If you invest $5,000 per year (less than $420 per month) beginning at age 30 and earn an average of 6%, then youll have $636,341 at age 65.2 Start saving now!

Create or Update Your Will

While your will isnt the most fun topic, it is important to identify who should care for your child if something happens to you. Check with your employer to see if a will-preparation service is part of your employee benets plan.

NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE

Buy or Adjust Insurance Policies

Whats your biggest asset, nancially speaking? Its not your house, your car, or your investments. Its your ability to earn future income. In the coming years, you and your family will rely on that income to cover not only the cost of living, but also the costs associated with healthcare, education, andeventuallyretirement. By purchasing or adjusting your life and disability insurance, you can help protect your family from a loss of income resulting from your untimely death.

Review Your Employee Benets Options

The birth of a baby is a life-changing event. From a benets perspective, that means you may have only 30 days to make changes to your options. Be aware of all the ways your child may depend on your benets, and then ask your employer about the specics of your plan. You may want to:

Add your child to your medical care policy Select dependent care and ex-spending accounts Update disability benets through your employer

Protect Your Important Paperwork

Purchase a re-safe lock box to protect your important papers. Keep all your insurance and investment paperwork in this safe place.

Make Your Home and Car SafeInsure Both!

As a new parent, you know you should baby-proof your home. Youll also want to make your car safe for your baby. Check with your auto insurance provider to see if they provide instructions on proper car-seat installation. Additionally, the birth of a child is a good time to review your auto and homeowners insurance limits with your insurance agent. You can discuss whether your current limits are adequate, and how increasing or decreasing your deductible would affect your premium.

Talk to a Financial Professional

You do have to start planning, but you dont have to do it alone. A nancial professional can help you put together a strategy that helps your family become more nancially secure and better prepared for the future. Set up a meeting with a nancial professional in your area. Together, you can review your insurance plans and investment portfolio and talk through this checklist.

Having a new baby is a wonderful, life-changing event. By now, youre starting to see how many changes you could make! But dont feel overwhelmed. Investment and insurance professionals can help you embrace change and shape your familys nancial future in positive ways. Just follow your little ones leadtake one small step at a time.

You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of SMART529 and its Underlying Funds before investing. This and other information can be found in the Offering Statement for SMART529 and the prospectuses or other disclosure documents for the Underlying Funds, which can be obtained on SMART529.com or by calling 866-574-3542. Please read them carefully before you invest or send money. SMART529 is distributed by Hartford Securities Distribution Company, Inc. Member SIPC.
The Hartford SMART529 is a program of the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program, State Treasurer John Perdue, Chairman. The Board has selected Hartford Life Insurance Company to provide program management services for The Hartford SMART529. The Hartford SMART529 is distributed by Hartford Securities Distribution Company, Inc. Member SIPC.

Investments in SMART529 are not guaranteed or insured by the State of West Virginia, the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program, the West Virginia State Treasurers Office, Hartford Life Insurance Company, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., the investment sub-advisors for the Underlying Funds, or any depository institution and are subject to investment risks, including the loss of the principal amount invested, and may not be appropriate for all investors. If you reside in or have taxable income in a state other than West Virginia, you should consider whether your state has a qualied tuition program that offers favorable state income tax or other benets exclusive to your states program that are not available under the SMART529 program.
Non-qualied withdrawals are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of earnings and may also be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. Such withdrawals may have state income tax implications.

This information is written in connection with the promotion or marketing of the matter(s) addressed in this material. The information cannot be used or relied upon for the purpose of avoiding IRS penalties. These materials are not intended to provide tax, accounting or legal advice. As with all matters of a tax or legal nature, you should consult your own tax or legal counsel for advice.
The Hartford is The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. and its subsidiaries. All information and representations herein are as of 7/12 unless otherwise noted. CSP7102 MUN101725-1 7/12

THE HARTFORD

SMART529

Offered by the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees