SoFi Blog

As the year draws to a close, it’s a great time to reflect on your finances—especially if you’re a recent grad who’s newly employed. You’re likely bringing home a significant paycheck for the first time in your life, but also have big-time monthly bills to pay, including student loans. Without proper planning, that debt can easily drag you down.

So how can you balance paying your bills, eliminating your debt, and saving for your future while still allowing yourself a few bucks for fun?

Start achieving your 2017-and-beyond financial goals by asking yourself these key questions:

Recently released data continues to show a world economy gaining momentum. While the U.S. jobs report was mixed, business survey data from the U.S. and elsewhere showed continued and accelerating expansion. The recent rise in bond yields moderated this week as market attention focused on a slate of events including the Italian referendum and upcoming meetings of the European Central Bank (ECB) and Federal Reserve.

These days, “pension” and “company men” are terms about as relevant as “on fleek” will be in five years. Until just a few decades ago, it was commonplace for a college graduate to get an entry-level job and work his way up the corporate ladder, retiring 40-some years later with a healthy pension and a parting gift.

But not anymore.

You’ve gone beyond proving that you’re a star in your field. You survived grad school (although exams and student loans may still cause night terrors), advanced in your career and have notable achievements under your belt. You’re also responsible, trustworthy, loyal to your company, and love what you do. And it shows. Perhaps you’ve even been told that you’re a born leader, and, humility aside, you can’t find any reason to disagree with that. But how do you take that compliment and put it into action? What do you need to do to reach C-suite status or earn partnership at your firm?

In our latest SoFi member spotlight, we catch up with Mavrick Goodrich to discuss the experiences that lead to his UCLA undergrad, pursuing his MBA and furthering his career as a Management Consultant. It’s a moving tale of resilience, learning and always moving forward – personally, professionally and financially.