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At 21, you’re a financial adult. But chances are you still don’t know what you don’t know. We asked personal finance experts and financial planners what newly minted adults need to know about money. Their bottom line: Be sure your balance sheet includes some joy, too. How to think about money A job you love

Amazon. Chipotle. GoPro. These household-name businesses were launched thanks to investments by the founders’ parents. But parents also have sunk plenty of money into their offsprings’ doomed enterprises, sometimes endangering their retirements and family relationships in the process. Certified financial planner Jon Ten Haagen of Huntington, New York, had a retired client who against his advice gave

Apart from the pain of a family member or close friend’s passing, settling their financial matters can be time-consuming and difficult. You may have to comb through paperwork from bank accounts to life insurance policies. Although not exhaustive, these steps can ease the process of sorting through the deceased’s finances. 1. Know who’s responsible A will

A credit score can be key to unlocking many firsts — an apartment, a car loan, or a mortgage. But when you’re starting out, getting a score is maddeningly elusive. Many lenders are reluctant to extend credit unless you already have experience with credit. Credit bureau Experian wants to ease that Catch-22 for credit novices

Creating an estate plan is a gift to the people you leave behind. By expressing your wishes, you’re trying to guide your loved ones at a difficult, emotional time.

Recessions are like natural disasters: They’re inevitable, but smart preparation may reduce the impact on you.

Choosing the best way to pay for something — credit or cash — can make a real dollar difference for you. So knowing when to do which is key.

I recently heard from the parents of a yet another high school senior who turned down a huge scholarship from a good college to attend her “dream school,” which of course has lousy financial aid. Now her parents are scrambling, trying to figure out how to pay for it. This madness must end. Asking teenagers to