“I’m New to Atlanta and need my Finances in Order!”

Moving to a new city is never an easy task.  For one, you give up what was familiar and known about your previous home, and secondly you encounter many new challenges and obstacles (especially financial ones) as you get settled.  Let’s face it, there are enough things to worry about when you’re new to a city, so taking care of these financial items early can help you focus on other areas in the long run which are important.

• Decide where you will bank
  • If you currently use a local bank or credit union that does not have a presence in Atlanta, then it will be necessary to establish a new banking relationship. Knowing where you will bank early on will help to establish proof of address and make future financial decisions a little easier.
• Run your credit report
  • I would encourage anyone new to a city to run a free copy of their credit report from one of the major agencies (everyone is allowed one free report every 12 months). Knowing your current credit score and also having the ability to clean up any mistakes on your report is good practice before entering into other purchases requiring financing.
• Explore various neighborhoods
  • While this might not seem like a financial suggestion, it’s important to know how Atlanta is laid out and the cost of living in certain neighborhoods. Atlanta can feel VERY different even if the neighborhoods are only 10-15 minutes apart.  Driving around, grabbing a coffee, and hanging out in various neighborhoods is a great way to get a feel for what area will fit your financial situation.

If you are new to your city and have questions regarding your finances, we encourage you to reach out to one of our advisors for a free 30 minute introductory call!

May 3rd, 2019