DFW financial planning checklist: Are you on track?

A practical financial checklist for DFW residents at every stage.

Emergency fund:

• [ ] 3-6 months of expenses saved ($8,000-25,000 for most DFW residents)
• [ ] Kept in a high-yield savings account (4%+ APY at Ally, Marcus, or a DFW credit union)
• [ ] Separate from your checking account (so you don't spend it)

Debt management:

• [ ] Credit card debt paid off monthly (or active payoff plan)
• [ ] Student loans: evaluated refinancing options (SoFi, Earnest) if rates are lower
• [ ] Auto loan: checked credit union rates for potential refinance

Retirement:

• [ ] Contributing to employer 401K at least up to company match (FREE MONEY)
• [ ] Roth IRA funded ($7,000 max for 2026). Source: irs.gov
• [ ] Target: 15% of gross income toward retirement

Insurance:

• [ ] Health insurance (employer or marketplace)
• [ ] Car insurance with comprehensive (hail damage in DFW)
• [ ] Renter's insurance if renting ($15-25/month)
• [ ] Homeowner's insurance if you own
• [ ] Term life insurance if you have dependents
• [ ] Umbrella policy if net worth exceeds $500K

Tax optimization (DFW-specific):

• [ ] Homestead exemption filed (saves $1,000+/year)
• [ ] Property tax protested this year
• [ ] Electricity provider comparison done this year (PowerToChoose.org)
• [ ] Toll road account setup with TollTag (saves 50% vs ZipCash)

Estate planning:

• [ ] Will created (even a basic one)
• [ ] Beneficiaries updated on all accounts
• [ ] Power of attorney designated

DFW-specific additions:

• [ ] Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) — if you enjoy outdoors
• [ ] Library card — free resources, museum passes, LinkedIn Learning
• [ ] NTTA TollTag account set up and funded

Sources:

• IRS.gov for retirement contribution limits
• PowerToChoose.org for electricity
• County appraisal districts for homestead exemption

How many boxes can you check?