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Complete Financial Resources Guide

Your comprehensive directory of trusted financial institutions, tools, and services to help you build a strong financial foundation. Each resource has been carefully selected for reliability, security, and value.

Important Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, security, or professional advice. Links or references to third‑party websites, companies, products, or services — including but not limited to financial institutions and technology providers — are provided solely for your convenience and do not imply endorsement or recommendation by Unadat. We have no control over, and are not responsible for, the content, security, privacy practices, accuracy, or availability of any third‑party sites. You should review the terms, conditions, and privacy policies of any third‑party website you visit. Before making decisions or taking action based on information from any linked or referenced source, you should conduct your own research and seek independent professional advice as appropriate.

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Banking Credit & Cards Security Tools Government Accounts Investing & Retirement Major Purchases

Banking Essentials

Personal Checking

Chase Capital One (Discover)

In-person branches & mobile deposit
No/low monthly fees
Always confirm FDIC coverage and watch for hidden or predatory fees

High Yield Savings Account

Capital One (Discover) American Express Marcus by Goldman Sachs

Usually online banking, so little brick & mortar stores
Higher yields than traditional savings accounts
Confirm FDIC Insured

Credit Unions

Add local or national options

Lower fees & better rates
Member-owned, community focused

Credit Cards & Credit Monitoring

Credit Cards

Chase Capital One (Discover)

No annual fee (ideal for starting out)
Cashback/travel rewards
Warranty & Insurance benefits
Additional travel benefits
Strong customer service
Low APR (less relevant if paid in full monthly)
Avoid cards with predatory fees or misleading rewards

Credit Bureaus

Experian TransUnion Equifax

Federally mandated option to freeze credit to reduce identity theft risk for loans/credit cards
Remember: smaller bureaus may also need freezing aside from the Big 3

Security Tools

Password Managers

Bitwarden Proton

Bitwarden: Open source
Proton: Integrated with Proton's privacy suite
Keeps track of password organization, which are unique and secure

2FA Authenticators

Google Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator
Get generated time-base codes for 2FA

2FA Other

Yubikey

Phishing-resistant physical authentication

Government Accounts

IRS

Set up an IRS PIN to block fraudulent tax returns

Social Security Administration

Create an account to prevent identity theft and verify earnings

State DOL Unemployment

Secure your account to prevent fraudulent claims

Investing & Retirement

Brokerages

Fidelity Vanguard Charles Schwab

Middlemen that connects buyers and sellers for the market

Tax Advantaged Account Types

Roth IRA
Traditional IRA
Roth 401k
401k
529 Plan
Health Savings Account

Can be found in brokerages and/or offered from work. Roth uses after-tax contributions from earned income to invest in equities which can be withdrawn tax free with IRS conditions. Non-Roth accounts uses pre-tax contributions from earned income to invest in equities which is deducted from taxable income to be taxed when withdrawn with IRS conditions.

Money Market Funds

Short-term, stable securities; higher yields than HYSA but no FDIC Insurance and potential to "break the buck"

Equities

Total World Stock ETF (VT): One-stop global equity exposure; high diversification, moderate volatility
US Total Stock ETF (VTI): Core U.S equity exposure; complements International ETFs for full global coverage
S&P 500 ETF (VOO): Large-cap U.S growth engine, lower turnover, high liquidity
International Stock ETF (VXUS, IXUS): Complements U.S. ETFs for full global equity exposure
Treasury Bonds/Treasury ETF (SGOV, USFR): Cash-like stability, liquidity, interest rate hedge
Dividend ETF/REITs (O, SCHD): Income generation, defensive equity tilt
Singular Stocks (MSFT, NVDA, AAPL): Concentrated growth drivers; higher volatility than ETFs but potential for outsized returns

Keep expensive ratios low. Understand the differences between mutual funds, index funds, and ETFs

Major Purchases

Vehicle Purchase & Financing

Payment options:

Pay in full
Auto loan (bank, credit union, dealer - compare APR & total cost)
Lease

Key considerations:

Total cost of ownership (insurance, maintenance, fuel, depreciation)
Pre-approval from a bank/credit union before visiting dealerships
Massive depreciation when car leaves the dealer's lot

Mortgages & Home Buying

Banks/Credit Unions/Brokerages - shop multiple lenders for rates and terms

Types:

Fixed-rate mortgages (steady payments)
Adjustable-rate mortgages (lower intro rates, possible future increases)

Key considerations:

Down payment size
Loan term length
APR vs. interest rate - know the difference
Closing costs and fees
Get pre-approval before house-hunting; it strengthens offers and sets your budget

Final Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, security, or professional advice. Links or references to third‑party websites, companies, products, or services — including but not limited to financial institutions, technology providers, and password managers — are provided solely for your convenience and do not imply endorsement or recommendation by Unadat. We have no control over, and are not responsible for, the content, security, privacy practices, accuracy, or availability of any third‑party sites. You should review the terms, conditions, and privacy policies of any third‑party website you visit. Before making decisions or taking action based on information from any linked or referenced source, you should conduct your own research and seek independent professional advice as appropriate. Unadat is not liable for any losses, damages, breaches, or issues that may result from your use of third‑party websites, products, or services.