So much of life revolves around personal finances that it’s not surprising to learn that most of the top four lessons of adulthood, focus on money. Whether it’s about saving money, earning it, using it to purchase a home, or providing for a comfortable retirement, it’s fair to say that financial health is of paramount importance for long-term happiness. What are the four things every working adult should know in order to be happy? Here’s a summary of the least you need to know.

Selling a Life Insurance Policy

One subject that many people know very little about is how to sell a life insurance policy. They may know all about comparing coverage types, evaluating carriers, and how much insurance to buy, but few know the ins and outs of cashing out their policies. If you need to learn more about cashing in on your life insurance, should the need ever arise, you can check out a handy guide that offers a step-by-step explanation. In essence, if you own life insurance that builds up a cash value over time, you can generally sell it whenever you need to, as long as you follow the rules and provisions of the contract.

Buying a Home

Unless you intend to rent forever, or are lucky enough to inherit a paid off home, you’ll need to face the main test of adulthood when you set out to buy a house of your own. The key point to remember is that your credit rating plays the central role in your ability to make a purchase. The time to begin working on your personal credit score is now. The younger you are, the better. But even older folks can boost their creditworthiness within a year or so if they pay bills on time, minimize the use of credit cards, and save for a down payment. The best way to get started is to speak with a real estate professional who specializes in helping first-time buyers.

Building a Career

How to begin a career? Learn the value of good work habits, of being reliable, and of treating the people around you with respect and fairness. Think long and hard about what you want to do in your work life. Have a discussion with a career counselor to get some direction. Then, make a written plan about how you want to get into the career of your choice. Be patient. Some people spend several years preparing the way with education, part-time jobs, internships, volunteer work, building a personal network, and sticking it out for the long haul.

Saving For Retirement

Believe it or not, in the early part of adulthood, saving for retirement is not about money. It’s about learning to make saving a regular habit. Even if you can only put aside $5 a month, do it, and do it without fail on the same day each calendar month. Later, when you’re earning more, it will be easier for you to set aside a fixed percentage, say 10 percent, of your income for retirement. But, if you’re in your twenties, don’t be concerned about the amount you save. Just save something, and you’ll thank yourself years from now.