My wife and I (both early 30's) are finally in a place where we're making decent money (gross $120,000). We do not own a house, nor have kids. There are a few things I want to start doing, but am not sure where to start. I've gone through the wiki and have a couple ideas, but wanted more specifics.

- My wife has little credit, most things have been in my name. She doesn't have bad credit or anything negative about her credit, she just has a small credit history. I want to help her build up her credit score. I was looking at a credit card that we could pay off every month and earn travel points (we can afford vacations now!), but very little cards have co-signers or joint accounts and authorized users don't benefit as much as they used to. Advice?

- We both have Roth's/401k, but I'd like to do more investing. I was thinking about a mutual fund or investing on my own into an index, but would like some more specific advice or maybe a book(s) I could get.

- I've heard a lot about how the standard "get a job, IRA and investment portfolio" won't be enough for us to retire. What else should we be doing to prepare?

- Finally, I'd like to maximize my money for today, be able to make big purchases, go on vacations etc. What else can I do to make my dollars work harder for me or maximize my financial usage?

Thanks
Great to see that you're thinking about these important financial concerns. 

1. Building Credit: One way to build your wife's credit is to add her as an authorized user on your existing credit cards. Even though this doesn't have as much impact as it used to, it can still help. She could also consider getting a secured credit card which requires a cash collateral deposit that becomes the credit line for that account. As she uses it and pays it off each month, she’ll be building her credit history. Over time, she can then qualify for unsecured credit cards which will further improve her credit score. 

2. Investing: Mutual funds and index funds can be a good idea. Index funds in particular are popular for their low cost and market-matching returns. ETFs could be another option to consider. As for books, I would recommend "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham and "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel. 

3. Retirement: In addition to your Roth and 401k, you could consider investing in a Health Savings Account (HSA) if you're eligible. Also, consider other types of investments like real estate, which can provide steady cash flow in retirement. Diversifying your investments can also reduce risk and potentially increase your returns.

4. Maximizing Money: Budgeting and tracking your expenses are the first steps to maximizing your money. This will help you understand where your money is going and where you can save. You might also want to consider hiring a financial advisor who can provide personalized advice based on your specific situation.

Lastly, always ensure you have a good emergency fund (3-6 months of living expenses) in place before going on to make big purchases or investments. 

Remember that everyone's financial situation is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's always a good idea to get professional advice before making any major financial decisions.
### Human
My wife and I (both early 30's) are finally in a place where we're making decent money (gross $120,000). We do not own a house, nor have kids. There are a few things I want to start doing, but am not sure where to start. I've gone through the wiki and have a couple ideas, but wanted more specifics.

- My wife has little credit, most things have been in my name. She doesn't have bad credit or anything negative about her credit, she just has a small credit history. I want to help her build up her credit score. I was looking at a credit card that we could pay off every month and earn travel points (we can afford vacations now!), but very little cards have co-signers or joint accounts and authorized users don't benefit as much as they used to. Advice?

- We both have Roth's/401k, but I'd like to do more investing. I was thinking about a mutual fund or investing on my own into an index, but would like some more specific advice or maybe a book(s) I could get.

- I've heard a lot about how the standard "get a job, IRA and investment portfolio" won't be enough for us to retire. What else should we be doing to prepare?

- Finally, I'd like to maximize my money for today, be able to make big purchases, go on vacations etc. What else can I do to make my dollars work harder for me or maximize my financial usage?

Thanks

### Assistant
Great to see that you're thinking about these important financial concerns. 

1. Building Credit: One way to build your wife's credit is to add her as an authorized user on your existing credit cards. Even though this doesn't have as much impact as it used to, it can still help. She could also consider getting a secured credit card which requires a cash collateral deposit that becomes the credit line for that account. As she uses it and pays it off each month, she’ll be building her credit history. Over time, she can then qualify for unsecured credit cards which will further improve her credit score. 

2. Investing: Mutual funds and index funds can be a good idea. Index funds in particular are popular for their low cost and market-matching returns. ETFs could be another option to consider. As for books, I would recommend "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham and "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel. 

3. Retirement: In addition to your Roth and 401k, you could consider investing in a Health Savings Account (HSA) if you're eligible. Also, consider other types of investments like real estate, which can provide steady cash flow in retirement. Diversifying your investments can also reduce risk and potentially increase your returns.

4. Maximizing Money: Budgeting and tracking your expenses are the first steps to maximizing your money. This will help you understand where your money is going and where you can save. You might also want to consider hiring a financial advisor who can provide personalized advice based on your specific situation.

Lastly, always ensure you have a good emergency fund (3-6 months of living expenses) in place before going on to make big purchases or investments. 

Remember that everyone's financial situation is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's always a good idea to get professional advice before making any major financial decisions.<eos_token>