The UNCW Alumni Association (UNCWAA) launched Teal World to the Real World on Thursday, November 14 — a new event series exclusively for recent graduates to learn more about important “real world” topics such as financial planning, health and wellness and more.
The first event in the series was facilitated by Tilia Fiduciary Partners and led by Seahawk alumna Alexis Delia ’22 and Ryan Casey – who educated participants about important topics such as budgeting, loan repayment and credit card management.
“A good rule of thumb is the 50-30-20 rule,” said Delia. “Every time your paycheck comes in you should spend 50 percent on your needs – such as rent, utilities and internet; 30 percent on your wants – such as going out to eat and shopping; and 20 percent on aspirational future needs spending – such as investing and emergency savings.”
Attendees also received advice and recommendations for financial resources available to help set them on a positive path of fiscal responsibility. For guidance on student loan payments, they received information about the Student Loan Forgiveness Program – which forgives federal student loans after individuals work in the public sector for 10 years; were encouraged to utilize studentaid.gov to calculate student loan payments; and were also directed to the National Foundation of Credit Counseling to connect with certified credit counselors.
With regard to credit cards, participants were encouraged to always pay the minimum amount due, stay within the designated credit limits, and never close a line of credit or miss payments. “Your credit card is your report card,” said Delia. “But in the real world.”
Additionally, attendees were encouraged to consider overall compensation packages when determining what jobs might be the best professional and financial fit for them. “A great job shouldn’t be defined solely by pay,” said Casey. “The headline pay may be low, but the total compensation package could be great – including healthcare, insurance, paid time off and company culture.”
Save the date for the next Teal World to the Real World event, slated for April 2025. Topics and presenters to be announced early in the new year.
Learn more about upcoming alumni events by visiting alumni.uncw.edu/calendar and following the UNCW Alumni Association on Facebook and Instagram.