6 mid-career money myths that can trip you up

Managing money doesn't get easier with age.

Workers often hit their peak earning years only to be pulled in several directions. Beyond basic expenses there may be college-age kids or aging parents who need financial help. It can be a lot to balance at a time when retirement savings should take on more importance.

The problem is many fall prey to the myth that they can juggle it all month-to-month, on the fly.

"What happens with the tens of thousands of consumers we talk with every month is they've gotten into the habit of bad habits," says Mike Croxson, president of CareOne, a debt counseling company. "They don't have a plan anymore."

This often happens to workers in their 30s to early 50s. As life gets busy, they pay bills on autopilot and pay little attention to long-term financial planning.

Here are six money myths to avoid as potential pitfalls during your peak earning years:

Myth 1. I need to prepare for an emergency before I pay down credit card debt.

It's wisest to pay down high-interest credit cards before you save for a rainy day. "You have to look at where you get the best bang for the buck," says Carlo Panaccione, a financial planner at Navigation Group Inc. in Redwood Shores, Calif.

You'd be better off paying down a $5,000 credit card balance charging you 14 percent than socking away that amount in a bank earning less than 2 percent.

If you're concerned about an inadequate emergency fund, you should be. But recognize that if you start paying down debt, you can still charge most expenses if a problem arises.

Also weigh the consequences if you're sacrificing 401(k) contributions. You're losing the benefit of lowering your taxable income and possibly missing out on an employer match. Consider having at least enough deducted so your employer matches your 401(k) contributions. It's an example of where saving first makes sense.

To manage your debt, use these basic guidelines. Start with your monthly gross income - before payroll deductions and taxes. Your housing expense shouldn't exceed 28 percent of that amount. If you then add revolving debt, such as credit cards and car loans, the amount shouldn't exceed 36 percent. If it does by much, you really need to focus on shedding some debt.

Myth 2. I should forget about asking for a raise until the economy recovers.

Lean and mean. After the recession it's become common to hear about companies operating with minimal staff. While worker productivity is up - they're working harder after staff cuts - they're not getting paid much more. Personal income grew 3 percent in 2009 after falling 1.7 percent in 2008. Typically, personal income grows around 5 percent to 6 percent a year.

The smartest managers don't want to lose their remaining talent. The best employees are in demand and are in a good position to ask for a raise, says Lee Miller, coauthor of "A Woman's Guide to Successful Negotiating."

If you think you deserve a raise or a promotion you'll need to show why it's deserved. When you make the request, address the new skills or expanded roll you've taken on; or the additional responsibilities you're willing to tackle.

Then demonstrate what you've accomplished and why it's in the company's interest to give you a raise. Tell the boss how you've made an impact, such as boosting sales or landing a new client.

Myth 3. I'm a renter and I don't own that much. I don't need a will.

Estimates vary but it's probably generous to say that about a third of all Americans have a will. "Everybody absolutely needs a will," says Peter Lang, an adviser with HighTower Securities, who specializes in estate planning. Without a will, the state will decide who gets your assets.

It's unpleasant to think about your own death, which is one reason why many people don't prepare. But having a will ensures your possessions are distributed according to your wishes, and helps family members avoid disputes.

The process also encourages you to think about other matters that might otherwise be put off, such as a durable power of attorney. This document gives another person the right to manage your affairs if you're unable. You may also want an advance health care directive to spell out what level of life sustaining care you would want to receive.

Hire an attorney who specializes in estate planning to evaluate your circumstances. State laws vary and planning for a blended family, for instance, can introduce additional complexity.

There is the option of online do-it-yourself wills and the other documents. However, to use these products, your circumstances can't be too complex.

Myth 4. I'm focused on my retirement savings goal and that's enough.

The headlines "Retire Rich" and "Retire Early" have been retired. The 2008 stock market meltdown has left a lingering impact. Workers with 401(k) accounts saw their balances cut by about a third on average. Now many remain anxious and it hasn't helped that their balances have only recently rebounded to their levels at the market's peak in 2007.

So now many are contemplating working longer. Slumping home values and the weak economy has added five years of work for the average employee, says Brandon Ross, managing partner of Peak Capital Investments Services, a financial adviser.

What's more, collecting Social Security later increases the benefit. Avoid if you can, the permanent reduction in benefits if you retire early. If you were born in 1960 or later and you claim your benefits at 62 instead of the full retirement age of 67, you reduce your monthly benefit by 30 percent. A $1,000 benefit, for example, is reduced to $700.

Those who were planning on living very well in retirement, may now have to live more modestly, says Panaccione, the Navigation Group adviser. That may mean giving up the personal trainer or new car every few years in order to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in retirement.

Beyond savings, make sure you're also evaluating your anticipated expenses. That includes major items such as health care, possibly in a nursing home or through an in-home nursing service.

The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College has shown that a worker retiring in 2020 will need about $142,000 to cover just out-of-pocket health care costs in retirement.

Myth 5. I'm healthy and in the prime of my life, I don't need life insurance.

Life insurance isn't for you it's for your loved ones. Buying insurance often depends on whether you have financial obligations you want covered after you're gone. For young people term life insurance is inexpensive and will help cover funeral expenses and pay off debts. This is also a good option for single people to cover the basics. As it sounds, it's purchased for a specific time period so when it ends, you need another policy.

Mid-career workers should consider a permanent policy such as a universal life or whole life policy, which allows the buyer to continue to pay premiums to keep the policy in force on a continual basis.

It's critical for someone starting a family to seek coverage that could help the family survive the loss of a breadwinner. An insurance needs calculator is provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at: http://tinyurl.com/459noo3. Be sure to purchase from a company with a solid financial strength rating. You can review ratings at Insure.com: http://tinyurl.com/3y4xja.

Myth 6. I just bought a huge commercial-kitchen jar of Grey Poupon. Buying in bulk is always a good strategy.

It's estimated that most people only consume 12 ounces of mustard per year. So you may have just stocked up on more than a decade's worth unless you're hosting a major picnic.

Buying in bulk, taking advantage of sales, and using coupons is a good savings strategy if you're actually purchasing items that you need and would have purchased anyway.

It doesn't make sense to spend a lot on gas to cash in on a small coupon. A good deal on a perishable item isn't so good if half of it spoils.

"Don't buy things that you otherwise wouldn't normally buy just because you think you can get a deal on it," says Neal Ringquist, president of Advisor Software Inc., which runs Goalgami.com, a personal finance website.

With smartphones and ubiquitous daily deal e-mail offers, the temptation to spend is all around. So be cautious about buying into promotions like those on Groupon or Living Social as impulse purchases.

Getting started. Established workers in the peak of their careers need to balance saving for retirement with their many other obligations. One of the most essential is to provide for their families with adequate insurance coverage.

The money challenges they encounter are numerous and varied. To help balance these sometimes conflicting goals, here are a few tools worth checking out:

Debt.  Check out the savings and debt management calculators at: http://www.bankrate.com/calculators.aspx.

Pay raises.  Find guidance on asking for a raise:  http://www.payscale.com/ask-for-a-raise-during-recession.

Wills and estates.  Preliminary guidance for those thinking about drafting a will:

American Bar Association: http://tinyurl.com/6bs6g2n .

Retirement. Try the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority retirement calculator at: http://tinyurl.com/4sdwkwr.

Social Security Administration explanation of benefits by year of birth: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/agereduction.htm .

Insurance. The Insurance Information Institute offers a wealth of resources on all types of insurance: www.iii.org.