The Young Professionals Bucket List 

What to do when overwhelmed by the To-Do’s  

By Sofia Menyalkin

Having graduated from college this past May, I’ve been thinking about the many goals that young professionals might have, such as repaying debt, creating an emergency fund, and saving for future life benchmarks like travel, marriage, and a home downpayment. How does one realistically start funding each of these and establish their weight in terms of both financial and personal importance? From a logistical standpoint, which investment accounts and investment vehicles would be most fitting for each of these goals? 

College graduates today are having a notoriously difficult time gaining financial footing. Over half are graduating with debt, and the current job market is being called one of the toughest in over a decade. According to educationdata.org, total average student loan debt for an undergraduate, including federal and private loan debt, may be as high as $42,673. 

While students are taking on substantial debt to get degrees (taking borrowers an average of 20 years to pay off), large companies such as Nvidia, Google, Microsoft, and Meta are pouring billions of dollars into Artificial Intelligence. As a result, demand for labor— especially entry-level labor—has not kept up. Forbes reports that the unemployment rate for recent graduates reached 5.8% in March 2025, the highest since 2013, while all college graduates face an unemployment rate of only 2.7%. It’s clearly difficult for many young graduates to find a job and start the many financial “to-do’s” in the first place! 

After debt repayment, the big four buckets that I’ve uncovered to grow one’s savings (what one earns minus what one spends) are as follows: 

Roth IRA 

This type of retirement account is a great vehicle to start contributing to and maxing out as soon as possible. Although contributions are not tax-deductible, you will reap the benefits of years of tax-free growth! Prioritizing investing in a Roth IRA while you are at the beginning of your career and in a low tax bracket is a smart move. For qualifying income levels, the 2026 contribution limits for individuals under and over 50 stand at $7,500 and $8,600 respectively. Prior to age 59 ½, should you have need, you can withdraw the extent of your own contributions, and even some of the growth, without penalty for special circumstances such as a first-time home purchase. 

Employer-Sponsored Retirement Account 

As an economics major, one phrase I often heard was that there’s “no such thing as a free lunch.” However, employer-sponsored retirement accounts are pretty close! By contributing a certain percentage of your paycheck, you can qualify for an employer-funded match. If your employer offers a Roth 401K plan, you can access tax-free growth in the future with higher annual contribution limits than a traditional Roth IRA. 

High-Yield Savings Account 

High-yield savings accounts have variable rates, similar to those of money market funds. When the Fed sets the policy rate higher, yields on these accounts typically go up as well, and vice versa. A high-yield savings account is recommended for the classic three-to-six-month emergency fund, designed to be very liquid and accessible. Interest is taxed as ordinary income. This account helps to provide peace of mind for that next Terrible, Horrible, No-Good Very Bad Day. 

Brokerage Account 

In my opinion, after paying off debts, building an emergency fund, reaping the benefits of the employer plan match, and contributing to your Roth IRA you can begin adding to an investment account – even just $50 or $100 (and more when able) to fund those “in-between” goals such as home down payments, weddings, travel aspirations, and more! To manage your expectations, understand that fulfillment of these goals will take time. Equity innately holds more risk than lower-growth but less risky alternatives. 

I hope this helps you or your loved ones find direction in those first few years following graduation. If you have any additional questions, on your own behalf or on behalf of your loved ones, please feel free to reach out to your TCV team. We will be happy to discuss your situation on an individual basis and offer insights.