how to write a cover letter goldman sachs

Crafting a Standout Cover Letter for Goldman Sachs: Your Passport to Possibilities

• Career Advice

• Posted On: 2023-10-25
• Posted By: Shacara

The Art of Personalization

The opening act: grab their attention, the story of you: show, don't just tell, aligning aspirations: make it mutual, the x-factor: what sets you apart, bridging the gap: addressing any concerns, the cultural fit: be one with the goldman sachs vibe, the closing act: end on a strong note, proofread, edit, repeat, your journey begins here, the final touch: formatting and presentation, 1. clean and professional layout, 2. appropriate length, 3. clear sections, 4. use bullet points or lists (sparingly), 5. margins and spacing, 6. professional tone and language, 7. proofreading and editing, tailoring for success: customize for each application, the final act: sign off with confidence, ready, set, send, contact info.

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Goldman Sachs' HR chief says this is the key to writing a winning cover letter

If you ever questioned the value of a cover letter in today's technological age, Goldman Sachs' HR chief has an important message for you.

"We read them because at times they will contain information that actually gives us insight into the person," Edith Cooper, executive vice president and global head of Human Capital Management at Goldman Sachs, tells Business Insider .

The key to a good cover letter, she says, is to keep it new and interesting . 

A colleague recently told Cooper about a job candidate who submitted a unique cover letter that, strangely enough, touched on astrophysics.

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"It was so, so unusual that the recruiter said, 'You know what? I really want to talk to this person.'"

Cooper says the lesson isn't that every candidate should write about something unusual for the sake of standing out.

"The truth is, if it's interesting and content-rich, it's like a good book: If you open the book and the first few chapters are interesting, you'll keep reading. If you open the book and it's really just saying, 'I'd really like to work at Goldman Sachs. It's the best firm in the world,' and talk about all the attributes of Goldman Sachs, it's interesting, but we know about Goldman Sachs. How about you? That's what we're looking for. We want to learn about you," she says.

Check out the full interview below:

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This question is about Goldman Sachs .

How do you write a cover letter for a job at Goldman Sachs?

You write a cover letter for a job at Goldman Sachs by telling your story. Take the reader on your personal journey and let your personality come through. For Goldman Sachs, the statement of intent is in many ways even more important than your resume, so take the time to make it shine.

Structure your cover letter in a want that includes a brief description of yourself and your job experiences over the last 1 to 3 years. Explain why you want to work for Goldman Sachs and why that specific division or business area is of interest to you. Illustrate why you are suited for the role.

Mention firm events that you have attended and employees that you have met. A recruiter will appreciate that you have attended events and made attempts at networking and have shown a proactive interest in the field. This will also help to build a greater connection between you and the reader.

Include relevant experiences and transferable skills . Highlight your relevant experience and emphasize what you have achieved. Include metrics wherever possible such as:

After a thorough financial and operational analysis, I recommended the closure of one of our plants. While the laying off of personnel was a harsh and difficult decision, it resulted in a savings of over $10 million per year.

As a payroll specialist, I implemented a new payroll and tax accounting system that saved the company over $1,000,000 in personnel costs over a 10 year period.

As a project manager, I identified areas of bottleneck in the hiring process and spearheaded a taskforce to implement new technologies and strategies to overcome the issues. This resulted in a 12% faster hire to start timeline

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Goldman Sachs Jobs

Learn more about goldman sachs jobs.

How to get a job at Goldman Sachs

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What is the dress code at Goldman Sachs?

• Zippia Answers
• How Do You Write A Cover Letter For A Job At Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs Cover Letter: 4 Templates and Emails

If you are planning to apply for a job position at a prestigious company like Goldman Sachs, you will definitely have to make your application cover letter attractive. We are here with some letter samples that sill surely help you if you need. Just make sure to insert the required personal details at the right places.

Letter Template: 1

Table of Contents

Goldman Sachs Cover Letter

[ Mention the date]

[ Mention the name of the hiring manager]

[Mention the name of the company]

[Mention an appropriate address of the company]

Dear Sir/Ma’am,

I saw at Goldman Sachs site that your company is looking for [ mention the post ]  and I read the job description by which I believe that I am suitable for this role and can do this properly.

I am well trained in this field and have an experience of [ mention the years] by which my skills are proper for this role. As I have a friendly and positive nature, I can work in a team as well as in  an individual. Apart from this I can manage time well, have good communication, have leadership qualities and can learn new things in a faster way.

I always wanted to do something big in this field and I would be really grateful if I get a chance to work in such a big company as Goldman Sachs. This job is good for my development and will help me to learn new things about this field.

I will apply my theoretical knowledge to get my work done in a proper way and in the given time. I hope you will not get dissatisfied with my work and the techniques that I will be using if I get selected for this post at Goldman Sachs Company.

I have attached one copy of my resume and the other documents. This will really help you to get an idea about my skills and experience gained from my training period. Hope you will contact me soon to discuss the role in detail. You can contact me for the further procedures at your own convenience. Thank you for your time. Have a good day.

With regards,[ mention the name of the sender]

[Mention the address of the sender]

[Mention the contact details of the sender]

Download Template : ( pdf, docs, ODT, RTF, txt, HTML, Epub, Etc )

Letter Template: 2

[Mention the name of the hiring manager]

[Mention the address of the company]

With due respect, I [ mention your name] want to state that I am interested in working at Goldman Sachs for the post of [ mention the post]. I saw the job description on the company’s site and after reading it I find myself suitable for this position at Goldman Sachs Company.

As my qualifications are proper for this post and in addition to this, as I have been interested in this field from childhood, I did training from [ mention the name of the institution] for [ mention the years] where I learned different and new things about this field and also worked in a company called [ mention the name of the company] for [ mention the years] to apply my theoretical knowledge to gain some experience in this field which will make me perfect for this job role in a big company like Goldman Sachs.

I have different abilities I am goal-oriented, work in teams, and have good management qualities by which I am confident to do this job in the correct way and complete my tasks in the given time.

In this letter, there’s one copy of my resume and other important documents which will make you believe that I am suitable for this job and perform well in this field.  Hope that I will be receiving a call from you very soon to discuss the role in detail. There will be no issues if you contact me at your own convenience. Have a great day ahead.

With regards, [ mention the name of the sender]

Letter Template: 3

[Give a proper address of the company]

Recently, I saw that Goldman Sachs Company is searching for [ mention the post]  at [ mention the site] . After reading the job description and requirements you are searching for in a candidate, I got really excited and want to apply for this post in your company.

As I have a degree in this field from [ mention the name of the institution] and did my training at [ mention the name of the city] from [mention the name of the institution] so I believe that I will be able to perform this role properly.

I was searching for this type of job for a long time in which I can really do well, finally, I got this opportunity. I have skills like I am a hard worker as well as a smart worker, goal-oriented, can do work under tremendous pressure and adaptable.

It would be really good if I get selected for this job on the basis of my experience and knowledge. I have always worked hard in this field as I was interested in this field from childhood and really want to get a job related to this field. You will not be disheartened by giving me a chance to work for your company.

One copy of my resume and other necessary documents are attached to this letter. You can judge my abilities after seeing them. Hope we will be discussing the role soon and the other factors. You can contact me at your own convenience. Hope to receive an offer letter from your company very soon. Have a nice day ahead.

Letter Template: 4

[Mention the date]

With due respect, I am writing this letter to show my interest in the post of [ mention the post] at Goldman Sachs Company. According to the job description and requirements mentioned in the company’s site, I am really grateful to know that I am suitable for this position.

According to the requirements, a candidate must have a master’s degree certificate in [ mention a particular course] and have skills like good communication, leadership qualities, can multitask, dealing with the customers, fluency in all the languages, and must have a positive attitude, it is good to know that I consist of the skills required for this post at Goldman Sachs Company.

In addition to this, I did my training in this field from [ mention the name of the institution] for [ mention the years] and after my training period was over, I worked at [ mention the name of the company] as a[ mention the post] to gain my experience by applying my theoretical knowledge.

I have work experience of [ mention the years] related to this field as I was interested in this field from a very young age, and since then I have worked on it. I assure you that you will not face any failures if you give me this amazing opportunity to work for Goldman Sachs as a [ mention the post]. You will be amazed by my work and will not get disheartened. I assure you to increase the company’s sales by my skills, experience, and new techniques. 

There’s one copy of my resume as well as my other necessary documents for this job, it will help you to believe in my skills and experience. You can contact me anytime regarding the post at Goldman Sachs Company. Hope to discuss this role in detail and work for a Big company like Goldman Sachs. My contact details are mentioned below through which you can contact me regarding this position. It would be great if you consider me for this job role at your company. Thank you so much for your time. Have a wonderful day ahead.

[ Mention the address of the sender]

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Goldman Sachs Cover Letter Review

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Currently writing a GS cover letter and would be very grateful if anyone would care to give it a read through and give me any feedback. Have little knowledge/experience of cover letters so this is my first attempt.

Note: The lack of formatting (i.e. address, formal setting etc) is due to the fact that GS want it to be submitted into the application form, so not a word doc.

Main point: you have to mention the position are applying to. Good spin of History major but I would add all the analytical experience you have to make the story more interesting.

Thanks for the reply.

Just to mention summer analyst enough? No need to go into 'individual' responsibilities? For example common knowledge that interns do the bitch work... Best to leave that out?

I am also a qualified ski instructor - I was thinking of adding that in saying it showed me how to analyse individual client needs and assess when a change of plan is needed, i.e. clients aren't progressing

"XXXXX, an analyst in the Goldman Sachs XXXX office, recommended that I apply to the [job title] position. He advocated the Goldman Sachs emphasis on the individual and said my History degree would be an asset..."

I think this would be a better way to approach it. Currently your first sentence is too negative and instantly creates a bad tone.

Also if you are applying to a job in the US, which is what I assume, we spell "analyse" as "analyze".

Hi everyone,

was just wondering, does GS still strictly demand a 300-word cover letter? Or have they laxed up on the rules now

Did you get the role?

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Goldman Sachs resume example

Are you hoping to secure a job with one of the world’s largest financial institutions, Goldman Sachs?

Unfortunately, landing a role there is notoriously difficult as the competition is fierce. So you need a seriously impressive resume if you want to stand out from the crowd.

The good news is, we can teach you how to effectively showcase your skills and experience with our step-by-step writing guide and Goldman Sachs resume example below.

Resume templates 

Goldman Sachs Resume Example

This Goldman Sachs resume example shows you the most effective layout for a resume in today’s job market, along with the type of content you need to include.

Stick closely to these guidelines as you write your own resume, to boost your chances of getting lots of responses, interviews and job offers.

Now lets dive into the details of how you write your own eye-catching resume…

Goldman Sachs resume layout and format

Formatting and structuring your resume correctly is key to landing job interviews.

Your resume needs to look attractive, but more importantly it needs to be easy for recruiters and hiring managers to read and digest the information.

These tips will help you to do that:

Formatting your resume

• Length: To ensure that your resume gets proper attention from recruiters, it is best to keep it at 2 pages or less. Recruiters are often inundated with hundreds of resumes to review on a daily basis, so they want to read each one quickly as possible.
• Font & readability : To create a resume that is easily digestible for hiring managers, it’s essential to use an uncomplicated font and structure your content with bullet points and short paragraphs.
• Layout & Structure: Your resume’s design must strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality. Using bold headings and borders to organize the page into clear sections is an effective way to achieve both.
• Photos: You don’t have to add a photo to your resume in the States, but some regions and industries like to see them.

Quick tip: Achieving a professional look for your resume can be difficult and time-consuming. If you want to create an attractive resume quickly, try our quick-and-easy Resume Builder and use one of their eye-catching resume templates.

Resume layout

Divide the page into these sections when you write your own resume .

• Name and contact details – Simply state who you are, and how to get in touch with you.
• Resume summary – An introductory paragraph at the very top of your resume which summarizes your skills, experience and suitability for your target jobs.
• Core skills section – A bullet-pointed list of your skills that relate most to your target jobs.
• Work experience – A list of your current and previous jobs, including all of your responsibilities and achievements.
• Education – A section that showcases all of your education and academic achievements.
• Additional info (optional) – Here you can add an extra section for things like hobbies and interests, or anything else that might be relevant to your target jobs.

Here’s what to include in each part of your resume.

Contact Details

Add your name and contact details to the very top of your resume, making it easy for recruiters to get in touch

• Name and profession title
• Cell phone number – or another number you can answer quickly
• Location – Add your local area such as San Diego or New York – not your full address as that will take up too much space.
• Email address – Use your name or close variation – no nicknames from high school.

You can add a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one – you do not need to include personal details like date of birth or marital status.

Goldman Sachs Resume Summary

Create a strong opening for your resume by adding a compelling summary to the top that highlights your most valuable skills and experience.

This short but important paragraph is designed convince recruiters that you’re the perfect candidate for the job and entice them to read more of your resume.

How to create a resume summary that will excite recruiters:

• Keep it short: To effectively capture a recruiter’s attention, it’s crucial to keep your resume summary brief and to the point, limiting it to 4-7 lines as this provides enough detail without overwhelming them at this early stage.
• Tailor to target jobs: To tailor your resume to your target jobs, it’s essential to closely analyze the job description and include as many relevant skills as possible.
• Avoid using cliches: Although you may believe that you’re a “ team player who always gives 110%, ” these kinds of cliches don’t communicate much about your skills and qualifications to potential employers. It’s more effective to stick to factual information in your resume.

Goldman Sachs resume summary example

What to include in your goldman sachs resume summary.

• Summary of your experience: What type of organizations have you worked at? What types of roles have you done and what have you contributed to previous employers?
• Relevant skills: Skills that are highly relevant to roles working at Goldman Sachs should be made prominent throughout your summary.
• Qualifications: Showcase your level of education with a quick mention of any qualifications that are essential for the role at Goldman Sachs you are applying to.

Quick tip: Choose from hundreds of pre-written summaries across all industries, and add one to your resume with one-click in our quick-and-easy Resume Builder . All written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset and style.

Core skills section

Your core skills section, positioned just below your resume summary, provides recruiters with a quick glance at 4-10 of your most in-demand skills.

For Goldman Sachs jobs, where hiring managers may receive hundreds of applications, this section can help you stand out and immediately grab their attention.

To be effective, this section should consist of 2-3 columns of bullet points that highlight attributes that are highly relevant to the jobs you are targeting.

Best skills for your Goldman Sachs resume

Financial Analysis – Conducting in-depth financial analysis, including financial statement analysis, valuation techniques, and financial modeling, to make informed investment decisions.

Risk Management – Utilizing knowledge of risk management principles and practices, including risk assessment, mitigation strategies, and regulatory compliance, to ensure the integrity and stability of investment portfolios.

Investment Banking – Utilizing knowledge of investment banking functions, such as mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and financial advisory services, to support clients in strategic financial transactions.

Asset Management – Managing investment portfolios, including asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and performance evaluation, to achieve client investment objectives.

Market Research – Conducting thorough market research, analyzing market trends, and assessing industry dynamics to identify investment opportunities and provide valuable insights to clients.

Financial Regulation – Utilizing knowledge of financial regulations and compliance requirements, including SEC regulations and industry best practices, to ensure adherence to legal and regulatory frameworks.

Quantitative Analysis – Utilizing quantitative analysis techniques, statistical modeling, and data interpretation to support investment decisions and risk management strategies.

Portfolio Management – Developing and implementing effective portfolio management strategies, including diversification, asset allocation, and risk management, to optimize investment returns.

Financial Reporting – Preparing financial reports, including quarterly and annual financial statements, regulatory filings, and investor presentations, to communicate financial performance effectively.

Quick tip: Our quick-and-easy Resume Builder contains thousands of in-demand skills for every profession that can be added to your resume in seconds – saving you time and greatly improving your chances of landing job interviews and getting hired.

Work experience

Once you’ve got recruiters interested with your impactful summary, your work experience is where the real detail will lie.

Lay out your previous jobs from current to oldest, detailing what you contributed and achieved in each one.

If you’re highly experienced you can cut this section down to your most recent few years of work, but if you are junior you can bulk this up with voluntary work and college placements.

Structuring your jobs

It’s easy to overwhelm readers when writing about a job you have been doing for years or even months.

Break the information up like this to keep it simple for recruiters to understand.

Job outline

Kick off each role with a high-level overview to summarize the focus of the job, what the organization/department does, and how you fit into the bigger picture.

Key responsibilities

List your notable responsibilities in short sharp bullet points to demonstrate your input and how you contributed to the organization’s success.

Highlight the skills that are most important to the roles you are applying for.

Key achievements

Round off each job by adding some impressive achievements you made in the role.

Anything you’ve done that has made a big impact on your employer will make a good impression, think; generating revenue, saving costs, or improving a product.

Quantify your achievements with number where possible e.g. “reduced call wait time by 10%”

Example job for Goldman Sachs resume

Conduct research and advise clients on investment opportunities for leading global investment banking firm, Goldman Sachs, managing a portfolio of over 50 clients with a total transactional asset value of $800 million per annum.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain an in-depth understanding of how various areas of the organization work and the financial services industry to optimize business growth
• Assist senior bankers in the preparation of pitch books and marketing materials
• Create investment mandates for discretionary accounts
• Ensure adherence to client Investment Objective Settings (IOS)

Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our quick-and-easy Resume Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.

Education section

Near the end of your resume add your education section.

Experienced candidates should keep it brief and focus on professional qualifications – and junior candidates can include high school diplomas, college degrees etc.

Additional information

At the end of your resume, you can add any extra information that might be relevant to the jobs you are applying for.

This could be hobbies, interests, publications, clubs or memberships.

This section is optional and doesn’t need to be added if you have nothing more relevant to add.

Writing your own winning Goldman Sachs resume

A winning Goldman Sachs resume should look great, read well, and sell your skillset to hiring managers.

If you follow the steps above, you should be able to bag yourself a top job in no time.

Good luck with your job search!

Sample cover letter for Internship position at Goldman sachs

Summer analyst.

My name is [Your Name] and I am currently [a Year in School and Major / Business School Student at [School Name]] / [Working at Company Name in Division Name]. I was recently introduced to your firm via [Friend / Contact at Firm / Presentation] and was impressed with what I learned of [Your Culture / Working Environment / Bank-Specific Info.]. I am interested in pursuing an [Investment Banking Analyst / Associate] position at your firm, and have enclosed my resume and background information below.

I have previously [Completed Internships In… / Worked Full-Time In…]. Through this experience [Working on Transactions / Leading Teams and Managing Projects / Performing Quantitative Analysis], I have gained [Go Into Anything Relevant to Banking, Such As Analytical / Leadership / Teamwork / Finance / Accounting] skills and honed my [Any Other Relevant Skills]. I also had the opportunity to work on [High-Impact Project], which [Describe Results].

Given my background in [Summarize Internships / Work Experience] and my [Summarize Skills] skills, I am a particularly good fit for the [Position Name] position at your firm. I am impressed by your track record of [Transactions / Clients] at [Firm Name] and the significant responsibilities given to [Position Name], and I look forward to joining and contributing to your firm.

A copy of my resume is enclosed for your reference. I would welcome an opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you and learn more about [Firm Name] at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at [Phone Number] or via email at [Email Address]. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

The Goldman Sachs resume template, by Goldman Sachs recruiters

It's not easy to get into Goldman Sachs. Last year, 236,000 people applied for 3,000 places on the Goldman Sachs  summer analyst program . Acceptance is contingent on submission of a CV ; only if that CV is any good will you progress through the GS recruitment process. 

But what does a good Goldman resume look like? Fortuitously, we are now in a position to tell you, because Goldman's recruiters have released a template of a generic CV that they really like.

The overall layout looks like this (yes, we know it's blurry, stay with us):

The perfect Goldman Sachs resume

And the content looks like this:

What makes this CV so special? Goldman's recruiters have a few rules. 

Speaking during yesterday's advice session for Goldman's 'career pivot' program,  Sumeya Ibrahim, a diversity recruiter for engineering and firmwide strategy in EMEA, said good CVs need to be "consistently structured" with a consistent font. 

Goldman Sachs recruiters like bullet points  ❤️

If you want a job at Goldman, put some bullet points in your CV.

The resume above is good because recruiters can see " very quickly see how this individual has benefited the firms they have worked for," said  Ibrahim. 

The bullet points describe the actions the individual took at their employers, said Alex Thompson, a recruiter who hires experienced engineers and strats for Goldman. "Quantify your achievements," said Thompson. "Make sure you are putting your achievements in there with the key results." You need to show what you have actually delivered in your roles. 

Goldman Sachs recruiters like tailored CVs ✂️

It's not good just sending the same old CV for every job you apply to, though. You need to adapt your CV for each role you go after. 

Tailoring your CV is "absolutely fundamental," said Thompson. "P ut yourself in the shoes of the person hiring for the role," said Thompson. Think about what's important to them when they're making decisions. "You can see when individuals do that, and it really does jump out."

Don't include your entire work history from the moment you reached adulthood  👶

If you've been working for 20 years, the fact that you started your career running a fax machine in 2002 isn't important.

It's your most recent and most relevant experience that the firm is interested in, said  Ibrahim. " What hiring manager wants to see is where you are now and what got you there," she added. 

The CV above is one page. There's no room for irrelevant detail.

Goldman Sachs recruiters like reading cover letters  📖

Should you write a cover letter to go with your Goldman Sachs application? Apparently so. 

"We always read cover letters at Goldman Sachs," said Ibrahim "Hiring managers love cover letters, they set you apart," she added.

What should go into this cover letter? You need to explain why you're applying for the job, why you're suitable for the job, to draw out two or three specific examples from your CV that back this up and to bring it back to your relevance, said Ibrahim. If you've done any networking with people in the firm, you can also mention it here.

Can you use ChatGPT to write your Goldman Sachs cover letter , though? Ibrahim didn't say. 

Click here to create a profile on eFinancialCareers. Make yourself visible to recruiters hiring for top jobs in technology and finance. 

Have a confidential story, tip, or comment you’d like to share? Contact:  [email protected]  in the first instance. Whatsapp/Signal/Telegram also available (Telegram: @SarahButcher)

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7 Spring Cleaning Moves for Your Finances

Here’s how to get your financial house in order.

Donna Fuscaldo,

Forget cleaning out the closet, scrubbing the floors and washing the windows . The start of spring is an even better time to get your finances in order.  

“One thing on many people’s minds is cleaning. But what if you put that cleaning energy to your financial house?” says consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch.  “Considering consumer credit card debt has reached a new record high of $1.13 trillion, it’s a good time to focus on refreshing your spending and saving habits.“ That’s particularly true of people nearing or entering retirement. Half of retirees live on less than 50 percent of their preretirement income, according to research from Goldman Sachs Asset Management. And 40 percent of older adults rely on Social Security alone, which averages $1,657 a month, the National Council on Aging reports.

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Whether you’re on a fixed income , have cash in the bank or are still working, a financial spring cleaning can help you save money, reset your priorities and get you closer to your short- and long-term goals.

1. Spruce up your budget

Taxes are due, vacation planning is underway and the end of the year is in your sights. That makes springtime a great season to give your budget an overhaul .

“First and foremost, it’s a good time of year to take a fresh look at your budget and see how you’ve been doing during the first quarter,” says Emily Irwin, head of advice relations at Wells Fargo Bank. “Do you need to make any adjustments based on the economy?”  Assessing your budget means taking a realistic and detailed look at your spending patterns and identifying areas to cut expenses.

If you need help creating a budget, there are free resources available to older adults, including AARP’s Money Map digital tool which helps you create a budget; The National Foundation for Credit Counseling, which offers free access to NFCC Certified Counselors; and the Federal Trade Commission’s website , which has a budget sheet as well as free educational material covering different money matters.

2. Tackle your debt

The days of being flush with cash during the pandemic are long over. Thanks in part to inflation, many consumers rely on credit cards to cover spending shortfalls. That’s true of the nearly 3 in 4 Americans 50 and over who carry some form of debt, according to AARP’s Debt Survey. It also found 61 percent of the close to 7,400 surveyed who carry debt feel that their level of debt is a problem, including 16 percent who say it is a major problem.

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To get out of a hole, experts say to throw any windfalls, such as a tax refund, to the debt. Also, try to pay more than the minimum whenever possible. Money experts say to tackle the highest interest rate debt first, but if you need a quick psychological win, paying off the one with a smaller balance may be the better option. “Know yourself a little bit to keep the path moving forward,” says Irwin.

If you can’t throw extra money at your credit debt, try negotiating your interest rate with the credit card provider. All it takes is a phone call, says Woroch. A recent Lending Tree study found that among credit cardholders who requested a lower interest rate, 76 percent got it.

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Another option is to move your current debt to a card that offers a zero percent balance transfer. The longer the payback the better. Make sure you aren’t getting hit with a lot of fees that won’t make it worthwhile.

3. Tweak your taxes

If you were hit with a big tax bill or received a paltry refund this tax season, it may be a good time to check your tax status, says Irwin. You want to fix it now so you aren’t in for any shocks next year.

“Did you withhold too much?,” says Irwin. “If so, adjust it.... Did you withhold less  and now you are in a position where you owe money?”

If you want to adjust your W-4 filing status, you can complete this form and submit it to your employer. If you want to change the withholding from a pension, annuity or IRA, use this form .

If you need help with your taxes, AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program provides free advice to over 78 million taxpayers, with a focus on older adults with low to moderate income.

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4. Check for hidden fees 

From account maintenance to overdraft protection bank fees can add up. To ensure you aren’t on the hook for unexpected expenses , do a deep dive of your accounts. Look at the monthly and annual fees, the annual percentage rate and any other costs the financial institution may tack on.  If you spot any hidden fees, ask your bank to waive them or see if they offer a no-fee checking account. If not, Woroch suggests shopping around for a better deal.  “There are a variety of no-fee debit cards that provide free overdraft protection and free withdrawals,” says Woroch. Moving your savings also makes sense if you can get a better rate at a different financial institution, she says. The average annual percentage yield was 4.5 percent or more in March. Don’t forget to review your investment accounts. Fees are listed in quarterly statements. Irwin says it’s up to you to understand how they are being charged. If you are uncertain, speak up. Make sure you are getting what you pay for, she says.

Look beyond banking and investments

Don’t forget to review your home, auto and life insurance policies to tidy up. That’s particularly important for car insurance, where premium rate hikes are up by double digits since the start of the year.  “It’s so common to set it and forget it,” says Irwin. Look at your coverage, your deductible and your premiums and then shop around. There may be something better out there that can save you money or give you more coverage. 

5. Flush your points

Now is the time to take stock and see if you have accumulated credit card reward points that have gone unused.

You never know – it may be enough to pay for a trip. Even if you aren’t traveling, those points can be redeemed for cash, a statement balance, a gift card or a host of other rewards.  “This time of year I’m looking at my credit card points and my hotel points and thinking about what travel I’m going to do next year and how I can use these points to decrease out-of-pocket costs,” says Irwin.

6. Scrub your spending

If you are a shopper who can’t resist a sale, there are ways to scrub your bad spending habits and save. Out of sight out of mind is one, especially if you are prone to overspending online. Unsubscribe to your favorite store newsletters, delete retailer apps and avoid malls where you may be tempted to drop in on a favorite store, Woroch says. When it comes to the everyday items you have to buy, Woroch says to shop savvy: look for deals, use coupons, take advantage of cash-back tools and consider purchasing used items when it makes sense..

7. Trash your old paperwork

Take the time to get rid of old documents. It’s an easy way to get organized and prepare for a fresh start. But take care to hold on to real estate records for as long as you own your property and keep most tax records for up to three years from filing, Woroch says. When you do dispose of financial records, make sure to shred bank and credit card statements and anything with identifying information such as your Social Security number. Identity theft and financial fraud impacts millions of older adults per year and some of it stems from what fraudsters find in the mailbox and garbage. To put it in perspective, in 2022 412 US letter carriers were robbed and there were 38,500 reports of incidents involving mailboxes and mail theft.  “Anything that has your Social Security number, your date of birth or account number should be shredded ,” says Irwin.  “Shredding is super necessary to protect from fraud and ID theft.”

Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including The   Wall Street Journal ,   Forbes ,   Investopedia and HerMoney .

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The Evening

Trump’s criminal trial begins with a bumpy jury selection.

Also, Israel weighs retaliation against Iran. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.

By Matthew Cullen

New York prosecutors joined Donald Trump and his attorneys today in a Manhattan courtroom for the official start of the first criminal trial of an American president . Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal during his 2016 campaign. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison.

After the judge overseeing the case rejected Trump’s latest effort to oust him, the prosecution and the defense began collaborating on the arduous process of choosing a jury. Immediately, they ran into problems.

More than half of the first pool of 96 prospective jurors was dismissed after they indicated they did not believe they could be impartial, and court adjourned for the day with zero jurors chosen. My colleague Alan Feuer noted that such a high initial failure rate is “surpassingly rare,” underscoring the challenges of seating an impartial jury for a defendant whom much of the country has already made its mind up about. Here’s an explanation of the jurors both sides want.

The trial — perhaps the only one against Trump that will unfold before Election Day — is projected to take about six weeks, the judge told the prospective jurors. But it could stretch out longer if jury selection turns out to be especially time consuming. The process will be crucial for both sides, but could be especially challenging for the defense, who will effectively be searching for red needles in Manhattan’s giant blue haystack.

“The defense will be looking for working class voters, people that work in city jobs, perhaps firefighters, police, sanitation workers,” my colleague Jesse McKinley, who is writing our Trump on Trial newsletter , said.

Israel’s war cabinet met to weigh a response to Iran

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is facing conflicting pressures as he considers whether and how to retaliate against Iran for its missile and drone attack over the weekend. Some far-right members of his government have called for an immediate military response, while many international leaders, including President Biden, have urged Israel to de-escalate.

Netanyahu’s war cabinet met again today, but so far there has been no response to the attack. And rather than preparing the public for a showdown with its archrival, the government signaled a return to relative normalcy, lifting restrictions on large gatherings and allowing schools to reopen. Here’s the latest .

For more: Our national security correspondent David Sanger explained why it has become more difficult to contain Iran over the last several years .

Scientists warned of the widest-ever threat to coral

Record ocean temperatures have put so much stress on the world’s coral reefs that they are losing their vital algae — a process referred to as bleaching — on an unprecedented scale. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projected that the current crisis would within weeks become the most extensive bleaching event on record .

A NOAA official said that more than 54 percent of the world’s coral area has experienced bleaching-level heat stress in the past year, and that figure is increasing by about 1 percent per week.

Congress is targeting a Chinese firm that makes key U.S. drugs

WuXi AppTec is among the Chinese drug companies that lawmakers have identified as a potential threat to the security of Americans’ genetic information and U.S. intellectual property. But the company develops and produces crucial therapies for cancer, cystic fibrosis, H.I.V. and other illnesses.

As Congress considers legislation to push U.S. companies away from doing business with firms like WuXi, drug executives have warned that removing the company from the American market could also take some drugs out of the pipeline for years.

More top news

Tesla: Turmoil continued at the electric car company as it announced that it would lay off 10 percent of its work force .

Business: Goldman Sachs earned nearly $4 billion in profit in the first quarter — around $1 billion more than analysts expected .

New York: Lawmakers reached a deal on a framework to address one of the worst housing crises in the nation .

Markets: Shares of Trump Media fell 18 percent today, and are down more than 50 percent since its first days of trading .

Film: The armorer who loaded the gun before a fatal shooting on the “Rust” set was sentenced to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter.

Police: Two officers were killed in a shootout near Syracuse, New York.

Music: Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” is at No. 1 for a second week , a feat the artist last managed 11 years ago.

Nature: Fish off the Florida Keys started swimming upside down, spinning and dying. Scientists are racing to figure out why.

Boston Marathon: Hellen Obiri claimed her second straight women’s title , while Sisay Lemma won the men’s race with the 10th fastest time in the event’s history.

TIME TO UNWIND

A landmark art career outside the establishment.

Faith Ringgold, who died on Saturday at 93 , was most famous for her narrative quilts depicting the joys and rigors of Black lives. But she was an expert at mixing the personal and political across a number of mediums, including sculpture, painting and writing.

But major museums, auction houses and galleries never quite knew what to do with her art, so they mostly ignored it . This was a consequence, she often said, of her race, her sex and her uncompromising focus on art as a vehicle for social justice. It wasn’t until very recently, when Ringgold was approaching 90, that MoMA finally acquired some of her works. The museum paired one alongside a Picasso.

Do clearer images make movies better?

Film restorers are taking advantage of rapidly improving artificial intelligence tools to sharpen decades-old movies. Recently, several of James Cameron’s films, including “True Lies” and “Aliens,” were upgraded with machine-learning technology that makes water appear crystalline and colors look bright and vivid.

Some critics strongly dislike the results . The lack of imperfections delivers an uncanny feeling for some viewers, while others are more broadly skeptical of the suggestion that A.I. could improve on human art.

For more, our tech columnist explained why we struggle to explain how smart A.I. tools are .

Dinner table topics

A pricey symbol of love: A dozen red roses may be timeless, but the price isn’t. Here’s why a New York City bouquet now costs $72 .

An ageless sip: There’s a new straw that doesn’t cause facial wrinkles , yet another solution to a problem we didn’t know we had. (And still might not).

A new classic: Gen Z wanted a co-op version of Scrabble, and Mattel obliged. Some fans of the original aren’t happy.

A win in the second half: Dating after 50 can be miserable. But there’s liberation there too, and unexpected pleasure.

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

Cook: This one-pot pasta dish combines the crisp salt of prosciutto with the bright pop of green peas.

Watch: The W.N.B.A. draft airs tonight on ESPN. Here’s what else is on TV this week .

Dine: Here are the 25 best restaurants in Boston right now.

Clean: Get organized quickly with decluttering sprints lasting 30 minutes or less.

Travel: Planning to bring your pet onto the plane? Here’s how different airlines handle that.

Repel: We’d like to tell you about a secret weapon in the war against ticks.

Compete: Take this week’s Flashback history quiz .

Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee , Wordle and Mini Crossword . Find all of our games here .

ONE LAST THING

A handmade video game.

For more than a decade, Onat Hekimoglu had wanted to make a video game about a hapless janitor stuck in an undersea city. But he had no digital design experience. So he made Harold Halibut almost entirely by hand .

Nearly everything onscreen was made of physical materials like cardboard and clay, including the characters, with costumes sewn from real textiles, then 3-D scanned so they could be animated digitally.

Have a skillful evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew

We welcome your feedback. Write to us at [email protected] .