Best Personal Finance Tools To Help You Reach 6 Money Goals In 2026
If you set a financial resolution for 2025 and didn’t quite meet it, don’t be discouraged. Nearly 75% of Americans fell short of their saving and spending goals this year, yet 82% remain optimistic that 2026 will be their year for a “resolution rebound,” according to a Vanguard report. To help you get there, we’ve rounded up the products you need to tackle every financial goal on your list.
Boost your emergency fund
A high-yield savings account is a great option for emergency savings because it offers higher interest rates than a traditional savings account while still keeping your money accessible.
Manage your spending
Tracking your spending is key to taking control of your finances. It helps you spot any charges you don’t recognize or catch ongoing payments you might have forgotten about, like unwanted subscriptions. While you can create a spreadsheet to do this, budgeting apps make it easier by automatically categorizing your expenses and alerting you to anything unusual so that you can stay on top of your money without extra effort.
For $8.33 per month, or $99.99 annually, Monarch offers a clean interface with a range of features for tracking expenses, setting budgets and visualizing your overall financial health all in one place. PocketGuard also helps you find extra money to save by showing how much money you have “in your pocket” after bills and other necessities. It comes with either a $12.99 monthly charge, $74.99 annually or a lifetime membership at a reduced rate. Both apps sync securely with your accounts, making your budgeting experience effortless and actionable.
Monarch
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Cost
$8.33/month (billed $99.99 annually); $14.99/month (billed monthly) – get 50% off your first year with code CNBC50
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Free trial
7-day free trial is available before subscribing
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Standout features
Net worth tracker, investment portfolio tracking, goal creation and progress tracking, budgeting and expense tracking
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Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can modify
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Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards, as well as IRAs, 401(k)s, mortgages and loans
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Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android); web version also offered
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Security features
Utilizes industry-leading security practices, according to Monarch’s website
Pros
- Easy-to-navigate money-tracking dashboard, including a net-worth tracker
- Easily syncs to your bank, credit cards and other financial accounts
- Users can add collaborators for free
- Seven-day free trial
Cons
- Subscription is pricier than competitors
- Recommendations in the “advice” tab are generic
PocketGuard
Information about PocketGuard has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by PocketGuard prior to publication.
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Cost
Basic PocketGuard plan is free, while PocketGuard Premium subscription is $12.99 per month or $74.99 annually. Lifetime membership offer available at a reduced rate.
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Standout features
In My Pocket feature uses your income, recurring expenses and savings goals to determine how much you have for everyday spending.
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Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can customize
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Links to accounts
Yes, users can connect accounts through Plaid and Finicity to import data automatically or manually add cash accounts for tracking
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Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
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Security features
PocketGuard utilizes bank-level encryption, PINs and biometrics like Touch ID and Face ID
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Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Pros
- Includes bill payment tracker and bill negotiation service
- Lifetime membership option offers additional savings
- A+ from Better Business Bureau
Cons
- Basic free plan only allows two budget categories
- Transactions may be categorized incorrectly
Pay off high-interest debt
High-interest debt, especially from credit cards, can quickly spiral out of control and make it difficult to move forward with your financial goals. The longer you carry balances with high rates, the more you pay in interest and it traps you in a cycle of debt. Two popular strategies to manage and reduce high-interest debt are balance transfer credit cards and debt consolidation loans but they serve different needs.
Balance transfer credit cards
A balance transfer credit card lets you move your existing credit card debt onto a new card with a low or 0% introductory interest rate for a set period, usually between 12 to 21 months. This can save you money on interest if you pay off the balance before the promotional period ends.
The Citi Simplicity® Card has a generous intro APR period for balance transfers (nearly two years) and a lower balance transfer fee than other options.
The Citi Simplicity® Card may not earn rewards, but it can still save you money due to its amazing intro-APR offers.
- One of the longest intro-APR offers for balance transfers
- No annual fee
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
Debt consolidation loans
A debt consolidation loan is a personal loan used to pay off multiple debts at once and combine them into a single monthly payment, often with a lower interest rate than your credit cards. This option is ideal if you have $5,000 or more in debt or multiple balances and want the predictability of fixed payments over time.
If you have a low credit score, Avant is accessible to a wide range of borrowers, requiring only a 550 FICO score. Loan amounts range from $2,000 to $35,000, with terms between 24 and 60 months. Plus, you can get approved within minutes.
Avant Personal Loans
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Annual percentage rate (APR)
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Loan amounts
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Terms
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Credit needed
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Origination fee
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Early payoff penalty
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Late fee
Up to $25 after a 10-day grace period
Click here to see if you prequalify for a personal loan offer. Terms apply.
Pros
- Lends to applicants with poor credit
- No early payoff fee
- Can prequalify with a soft credit check
- Funding often available next day
- Late-payment grace period of 10 days
Cons
- Origination fee
- Potentially high interest
- No autopay discount
- No direct payments to creditors for debt consolidation
- No co-signers
Raise your credit score
A higher credit score can unlock better loan rates, credit card offers and even improve your chances when renting an apartment. While good credit habits like paying bills on time and keeping credit utilization low help build your score, so can products like Experian Boost.
Experian Boost is free to use and can instantly raise your credit score. The tool simply scans your bank account for on-time payments on things like your cell phone bill, utilities, subscriptions, rent and insurance, and adds those to your Experian credit report.
Experian Boost®
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Cost
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Average credit score increase
13 points, though results vary
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Credit report affected
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Credit scoring model used
Results will vary. See website for details.
Contribute more to retirement
If you’re already contributing to a 401(k), that’s a great start — especially if you’re contributing enough to get your employer’s full match. Employer matches are essentially free money that can significantly boost your retirement savings. Another way to maximize your retirement savings is by opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
There are two main types: Traditional and Roth IRAs, and they work differently depending on your current and future tax situation. Brokerages like Charles Schwab and Fidelity are both excellent options for opening an IRA.
Charles Schwab
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Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No account minimum for active investing through Schwab One® Brokerage Account. Automated investing through Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® requires a $5,000 minimum deposit
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Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Schwab One® Brokerage Account has no account fees, $0 commission fees for stock and ETF trades, $0 transaction fees for over 4,000 mutual funds and a $0.65 fee per options contract
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Bonus
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Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium™ IRA: Charles Schwab Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Inherited and Custodial IRAs; plus, a Personal Choice Retirement Account® (PCRA) Brokerage and trading: Schwab One® Brokerage Account, Brokerage Account + Specialized Platforms and Support for Trading, Schwab Global Account™, Schwab Organization Account and Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade™
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Investment options
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs and ETFs
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Educational resources
Extensive retirement planning tools
Pros
- $0 minimum deposit for active investing
- No commission fees for stock and ETF trades and no transaction fees for over 4,000 mutual funds
- Offers extensive retirement planning tools
- Users can get on-demand advice from a professional advisor/Schwab expert
- Robo-advisor Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® available as a no-fee automated service option (with Premium version available for a fee)
- Award-winning thinkorswim® trading platforms and all their cutting-edge tools are now available at Schwab.
- 24/7 customer support access by phone or chat
- Charles Schwab offers over 300 brick-and-mortar branches across the U.S. for in-person support
Cons
- Specific transactions may require commission fee
- Robo-advisor Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium charges a one-time planning fee of $300, then a $30 per month advisory fee. For that price, you get unlimited 1:1 guidance from a CFP, interactive planning tools, plus a personalized roadmap for reaching your goals
Fidelity Investments
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Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum to open a Fidelity Go® account, but minimum $10 balance for robo-advisor to start investing
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Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Zero commission fees for stock, ETF, options trades and some mutual funds; zero transaction fees for over 3,400 mutual funds; $0.65 per options contract. Fidelity Go® has no advisory fees for balances under $25,000 (0.35% per year for balances of $25,000 and over and this includes access to unlimited 1-on-1 coaching calls from a Fidelity advisor)
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Bonus
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Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: Fidelity Go® IRA: Traditional, Roth and Rollover IRAs Brokerage and trading: Fidelity Investments Trading Other: Fidelity Investments 529 College Savings; Fidelity HSA®
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Investment options
Stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, CDs, options and fractional shares
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Educational resources
Extensive tools and industry-leading, in-depth research from 20-plus independent providers
Pros
- No commission fees for stock, ETF, options trades
- No transaction fees for over 3,400 mutual funds
- Limited-time special offers
- Abundant educational tools and resources
- 24/7 customer service
- Over 100 brick-and-mortar branches across the U.S. for face-to-face support
Cons
- Fidelity Go® has a 0.35% advisory fee per year for balances of $25,000 and over
- Some of Fidelity’s mutual funds require reaching specific thresholds
- Reports of platform outages during heavy trading days
Save up for a big goal
Whether you’re planning to buy a home, fund a wedding or make another major purchase, having a dedicated savings plan can help you reach your goal faster. One effective way to do this is by using a CD, which typically offers higher interest rates than regular savings accounts.
CDs lock in your money for a set term — anywhere from a few months to several years — so you can earn more interest while avoiding the temptation to spend. You can choose a term that matches your timeline. For example, shorter CDs for goals within a year or two, and longer terms for goals further down the road.
Competitive APYs are available through CDs offered by these issuers.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Bread Savings™ (formerly Comenity Direct) is a product of Comenity Capital Bank, a Member FDIC.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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