Use story mode to make your sims! It gives them traits, an aspiration, a career, and funds to match their lifestyle. When you are in create a sim click the book, it is in the add a sim to family section. I like this because it gives you a boost in a career and "above average" funds if they qualify.
Hopefully this helps!
@ciannajae While I personally don't dislike the story mode, it also can feel too random. Which is why I don't often use it myself.
Edit: which is why sometimes I do wish for the ability to select their starting funds/skills/jobs from create a sim outside from story mode.
