Did you achieve your financial goals in 2018? If not, keep reading. To get financially fit this year, set and execute strong financial goals to help you get your money situation on track. It’s easier said than done.
The Top 5 Financial Goals You Want to Accomplish in 2019
#1 Know What You Want
Make a financial plan with steps thinking ahead. Be honest with yourself and look at your financial situation and objectives. Are you serious about retiring early? Do you want to travel when you retire? Are you planning to support a local or nationwide charity? Think ahead of what you would like to do. Planning helps you to be confident about your real financial goals and how best to achieve them.
Don’t like to plan ahead? Contact a financial advisor you trust and ask him or her to help you objectively plan your financial goals.
#2 Create a Budget and Execute Properly
Nobody likes a budget when it comes to making an important or highly desired purchase like a new car, house, the latest watch brand, and so on. To plan and prosper in the future, you need to have a budget in place that helps you to track your earnings after taxes, how much money you spend, and how much money you are able to save.
If you have no clue about your spending but want to, download a smartphone app that can do the job for you. You also can create an excel spreadsheet to track your spending monthly.
Are you aware of the popular 50/30/20 budgeting rule?
- 50% of your job’s paycheck should go to housing, vehicle loans, student loans, utilities, groceries, etc.
- 30% of your job’s paycheck can be spenT for “wants” like cloth, leisure, entertainment, traveling or dining out.
- 20% should be invested in your savings. You could invest your money into an emergency fund, retirement investments, 529 contributions, or other financial investments that fit your financial goals.
Depending on your age, you will have different investment goals and needs.
#3 Plan for Your Big-Ticket Expenses Today
Do you have an old roof that needs to be repaired soon? Has your old car seen better days? Is your child heading towards college or university in few years? Be sure to prevent that big-ticket item from hitting you unprepared. Make sure that your short-term financial needs are part of your overall holistic financial planning process.
Tip: If you know you have a big-ticket purchase coming your way, increase your savings account and make it “untouchable”.
#4 Get Better with What You Owe
There is a huge difference between what you can borrow versus what you should borrow. Do you have credit card debt? Create a schedule you know you can follow to pay your debt back. If possible, try to keep the total of your monthly debt below 35% of your income before taxes.
#5 Prevent that Life Kills Your Piggy Bank
Life happens to the best of us. You get sick. You lose your job. A natural disaster happens. These life events happen and you want to try to be as prepared as possible.
Here are some examples:
- Emergency: Create an emergency fund with enough money to keep you going for three to six months.
- Parenting: Consider purchasing a life insurance policy for your children.
- Disability: Consider long-term disability insurance. The odds are that you could become disabled before retirement age. Disability currently hovers around 27% according to the Social Security Administration.
- Long-Term Care: Discuss the pros and cons of long-term care insurance and property casualty insurance with your financial investment advisor.
Let us help you start 2019 off on the right financial foot. Our experienced financial investment advisors can help you to make planning your financial goals for 2019 and beyond a smooth process. Contact us for a complimentary consultation.
References:
- 20 Financial New Year’s Resolutions For 2019 https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/saving-and-budgeting/slideshows/financial-new-years-resolutions
- Three P’s To Fulfilling Your Financial New Year’s Resolutions https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/three-ps-to-fulfilling-your-financial-new-years-resolutions/
- New Year’s Financial Resolutions: Get Your Finances in Shape For 2019 Schwab.com https://www.schwab.com/resource-center/insights/content/new-years-financial-resolutions-get-your-finances-in-shape
- Social Security Administration https://ssa.gov
