If you havent realized this yet, Im kind of a goal setting freak. <\/p>\n
Some people do New Years resolutions. Thats great, but I think you need to revisit your goals on a more consistent basis. For me, thats every 90 days. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Other people dont bother to set goals. They choose unconsciously at least to rely on luck. <\/p>\n
The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself. <\/p>\n
Douglas MacArthur <\/p>\n
Lets establish up front that goals are something more substantial than dreams or wishes. <\/p>\n
They can start with dreams or wishes, but they have an action plan behind them something that spells out how we convert a desire into something real. <\/p>\n
Thats especially important when it comes to financial goals. Since they require regular investments ofmoney and effort over a long period of time, you need to have workable plan to bring them to reality. <\/p>\n
Start by setting some financial goals. If youve never thought much about this, here are 10 good financial goals that everyone should have especially for 2016.<\/p>\n
The great thing about this goal is that anyone can do it, regardless of income or wealth level. And if you want to get the most out of your finances, its virtually a requirement that you get out of debt. <\/p>\n
For the moment, lets ignore the good-debt-versus-bad-debt debate. At some point in your life, all debt is bad debt and needs to be paid off. That includes the mortgage on your home. Although the purpose of that debt may be noble at the beginning, its no less a drag on your income than any other debt as time goes on. <\/p>\n
There are more reasons to get out of debt than I can list here, but here are just a few of them: <\/p>\n
Before starting my career, I fell into the debt trap. I had accumulated over $20,000 of student loan and credit card debt and I wasnt slowing down anytime soon. Thankfully, my girlfriend (now wife) helped me to see debt for what is really is EVIL. After we were married, it became both of our goals to become debt free and never carry a credit card balance. Im proud to say that after over 10 years of marriage, thats a goal that weve stuck to. Take that, Debt! <\/p>\n
You can set all of the good financial goals that you want, but it will be difficult to achieve any of if you are carrying a significant amount of debt for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n
If you have high interest credit card debt or several different credit card bills to pay every month, it can make a lot of sense to take advantage of a 0% APR balance transfer offer as well. <\/p>\n
TheChase Slatecard, for example, gives you a 0% APR for a full 15 months, and all without a balance transfer fee of any kind. With this offer, you could transfer several high interest debts and save hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the introductory APR period. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
When I started as a financial advisor and finally grasped the concept of compound interest, I was determined to put myself in situation where I could retire by the age of 50 if I wanted to. I dont know if Ill ever really retire, because I absolutely love what I do. <\/p>\n
Even if you absolutely love what it is you do for a living, planning for early retirement is one of those top rated good financial goals. <\/p>\n
Heres why: <\/p>\n
Theres one other advantage to planning to retire early, and its a big one. By working toward early retirement, you will be front-loading your retirement investment portfolio. That will give you a larger portfolio early, which will mean that you wont have to work so hard saving for retirement later in life when doing so may be more complicated. <\/p>\n
For me that was opening a Roth IRA and maxing it out. My wife, too. In addition I was putting as much money into my 401k that I could. Trust me. As a brand new financial advisor I wasnt making much but I still manage to prioritize my spending and save a significant amount. Early in my career I had witnessed too many couples in their 60s that hadnt save enough to retire at all, yet retire early. I made it a goal (and a mission) that I wouldnt let that happen to me. <\/p>\n
We normally think of having an emergency fund as being a short-term financial goal. And from a mechanical standpoint, thats true. However, an emergency fund has important long-term benefits, which is why its one of the good financial goals that you should plan to achieve. <\/p>\n
Here are just some of the benefits that a well-stocked emergency fund can provide you with throughout your life: <\/p>\n
For us, having an adequate emergency fund has offered reassurance in many life situations. Most notably was having our first son, building our dream home and starting my own investment firm. <\/p>\n
When you consider all that comes from having a strong emergency fund, it should move it up the priority ladder a few rungs. Here are some the top savings account options for your emergency fund. <\/p>\n
Even if you love your job, creating multiple income streams is a form of income insurance. For that reason alone, it needs to be on your list of good financial goals. <\/p>\n
But here are even more reasons: <\/p>\n
Reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad was a defining moment for me. Before then I was oblivious to the concept of having multiple streams of income. Over the years, I dabbled in many side hustles looking for it. That included a few multi-level marketing companies that proved to be a flop. <\/p>\n
I eventually took a stab at real estate and also failed miserable. Many would perceive these as failures, but I view them more as valuable life lessons that eventually led me to starting this blog. Now I have more than a few sites that yield over 6 figures per year. Not too shabby for a guy that had no web marketing experience before I started. <\/p>\n
Give this goal some serious thought, even if youve never considered it before. Its a goal that could open the door to a lot of other goals. <\/p>\n
Insurance is something of a tough call. A lot of people dont have nearly enough coverage, while many others are paying too much for the coverage that they have. Striking a balance between the two is another of thosegood financial goals. <\/p>\n
Here are some strategies in striking that balance: <\/p>\n
Part of your goal should be to work with a knowledgeable insurance agent on a regular basis to make sure that you have just enough but never too much insurance coverage. Oh by the way, did I mention that Im also a co-founder of an independent insurance agency? <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ive covered this topic in other articles, but it is well worth repeating here since it is one of the mostnecessary of all good financial goals. By learning to live on less than you earn no matter what you will always have plenty of income. That means that youll have plenty of income for savings, investments, and for paying off debt. <\/p>\n
Its important to always be on the hunt to increase your income. But that strategy will only be effective to the degree that you are able to live on less than you earn, so that you can put the difference to better use to improve your life. <\/p>\n
This may not be a financial goal in and of itself, but it is an obstacle that will stand in the way of all good financial goals, no matter what they are. <\/p>\n
An addiction to stuff can be like a financial parasite. A disproportionate amount of your income and financial reserves will go to pay for your need for stuff. <\/p>\n
This will present several problems: <\/p>\n
I love this quote from Joshua Becker, author ofSimplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life, <\/p>\n
Removing possessions begins to turn back our desire for more as we find freedom, happiness, and abundance in owning less. And removing ourselves from the all-consuming desire to own more creates opportunity for significant life change to take place. <\/p>\n
If you even suspect that you may have an addiction to stuff, then makeit a financial goal to end that addiction once and for all. Your life will go better if you do. <\/p>\n
Ultimately, the purpose of improving your finances should be to provide you with independence in your life. That means that it should afford you the ability to do what you want, when you want. If that isnt one of the good financial goals, then I dont know what is. <\/p>\n
Getting out of debt, preparing for early retirement, developing multiple income streams, and ending your addiction to stuff, should clear the way for you to be able to do the kind of work that you really love. That should be true even if that work doesnt pay nearly as much as youre being paid now. <\/p>\n
But that will be possible only if you have no debts to pay, if you can live on less than you earn, and if you have a large investment portfolio to back you up. <\/p>\n
Why is doing work that you love a worthy financial goal? Very few people will actually be retiring to the beach for a life of blissful nothing, no matter what you see on TV. If nothing else, its likely that you will work just as a matter of personal satisfaction or an attempt to avoid boredom. <\/p>\n
Since you will be working all of your life one way or another the work that you do shouldnt just be about earning money. It should be something that makes you feel good about your life, and good about the person you are. <\/p>\n
If you cant get comfortable sharing your good fortune with peoplewho areless fortunate perhaps out of fear that you will end up broke as a result then money has complete control over your life. It doesnt matter how much money you amass inyour life, itshould never control you. <\/p>\n
There are numerous reasons why giving to others will be good for you: <\/p>\n
Is giving one of those good financial goals? I think that if you look at many of the most famous wealthy people the world, you will see a distinct pattern of giving to others along the way. <\/p>\n
However you live your life, it should be a goal to make sure that your loved ones are left at least a little bit better off as a result of your life. That means not only making adequate provisions for those who are dependent upon your financial resources, but also making sure that you dont leave them with a financial mess to clean up. <\/p>\n
Here are some steps you can take to leave your financial house in order upon your death: <\/p>\n
Reaching a point of financial independence in life has nothing to do with luck or magic. Its simply a matter of setting good financial goals, and having a concrete plan as to how you will achieve them. Once that plan is established, and working toward those goals becomes part of the habits that make your life what it is, achieving financial independence can almost seem as if its happening on automatic pilot. <\/p>\n
But only if you make it happen. <\/p>\n
Whens the last time you wrote down your goals? More importantly, whens the last time youve revisited them? <\/p>\n
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