Goal Setting & Financial Planning

When you make a financial plan, you identify the financial goals that are important to you, your best estimate of what they will cost, your time frame for achieving them and the types of investments that may be the most appropriate for accumulating the money you need.

Short-term goals:

Paying for the expenses you anticipate in the next few years requires a cautious plan.  You should focus on minimizing the risk to your assets and preserving your wealth.  Make sure the money you’ll need in the near future is both secure and accessible.

Common short-term goals:

Buying a car

Making a down payment on a home

Taking a vacation

Returning to school for extra education and degrees

Getting married

Establishing your own business

Paying off credit cards, student loans and other debts

Possible investments for achieving short-term goals:

Savings accounts

CDs

Money market accounts

U.S. Treasury bills

Short-term bonds or short-term bond funds

Mid-term goals

Think about the next ten years, concentrating on what you hope to accomplish and the expenses you anticipate these goals will cost.  Planning for mid-term goals means carefully balancing investment growth and financial security.

Common mid-term goals:

Paying for children’s education

Purchasing a larger home

Buying a second home or vacation home

Buying a boat or recreational vehicle

Traveling to a special destination

Possible investments for achieving mid-term goals:

Stock in a variety of companies

Stock mutual funds

Exchange traded funds tracking a diversified range of indexes

U.S. Treasury notes

High-rated bonds or bond funds

Zero-coupon bonds with appropriate maturity dates

Long-term goals

It is never too early to begin financial planning for the major financial goals you want to achieve more than ten years down the road.  Realizing your hopes and dreams for the future calls for a persistent and growth-oriented investment strategy.

 Common long-term goals:

Living comfortably during retirement

Affording travel and hobbies

Continuing to support your children

Financial security for long-term health care

Providing an inheritance for your heirs

Creating a legacy

 Possible vehicles for achieving long-term goals:

Stock in emerging and developing as well as well-established companies

Stock mutual funds that invest in growing companies

Exchange traded funds tracking a diversified variety of indexes

Long-term bonds

Zero-coupon bonds with appropriate maturity dates

Re-evaluating Your Goals Over Time

Your financial goals will likely change as your financial circumstances change.  That’s why it is important to reassess your goals periodically — and at least once a year. As you do your annual financial check-up, ask yourself the following questions and be prepared to make any changes you think are needed.

Are the goals on my list still the goals I care about?

Are there other things that matter more to me now?

Have I made financial progress since last year?

If not, what could the reasons be?

Am I using the best investments to meet specific goals?

What other choices might provide stronger results?

Am I giving each goal the attention it deserves?

Do I need to change my investment strategy on any of my goals because of a change in time frame?

List Your Financial Goals

Make a list of your primary short-, mid- and long-term financial goals, the approximate date when you hope to achieve them, how much you have saved already, approximately how much you’ll need and where your savings are. This list can serve as benchmark for evaluating your progress. Remember that it’s perfectly normal for your goals to change as your life changes.