By Use the winter downtime to plan and organize.
Winter weather is upon us, and I know the snowfall has lots of people hunkering down inside. I know I’m trying to use this extra time on my hands to get my own finances in order for the year, and I’m encouraging all my clients to do the same. Here are three ways to be productive while you’re snowed in to help you kick off 2017 financially fit. First, simply ask yourself if you know where everything is in your financial life. By now you’ve probably started a work-sponsored retirement plan or two, opened an emergency fund account, and bought a few insurance policies.
Go through your financial junk drawer, so to speak, and see what you might need to organize a little better. Take some time to go through these accounts and policies and see if some can be adjusted or consolidated. We can help you with any questions that come up, or if you’re not sure about what paperwork you need to keep and what can be tossed.
Second, review your financial goals from 2016 and set new ones for 2017 (if you haven’t already). Did you achieve your goals last year? Why or why not? Be honest with yourself, but don’t beat yourself if you didn’t accomplish everything you set out to do. Knowing and understanding the past can help you work more efficiently in the future. Also, ask yourself if your goals still make sense for your life. As things change and we continue to evolve, some goals simply don’t fit our lives anymore.
Third, review your budget and cash flow. Did you stick to your budget in 2016? Did you spend too much, or were you so frugal that you forgot to have fun? We’ve seen both scenarios, and we can help you make adjustments either way. For those who may have overspent, we can help analyze your spending habits and make recommendations for change. For those who put too many constraints on themselves, it’s my experience that this isn’t sustainable long-term. We want you to enjoy life today, while preparing for a solid future.
As always, call us with any questions that come up so we can sit down with you and help. And if you know anyone who could also use our help, your referrals are the best compliment you can give.
