Take Small Steps to Financial Goals

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Financial goals are like most other life goals; they are more easily reached by breaking them into bite sized steps. A good example that is in my life right now is the career and college planning that my sons are doing. I ask (beg?) my teen sons to think about their ultimate goal beyond high school and college. In my family, this may look something like working as a commercial designer or writing in the media industry while being able to support a nice lifestyle.

I ask the boys to go backwards to see how that accomplishment will look broadly on a monthly, weekly and then daily basis to reach that ultimate goal. The closer in they go, the more specific the tasks become. For July, it is probably nailing some skills before college begins this fall or preparing for the SAT instead of watching TV or playing video games.

What is your ultimate financial goal? It may be to maintain or expand your current standard of living. Looking at this goal long term, it seems big and maybe even unobtainable. What happens if you back into that goal by thinking of what needs to happen on an annual, monthly and then weekly basis to reach that end goal?

In planning the months ahead, keep in mind the end result of reaching your financial goals. Ask yourself what is required in July that will get you where you want to be in five, ten or twenty years in the future. Is it taking an investing course to increase your financial education, or is it learning about what type of financial advisor would best meet your needs? Maybe right now it is just having order around your investments. Nail down what needs to happen this week, and put it in your planner. Reach your financial goals one step at a time.