According to a survey from CNBC, 75% of Americans are winging it when it comes to their financial planning. If that doesn’t worry you, it should.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
If you want to achieve financial freedom, you’ll have to prepare a plan. Without a proper personal financial plan, you’ll never know when you’re veering off course. Plans hold people accountable, which can improve your financial wellness. Moreover, having a plan can give your life structure and meaning which anyone can benefit from.
By creating a personal financial plan, you are making an investment in yourself and your future. And you don’t need to consult an expensive certified financial planner either.
If you diligently follow these six steps, you can create your own custom personal financial plan in no time.
The 7 Steps to Personal Financial Planning
- Write down your goals
- Establish your net worth
- Create an emergency fund
- Determine a realistic budget
- Eliminate toxic debt
- Utilize tax breaks
- Start investing
1. Write Down Your Goals
Personal financial planning is a lot like solving a puzzle. When you begin to solve a puzzle, you set out all the pieces in front of you and try to configure them to match the picture on the box. The pieces of the puzzle represent expenses, purchases, debts, investments and other aspects of your financial situation. The picture on the box represents your goals.
“Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.”
It’s a tired phrase, but it’s useful in explaining this metaphor. To solve a puzzle, you need the pieces to fit together precisely. You can’t come close to solving a puzzle. It is either solved, or it is incomplete.
When it comes to personal financial planning, that’s the mindset you need to have. That’s why it helps to use the acronym S.M.A.R.T. I’ve explained it more extensively in an article about wealth creation, but let’s briefly break it down here:
S stands for specific. The more specific your goals are, the more likely you are to achieve them.
M stands for measurable. A measurable goal has a clear definition of success. You either solve the puzzle or you don’t. There is no in between.
A stands for agreed upon. When you include a partner or family member in your personal financial planning, you are more likely to stick to your goals. It creates a sense of accountability.
R stands for realistic. If your goals aren’t realistic, then you’re just setting yourself up for failure. The difference between a realistic goal and an unrealistic goal could be a small change. For example, if paying off your mortgage in the next 10 years is impossible, then make it 15 years. Be honest with yourself.
T stands for time frame. By setting a goal with a time frame you add a sense of urgency. Deadlines motivate people to use their time efficiently and effectively.
2. Establish Your Net Worth
Personal financial planning is creating a roadmap to success. So you have to know where you are in order to get to where you want to go.
First make a list of all your assets – this includes the money in your bank account, money put to work in an investment portfolio, real estate and personal property, as well as items like cars. Every asset counts when calculating your net worth.
Then make of a list of your debts – this includes your mortgage, credit card balances and loans.
Subtract your debts from your assets and you have your net worth. If this is a positive number then you’re in a better position than many Americans. If it is a negative number, don’t worry. That is not uncommon. It just means you have your work cut out for you and that you can’t take your personal financial planning lightly.
3. Create an Emergency Fund
Once you’ve established your net worth, it’s time to set aside some money for life’s many unexpected expenses. You don’t want a medical bill or a car repair to wipe out all of the personal financial planning you’ve done so far.
According to a survey from Bankrate, nearly 1 in 4 Americans don’t have any emergency savings. Not having an emergency fund is dangerous. When those unplanned expenses come up you don’t want to have to go into debt.
Typically, an ideal emergency fund will cover three to six months’ worth of living expenses. Financial experts generally suggest you put away 20% of your paycheck every month toward a savings account. Ideally, you’d be able to take another small percentage of your paycheck and put it towards a separate emergency fund. You don’t want to have to dip into your savings account, or worse, go into debt.
4. Determine a Realistic Budget
A realistic budget is crucial to personal financial planning. The de facto rule for budgeting is the 50/20/30 rule. Senator Elizabeth Warren popularized it in her book “All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan.” Here’s the breakdown:
Needs
Half of your income should go towards your mortgage, rent, car payments, groceries, insurance, health care and other necessary expenses.
Savings
Twenty percent of your income should go towards your savings. Building your savings is the crux of personal financial planning.
Wants
The remaining 30% of your income can be allocated towards all other inessential items. This includes tickets to the movies, new clothing, tech gadgets and all other items that aren’t absolutely vital.
5. Manage and Eliminate Debt
Not all debt is bad debt. Some debt can work in your favor. Like mortgages, for example. If you are able to pay off your mortgage on time it can boost your credit score. High-interest debt, like credit card debt, is what you need to avoid.
When you have high-interest debt the best thing you can do is to pay it off as quickly as possible. To manage your high-interest debt try following the 28/36 rule. Put up to 28% of your pre-tax income toward housing expenses, and avoid putting more than 36% of your income toward all other debt.
Mortgage lenders often use this rule to assess someone’s ability to pay off the mortgage. If you can abide by the 28/36 rule you are in a good position to be approved for a mortgage and other lines of credit.
6. Utilize Tax Breaks
The tax code is not only remarkably complicated, but it’s also always changing.
For example, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 changed the number of deductions, lowered tax rates and expanded credits for 2018 and beyond. That act altered the tax situations of many Americans.
To make sure you’re prepared for the new year’s tax season, check in with the IRS’s tax reform page. You can review your withholdings, estimated taxes and any tax credits that you may have qualified for this year. Also, taking advantage of tax sheltered accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s can help you avoid Uncle Sam for a little longer.
To get the most in depth perspective on your tax situation, checking in with an accountant is always the best decision.
7. Start Investing to Build Your Wealth
The point of personal financial planning is to build wealth and achieve financial freedom. Another aspect of personal financial planning is avoiding losses. And when you’ve worked so hard to budget and save, the last thing you’d want to do is lose money in the market. But there is one investing strategy that has minimal risk and provides steady income: investing in high quality dividend stocks.
Dividend companies usually pay their shareholders quarterly. So, investors who build up a portfolio of dividend stocks can collect a steady income.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a certified personal accountant to start planning your finances. You have all the tools to create own personal financial plan. Investment U is a great resource. We have articles on investment opportunities, dividend stocks, financial freedom, marijuana stocks, tech stocks and more.