Managing your money can sometimes feel like a daunting task. However, one way to stay on track is to use a financial plan to guide your path.
Your financial plan is a document that provides a road map to your money destination. It lays out your current financial situation, helps you see your financial goals and offers various strategies to help you accomplish your objectives. Here’s what you need to know about a financial plan.
Ways financial plans can help you
One of the best reasons to use a financial plan is to provide you with clarity and an actionable approach to managing your money in a way that will help you now and in the future, says Cassandra Cummings, an investment advisor representative and founder of the the Stocks & Stilettos Society, a community for women investors.
“Your financial plan maps out where you’re going with your money and gives you a plan for getting there,” Cummings says. “You can see it all laid out and visualize your next steps.”
Additionally, your financial plan can help you stick with your strategy when things get tough. Your plan can be a good reminder not to respond to the whims of the stock market. Plus, when you look at your plan and track your progress, you can see how you’ve improved and gain motivation as a result.
However, Cummings warns, it’s important to understand that your financial plan isn’t chiseled in stone.
“It’s really a fluid document that you can tweak as life events occur. You don’t throw it out the window, but you can make adjustments as needed,” Cummings says. “Be flexible and know the plan can change and be comfortable with that.”
How to start financial planning in four steps
1. Calculate your net worth
Start by figuring out where you stand.
“Add up all of your assets, what’s in your savings and investing accounts, and the items you have of significant value,” says Tom Drake, a financial analyst and the founder of financial education website MapleMoney. “Then subtract your debts. That net worth number can give you a starting point. You can get a snapshot of where you are, so you have a better idea of what needs to happen to get you to where you want to be.”
2. Map your inflows and outflows
Next, get a feel for your income and expenses. Cummings suggests listing out your sources of income and what date you receive them, as well as listing out all of your expenses. This exercise gives you a sense of how money moves through your household.
“Start by focusing on your mailbox items,” Cummings says. “These are those bills that you pay each month. Look at where the money is going, and figure out whether it really needs to be going there.”
After you know where the money comes from and where it goes, you can start identifying areas of improvement and build those into your financial plan.
3. Set financial goals
Next, look to the future and figure out what you want your money to accomplish for you. Drake recommends thinking about your financial goals in terms of lifestyle accomplishments. Rather than just talking about saving up $1 million, think about it in terms of building a $1 million nest egg so you can retire and travel to visit your grandchildren.
“Your financial goals need to have a purpose behind them in order to effectively motivate you,” Drake says. “Think about why you want to save up for your child’s college, what it would mean to have a house or why you want to retire.”
4. Map out your strategy
Now that you know where you are and have an idea of where you want to be, it’s time to set up your strategy to make it happen.
“Look at what you need to go toward day-to-day living expenses, and then work from there,” Cummings says. “Break down how much you need to put toward debt repayment, and how much you should set aside each month to meet your retirement goals.”
You can use an online calculator to help you estimate your needs, as well as figure out what types of assets you need in your portfolio. If you’re struggling to get a handle on strategy, you can consider speaking with a financial professional who can review the situation with an outside view and provide you with helpful insight in creating a plan.
Consider your priorities
In the end, your financial plan is all about priorities. When building your financial plan, Drake recommends thinking about what matters most to you, and what you hope to accomplish in your life. Building your financial plan is about what’s important in the long run, as well as the short-term. If you really want to make sure your money is helping you accomplish your priorities, a financial plan is a must.
“Many people don’t like to plan,” Cummings says. “However, a financial plan is necessary if you want to take control of your finances and put your money where it matters most.”
The post What is a financial plan and how can I build one? appeared first on Bankrate and is written by Miranda Marquit
Original source: Bankrate
