Do you want to improve your finances in 2017? Making resolutions is common this time of year, but in order to actually follow through and achieve success, it is important to make a specific plan.
Write down your financial goals and talk about them with your spouse or family to create accountability that can up the odds of success.
“One of the best ways to make resolutions stick — be they financial or otherwise — are to tell others your goals,” says Bob Gavlak, certified financial planner and wealth advisor with Strategic Wealth Partners in Columbus, Ohio.
“If you give other people insight into your goals, make them concrete and make yourself accountable, there is a much better chance that you’ll be able to stick to them for the long term,” Gavlak says. “Or, make it a contest. Even if it is you versus your spouse to see who can save more money over the next 12 months, contests are great ways to stay motivated and focused.”
[See: The 7 Best Bank Stocks to Buy for 2017.]
Another easy way to make a goal attainable is to make it automatic, says Josh Jalinski, president of Jalinski Advisory Group and CEO of Wealth Quarterback in Toms River, New Jersey.
“Increase how much you set aside for retirement at the beginning of the year so that it automatically deducts from your paycheck. Set up an auto save account, which is a separate checking or savings account that is set up as a holding pen for forced savings. Try checking with your HR department to see if you can set up two direct deposits — one for your general expenses and one for your emergency fund savings,” Jalinski says.
Here are 10 tips to help make 2017 your best financial year.
In your 20s
When you are young, thinking long term does not come naturally, says Kathleen Hastings, certified financial planner and portfolio manager at FBB Capital Partners in Bethesda, Maryland. “Aging creeps up on you sooner than you think it will. Start to think about what you want in your life. What are your hopes and dreams? Let your money work for you over time rather than waiting and having to work harder and longer to catch up.”
Find a job you love. Your career is your largest financial asset, says Stacy Francis, founder of Savvy Ladies, a New York nonprofit that provides personal finance resources to women at no cost. “Do the legwork now to find a career that you love.”
Track your spending for one month and create a budget. Practice living within your paycheck and not carrying credit card debt, Francis says.
In your 30s
Start saving for your child’s college. “We give ourselves permission to spend discretionary money on our children, but do they really wear all the new clothes and play with those expensive toys?” Hastings says, “Consider instead, opening a 529 plan and use some of those dollars to save for education purposes. Some states offer a tax incentive to do so.”
Save for long-term goals. Your 30s are the start of your prime earning years, and may still include years without the heavy financial responsibilities of children and a mortgage, Francis says.
[See: The 25 Best Blue-Chip Stocks to Buy for 2017.]
“You should be working towards making the maximum contribution to your 401(k),” Francis says. Start building savings for other big-ticket items. “Set up a high-yield savings account for a house, wedding, large vacations.”
In your 40s
Continue with your savings plan and keep debt to a minimum. Don’t get caught up in trying to keep up with the Joneses, Hastings says. “In our consumer-oriented environment, it’s important you don’t get drawn into living beyond your means and letting discretionary spending get out of control. Exchange immediate gratification for longer term security,” Hastings says.
Francis recommends saving 20 percent of your pre-tax income for the long term.
Create your estate plan now. If you’ve made it to your 40s and haven’t created an estate plan, there’s no better time to start than now, says Neil Krishnaswamy, certified financial planner at Exencial Wealth Advisors in Frisco, Texas. Consider a consultation with a financial advisor and or an estate attorney to create a will, financial power of attorney, living will and advanced medical directives.
Take advantage of workplace perks to reduce household expenses. “These are the prime income years, and also when household expenses tend to peak due to children and mortgages,” Francis says. She points to three potential perks that can save you money:
— Explore a flexible savings account or health savings account. These plans allow you to save pre-tax dollars, which you can then use for health-related and/or childcare expenses.
— Many workplaces reimburse gym memberships, but some require quarterly forms to qualify. Make a point to utilize this and any other reimbursements you may have been putting off.
— Purchase transportation passes/bridge tolls through your paycheck using pre-tax money.
In your 50s
Start developing your long-term care plan. It is important to start the conversation. “Understand the risks and costs of long-term care,” Krishnaswamy says. “You’ll need to decide how you will pay for long-term care and how that care will be delivered. Will you self-fund or buy insurance? Will other family members be involved? Don’t worry if there are more questions than answers in the early going.”
Simplify and streamline your financial life. Resolve to find ways to simplify your life and organize your finances, Krishnaswamy says. He offers a few suggestions:
— Consider getting a scanner and going at least partially paperless. Shred or discard documents that no longer need to be kept.
— Consolidate accounts. If you have multiple bank accounts, credit cards, or investment accounts, such as IRAs, 401(k)s from previous employers, see if consolidating makes sense. It often does and gives you less to keep track of.
— Set up savings and bill payments as much as possible to be automatic.
— Sign up for a service that automatically monitors your credit activity, or establish a habit to check your credit report once a year.
Revisit your financial plan and your financial planner. Many financial planners focus solely on investments and help you build your nest egg, Gavlak says.
[See: 7 of the Best ETFs to Own in 2017.]
“However, as you near retirement, you need to go from accumulation to distribution of your assets,” Gavlak says. Develop a plan on how to best distribute your asset and set up an income strategy as you get closer to retirement.
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Make 2017 Your Best Financial Year Ever originally appeared on usnews.com
