“Take control of your finances, savings and wealth building with a financial plan.”
Whether you have short-term financial needs — such as planning for an upcoming vacation or holiday spending — or long-term plans like retirement, financial planning can help you organize your finances by evaluating your expenses and income. Yet, a 2020 Northwestern Mutual study found that 71% of U.S. adults admit their financial planning needs improvement.
Futhermore, the Northwestern Mutual research finds a third (32%) of Americans say their financial discipline has improved during the pandemic, and 95% say they expect their newfound habits will stick after the health crisis subsides.
Among the financial behaviors that people say they’ve adopted as a result of the pandemic and expect to maintain going forward are:
- Reducing living costs/spending (e.g., cancel subscriptions, eat out less, etc.) – 45%
- Paying down debt – 34%
- Increasing investing – 33%
- Regularly revisiting financial plans – 29%
- Increasing use of tech/digital solutions to manage finances – 28%
- Increasing retirement contribution/savings – 25%
A financial plan can show if you’re on track to meet your money and savings goals. Financial planning can include strategies for paying off debt, starting an emergency fund, saving up for a large purchase like a house, or building wealth.
Investors who stick to a financial plan have an average total net worth that’s 2.5 times greater than those who don’t follow one, according to Charles Schwab. Financial planning helps you understand where you are today. It also creates a roadmap to get you where you want to be in the future.
Investing is key to building wealth.
Time is on your side and key when it comes to building your wealth. That’s the magic of compound interest. Compound interest is interest earned on interest. Basically, it’s the reason why investments earn more money over time.
But before you start investing, it’s crucial that you’re financially prepared. Consider these four signs you’re ready to invest:
- Have a long-term financial plan and strategy.
- Have an emergency fund.
- Research and prepare to invest.
Investing all depends on tim ane in the market and your unique financial situation. These signs are a good step to getting your finances in order. But consult a financial professional for comprehensive investment advice.
As a result of the personal finance challenges experienced by Americans during the pandemic, the 2020 Northwestern Mutual study found that there was mounting interest in personal financial planning that may be here to stay. “Personal finance is a lifelong journey; it’s not something you look into once and say, ‘OK, I checked that box,’ and move on,” explains Matthew Pelkey, OppUs’ director of financial education. “Just the simple act of looking into things you can do to be more deliberate in your financial life will give you that agency over your finances — and create the habits that are really what produce good financial health.”
Financial planning can equip you to handle life’s many unexpected financial twists and turns. Although, it will vary, depending on your stage in life. You don’t need to know everything — but knowing and planning for the essentials will provide a solid foundation. Always remember the adage: “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
- https://news.northwesternmutual.com/planning-and-progress-2020
- Strategic Business Insights, MacroMonitor 2018-2019 Report, February 2019.
- https://www.opploans.com/oppu/articles/financial-planning/