Happy beginning of May, its finally starting to warm up in the northeast. Time for flowers to start blooming and soon time to start new plants. Your finances are very similar to growing a garden. How is your financial garden? Have you been tending it? Planting a garden can be similar to creating and following your financial plan.
Step 1: Prep your soil and determine your plants that will grow in the garden. This includes reviewing your current situation, creating goals, and coming up with an action plan. Weed out anything that isn’t helping you achieve success. Set yourself toward success by paying down debt and have emergency fund in place, for those surprises.
Step 2: Start your seeds early. With your goals in mind, working on them sooner can get you on track towards achieving financial success. If you wait to plant the seeds your garden may need extra work, but there are options to get you back on track when you started working on your financial future. Start saving early in your career for retirement or early in your child’s life for college. Life happens, so you may have unexpected events, starting to save early makes these bumps a little easier readjust your plan.
These new seedlings are fragile, just like new financial habits. Starting a new budget or learning to save requires more attention early on as you build the habits. This work and time earlier on can lead to a stronger financial future.
Step 3: Water your seeds. Without water the plants won’t grow, and without contributing to your financial goals, they won’t become closer to your reach. Put money into savings on a regular basis. Set up automatic contributions to your retirement plan. Overtime watering your financial garden consistently, can lead to success. Over watering can cause plants to die, the same with your financial plan. If too much is put into your goals, your current lifestyle may be effected. While saving is important, it is also important to have a budget to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, while still preparing for your financial future.
Step 4: Be patient! Just like growing seeds, there is no instant gratification with financial gardens. It takes time to achieve financial success, but don’t let that discourage you. Being in the habit of paying down debt and putting money in savings or investments can get you to those goals. Overtime following your financial plan can help you work towards financial success.
You might have tried gardening in the past and failed. Maybe you don't garden and are not sure where to begin. A financial advisor can help you start your financial garden or work on what you have started. Meet with your financial advisor to discuss what worked and what didn’t, or starting your financial plan. Over time your goals and financial situation may change, which allows you to adjust your plan as your life changes.
Need help starting your financial garden or maybe in need of some tending? Call or email me to set up a time to discuss your specific situation.
Disclosure:
All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.
Dollar cost averaging investment in securities regardless of fluctuation in price levels of such securities. An investor should consider their ability to continue purchasing through fluctuating price levels. Such as plan does not assure a profit and does not protect against loss in declining markets.