Financial goals are long-term, short-term, and mid-term objectives that serve as the foundation of a comprehensive financial plan. The best financial goals align with your values and personal goals. These goals are specific and measurable milestones that, when met, bring you closer to your ideal future.
What are financial goals?
Your financial goals are the selected financial amounts you intend to obtain to realise your life vision. Financial goals, like any other goal, should be aligned with your long-term plans, whether these plans include paying for children’s education, maintaining a specific retirement lifestyle, or paying off and staying out of debt.
How to achieve your financial goals?
Making a financial plan that prioritizes your financial goals is the best way to achieve them. When you examine your objectives, you’ll notice that some are far-reaching while others are more focused. Your objectives can be divided into three categories of time:
- Short-term financial goals can be accomplished in less than a year. Some examples are taking a vacation, purchasing a new refrigerator, or paying off a specific debt.
- Mid-term financial goals cannot be met overnight, but they should not take more than a few years. Some examples are purchasing a car, completing a degree or certification, or repayment of credit card debts.
- Long-term financial goals (more than five years) may take several years to achieve, necessitating longer commitments and, in many cases, more money. Examples include purchasing or refinancing a home, saving for a child’s college education, or planning a comfortable retirement.
The goal-setting process of financial planning and analysis entails deciding what goals you want to achieve, estimating the amount of money and other resources needed, and planning how long it will take to accomplish each of your goals.
Easy tips for investing wisely to secure your future
- Evaluate your priorities: The first and most important step is determining what is most important to you. Depending on your stage of life and career, you may have different priorities that influence your financial goals. Before you continue, take stock of what is important to you and make a list of them.
- Go over your net worth: Before setting your goals, you should assess your current financial situation. However, you must consider your net worth, which goes beyond your current income and considers the value of all your assets, liabilities, and debts to give you an accurate figure of your available funds.
- Start investing early: Investment planning early in life teaches you a pattern of financial independence and discipline. An early investment introduces the proper distinction between investing and saving. A small amount of money invested now will result in more money in your pocket later. You can seek the advice of an expert to help you choose the best investment opportunities.
- Invest to beat inflation: Your total return must be greater than the overall increase in living expenses to beat inflation. Making long-term investments is one way to achieve this result.
- Pay off your debts: Ensure to examine your existing debts and make every effort to pay them off as soon as possible. If you are paying EMIs on a loan, ensure you never fall behind on your payments. Simultaneously, determine what percentage of your income is used to pay off these installments and debts.
- Make an emergency fund: Setting aside enough money to cover any future financial emergencies before planning for your financial goals. To that end, set up an emergency fund that you can access as needed.
- Monitor your progress periodically: When setting financial goals, consider how far you’ve come in terms of your finances. Monitoring your expenses, savings, investments, and asset creation regularly will allow you to make the necessary adjustments.
It’s all about being careful and precise, and with the tips compiled above, you’ll have no trouble achieving financial success.
Key Takeaways
- Proper financial and retirement planning begins with goal setting, covering short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals.
- Key short-term goals cover setting a budget, reducing debt, and starting an emergency fund.
- Medium-term goals should cover key insurance policies, while long-term goals include retirement.
Watch the YouTube video above by HDFC mutual fund to learn more investing during challenging times.
Interested in how we think about the markets?
Read more: Zen And The Art Of Investing
Watch here: Learn all about the latest Union budget 2023?
Start investing through a platform that brings goal planning and investing to your fingertips. Visit kuvera.in to discover Direct Plans and Fixed Deposits and start investing today. #MutualFundSahiHai #KuveraSabseSahiHai
