Everyone’s financial situation is unique. What works for one person might not work for another. However, some tips are universally helpful when creating your financial strategy.
In this article, we will discuss six tips that you can use to create a strategy that will work for you and help you achieve your financial goals.
1. Create Clear, Bold, And Actionable Goals And Write Them Down
There are many different financial goals that you may want to achieve. Here are some examples:
- Increase your net worth
- Pay off your mortgage
- Pay off your credit card debt
- Pay off your auto loan in full
- Pay off your student loans
- Save for a down payment on a house
- Save for a vacation
- Save for retirement
- Save for college for your children
While it is good to have financial goals, it is equally important to be realistic about how you will achieve them.
However, instead of the ambiguous goals mentioned above, you have to set your goals – using the SMART framework. These goals are structured in a way that they are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, you might set a goal to “save $5,000 this year” instead of “save money,” as this will be easier to measure and schedule.
2. Document Your Accounts & Resources
Documenting your financial accounts and resources can be very helpful in financial success. This helps you manage and monitor your accounts, income, and expenses. There are many different types of accounts, so keeping a record of all you earn and spend is recommended. It allows you to avoid any problems that you may have in the future with your finances. Here are some examples of what you can do with this information:
- Collecting all your accounts into one place makes tracking your spending easier and saving for future goals.
- You can also use this information to help you plan your finances and ensure you are saving enough money for the future.
- You can also use this information to help you track your expenses, determine which bills to pay and how to pay them on time.
3. Diversify Your Investments And Savings
To diversify your investments, try to invest in more than one fund at a time. For example, if you invest in a managed equity fund, you’ll need to decide which of those funds to invest in, as the same fund cannot be invested multiple times. So, it is essential to research the fund and understand the risks and rewards of each fund before making a decision.
Another way to diversify your portfolio is to invest in more than one type of funds, such as a managed stock fund and a managed bond fund.
Diversification is vital for growing wealth over time. It is also essential to have a range of investments rather than just one.
- Start with one or two investments and keep it simple for your first diversification. This means you can invest in a low-risk, a low-cost stock index fund like the S&P 500 or an aggressive, high-risk, high-reward opportunity fund like a venture capital fund.
- As your portfolio starts to grow, you will want to buy more and more types of stocks. You will also want to diversify the types of investments.
4. Invest In Your Skills
If you want to learn new skills or increase your income from your current profession, it can be challenging to find the time to do so full-time. However, there are many options for people who want to learn new skills and increase their income from their current job. Some of the most popular include:
Online Courses – Online courses are a great way to get started learning new skills.
Tutoring – Tutoring is a great way to learn new skills, and you can make a lot of money tutoring in a variety of subjects.
Websites and Apps – Websites and apps can help you learn new skills and increase your income.
Skillshare/Udemy/LinkedIn Learning – These websites let you learn new skills in a cost-effective manner. You can also launch your course and earn money by sharing your knowledge.
Freelance Consultation – Offer your services as a freelance consultant can be very helpful in adding value to your income. It also builds your reputation as an authority in your industry, fetching you more opportunities.
5. Start a Side Hustle
A side hustle is a business or job you start on the side of your regular full-time job. Usually, side hustles are small, low-risk businesses that take little time to set up. The idea here is to start one small business, streamline its operations, and once it is stable, you can scale it up. Having multiple side hustles can be very helpful in increasing your income and can benefit your financial strategy a lot! The most common side hustles include:
- Starting an online store to sell local crafts online on sites like eBay or Etsy.
- Starting small services, like babysitting, personal services, or pet care.
- Write books about your profession and sell them on Amazon.
- Offer to coach and consulting services to new professionals in your industry.
6. Collaborate With An Incubator Company And Fund Startups
Angel investing is a great way to get involved in the startup world and have your share of the future of the Internet. However, it is not for everyone; you need to be able to handle risk and have the ability to tolerate disappointment. Here are some tips for becoming an angel investor:
- Choose a small, early-stage company – a few angel investors in a larger company can create a lot of noise and competition, making it more difficult for a company to grow.
- Spend time researching the company you want to invest in – it will help you learn more about the founder and the company’s business model.
- Look for a company that is growing and has some momentum – this will make it easier for you to assess the company’s prospects.
- Learn all you can about the company – read about the founder and their company history, evaluate their financials and projections, and look for strengths and weaknesses in the company’s business model.
Bonus Tip: Hire a Financial Consultant
Hiring a financial consulting firm like Bernd Financial to help develop a financial strategy is a great option. You can get an expert opinion on your financial situation and have a plan in place before your situation becomes unmanageable. A financial consulting firm may also help you identify and fix financial issues you might have been ignoring or didn’t even know about.
Your Financial Consultant can be a great help when it comes to managing your finances. They can help you understand how your spending and savings habits compare to your financial goals and can help you develop an overall financial strategy to help you reach your goals. Schedule your free initial consultation appointment today.