Time to reflect

Ready or not, the end of the year is fast approaching and now is the perfect time to start thinking about your financial future.

Many people use the Christmas/ New Year period to reflect on the year that has just passed, and begin thinking about the year(s) ahead. It’s a great time for you to review your financial strategies and goals in preparation for 2014 and beyond.

 The importance of reviews

Changes can take place to your circumstances at any time and, while you may already be having regular meetings with your adviser to ensure your plans continue to meet your needs, there are other changes that can have an impact, such as legislative and tax changes.

This is why reviews should take place on a regular basis, where you have the opportunity to make informed decisions and factor any of these changes into your financial plan.

Below is a simple guide to tidy up your finances for the year ahead.

• Have your key financial goals changed?

Life is not constant and goals change slightly (or greatly) from year to year. Also, major life events such as serious illness, the birth of a child, inheritance, marriage and the death of a parent or spouse can all result in significant changes to your wealth management plan.

•  Prioritise your goals

It is important to rank and prioritise goals and decide in what timeframe you want to achieve them. Being realistic about your timeframe is essential to ensuring that your goals will be achieved.

• Short, medium or long-term?

Most industry experts agree that a short-term goal is one that can be achieved within a year or so.

Medium-term goals typically require two to five years, while long-term goals usually take longer than five years.

For example, reducing credit card debt is likely to be a short-term goal, whereas saving for a home deposit would often be a medium-term goal. Depending on your age, providing for retirement is a long-term goal.

• If your financial goals have changed, how will this affect your financial strategy?

This is where the advice of a financial adviser is critical. An adviser has the tools and knowledge to create projections that take into account changes to your goals, and changes to your timeframes for achieving them. These projections will help you to see where your plans for savings, assets or investment contributions may need updating.

•  Be savvy

Make sure that your investments and level of protection support your level of risk and your goals. An adviser can develop a tailored analysis that best suits your individual needs and provides ongoing portfolio management.

Reflecting and thinking about your financial position, as well as setting a clear path, is critical to making sure you can reach your goals. You don’t have to wait until the first day of January to review your financial situation.

Contact Wynyard Park Private Wealth today, so that you can get the help you need to achieve your ‘New Year’ resolutions.

Source: Zurich, October 2013