About now most of us are trying to forget our failed New Year’s resolutions. One of the most common resolutions has to do with improving our appearance and health through weight loss and exercise. But let’s face it, if we all stuck to those goals we would all look like the casting call at the latest version of Bay Watch. That just isn’t happening. One of the reasons for resolution failure is our society’s focus on instant gratification.
Meryl Streep summed it up by saying, “Instant gratification isn’t soon enough.”
James Dean had a different perspective. He said, “The gratification comes in the doing, not in the result.”
In other words the process and the plan are important.
Thomas Edison was so focused on the process he said this, “The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration.”
When it comes to managing money, Dave Ramsey described it this way, “Give every dollar you earn a name.”
In other words have a handle on where your money is going and why. Have goals for your money in the present and future. Be intentional. Ramsey lays out several “Components of a Healthy Financial Plan.” Among them are saving for an emergency and debt reduction. These are short term goals that make a lot of sense when thinking in terms of securing your financial situation.
Looking at the long term Ramsey recommends health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and retirement savings. Each of these is a means to deal with those “rock your world” events that happen to us all. Most authors you read or speakers you listen to who deal with goal setting, talk about spelling out specific definable steps.
On the topic financial planning, it’s wise to include your husband or wife and a trusted advisor. Financial planning with insurance and savings offers many options and can be complex. Sitting down with a knowledgeable, experienced professional is valuable. Each situation is different so the exact recommended tools and steps applied to secure your financial future are unique. Some of the tools in a financial advisor’s toolbox; like life insurance, health insurance and retirement savings, will help you deal with those “rock your world” events.
Leonardo da Vinci wisely said, “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”
“Happen to” your financial future.
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