If your financial plan for 2017 didn’t work out the way you wanted it to, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, ask yourself the following questions to determine what you can learn from reflecting on your financial situation in the last year.
Did you meet your financial goals and expectations for 2017?
Perhaps you started the year with some financial goals in mind. You wanted to establish a budget that you could stick to, or maybe you hoped to build up your
emergency savings fund throughout the year. If you fell short of accomplishing these or other goals, think about the reasons why. Were your goals specific? Did you
develop a realistic timeframe for when they would be achieved? If not, learn to set attainable and measurable goals for your finances in the new year.
How did your investments perform?
A year-end review of your overall portfolio can help you determine whether your asset allocation is balanced and in line with your time horizon and goals. If one
type of investment performed well during the year, it could represent a greater percentage of your portfolio than you initially wanted. As a result, you might
consider selling some of it and using that money to buy other types of investments to rebalance your portfolio. Keep in mind that selling investments could result in
a tax liability. And remember, asset allocation does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss; it is a method to help manage investment risk. All investing
involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there is no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful.
Are your retirement savings on track?
Did you contribute the amount you wanted in 2017? Or did unexpected financial emergencies force you to borrow or withdraw money from your retirement
savings? In that case, you can help your savings recover by contributing the most you can to your employer-sponsored retirement plan and taking advantage of
employer matching (if it’s available to you). Contributing to a 401(k) or 403(b) plan can help you save more consistently because your contributions are
automatically deducted from your salary, helping you avoid the temptation to skip a month now and then.
| IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. does not provide investment, tax, legal, or retirement advice or recommendations. The information presented here is not specific to any individual’s personal circumstances. To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances. These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable — we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice. This communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in the state(s) of AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, MI, MN, NY, NC, OH, SC, TX, VA, WA and WV. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside the specific states referenced. |
| Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2017. |
