Financial Planning As A Roadmap: Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Goals Explained | INVESTEDMOM
Let's not tip-toe around it. These last few years have been a doozy. From the slow recovery of unemployment after the COVID-19 pandemic, the volatility of the stock market, ever-growing inflation, and the uncertainty of job security for many people, it's not a surprise many people are feeling financially uncertain.
In fact, as of April 2023, 70% of Americans reported feeling financially stressed, and tech companies who have traditionally been high-paying, secure jobs have laid off more than 244,000 in one year, leaving many scrambling to find new positions and being unemployed for months at a time.
It's no surprise that people all around the world are looking for ways to be more financially resilient in the face of adversity. This article will help you understand the state of the world, learn the fundamentals of financial resilience, discuss strategies to enhance economic stability, and help you prepare for financial uncertainty.
Short-Term Financial Goals
Imagine short-term financial goals as the pit stops on your journey—they're close, tangible, and within reach. These goals typically have a time frame of less than a year. Whether dealing with immediate needs or achieving quick wins, short-term financial goals are essential for your financial well-being.
Examples of Short-Term Goals
Emergency Fund Creation: Building an emergency fund is like having a spare tire in your trunk. You don’t set out expecting to get a flat tire, but you’re sure happy to have a spare when you do.
Paying Off Credit Card Debt: Tackling high-interest credit card debt as a priority lightens your financial load and accelerates your progress.
Saving for a Vacation or Holiday: Saving for a vacation can be compared to planning a pit stop at a beautiful scenic spot along the way. It rewards your hard work and provides motivation to continue your financial journey.
Strategies for Achieving Short-Term Goals
Budgeting and Expense Tracking
Keeping a budget and monitoring expenses is foundational for short-term goal success and, really, all financial progress. This is one of the first actions in financial planning because your budget needs to reflect your goals in order to make progress toward them. Your short-term goals will take priority in your budget because of their timeline.
When you have a mix of short-, medium-, and long-term financial goals, your budget will be a constant work in progress. As you meet goals, or reach destinations along your journey, they’ll be taken off your itinerary and replaced with new stops. The allocation of your funds will change as you achieve your goals.
Closely monitor your expenses to make sure that they continue to reflect your priorities. If you’re finding yourself with regular expenses that are not in your budget, that’s a road sign that you need to reassess your map to make sure you planned for the best route.
Tips for Emergency Funds
Having an emergency fund is definitely a goal everyone should be working towards if they have not already achieved it. Having this fund in place provides a safety net when unexpected expenses pop up.
First and foremost, set a realistic savings goal. Aim to save at least three to six months' worth of living expenses. Start small if necessary, and gradually increase your savings rate as your financial situation improves.
Make your emergency fund easily accessible in a separate savings account so you can quickly get to it when needed but are less likely to mix it up with other dedicated funds. Stay committed to your savings plan, and consider automating your contributions to ensure consistency.
Remember, only dip into your emergency fund for genuine emergencies, like medical bills or unexpected job changes. If you do need to use part of a fully funded emergency account, remember to add new contributions to your budget to build it back up for next time.
Medium-Term Financial Goals
Think of medium-term financial goals as planning for a mid-way rest stop during your journey. These goals typically span between one to five years and often involve significant milestones like major purchases and skill development.
Examples of Medium-Term Goals
Buying a Car: Depending on your needs and desires, purchasing a vehicle can be a major decision that many people don’t plan for until it is needed.
Pursuing Higher Education: Acquiring new skills or knowledge and investing in higher education can be expensive, but it also opens up new opportunities and career paths with a high rate of return.
Saving for a Down Payment on a House: Having a down payment in hand is a step closer to securing your long-term financial future.
Strategies for Achieving Medium-Term Goals
Importance of Building Credit
Building and maintaining good credit is like keeping your passport in excellent condition and close at hand on your journey. To ensure your credit history opens doors and opportunities, consider these essential tips.
First, pay your bills on time, as late payments can negatively impact your credit score. Next, keep your credit card balances low and try to pay them off in full each month. A mix of different types of credit, such as credit cards, installment loans, and mortgages, can also positively impact your credit profile.
Regularly check your credit report for errors and inconsistencies, and dispute any inaccuracies you find. Avoid opening too many new credit accounts in a short period, as this can lower your credit score.
Exploring Income-Enhancing Opportunities
Obviously, having more income will accelerate your progress toward medium- and long-term goals, which can take a backseat to more immediate priorities. If you’re struggling to get your budget to reflect your planned timeline, consider adding a side hustle.
The opportunities for income-producing activities are endless in this day and age. No matter what your skills and interests are or how much extra time you have, you will be able to find something to enhance your current income. I’ve compiled a list of Top 20 Business Ideas to get you started.
Long-Term Financial Goals
Long-term financial goals are the ultimate destinations on your financial journey, like reaching the end of your cross-country road trip. These goals extend beyond five years and are focused on significant life events like retirement and wealth accumulation.
Examples of Long-Term Goals
Retirement Planning: Think of retirement as the ultimate destination, the point where you can kick back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your years of planning.
Generational Wealth Transfer: Passing on wealth to the next generation is like leaving a legacy for others to continue the journey you started.
Strategies for Achieving Long-Term Goals
Retirement Planning Options
In order to reach your final destination, you’ll need the right vehicle for the terrain you're crossing. Consider financial instruments, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, as options of vehicles to secure your financial future during your golden years.
A 401(k) is like a dedicated lane on the highway of retirement planning, often provided by employers, allowing you to contribute a portion of your pre-tax income into a tax-advantaged account.
An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is available to anyone, enabling you to save for retirement with tax advantages tailored to your specific needs. Both these retirement planning options allow you to grow your savings over time.
Investment Diversification
Think of diversifying your investments as ensuring different routes are available to reach your final destination. For your investments to thrive over the long haul, consider the following.
First, diversify among asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and alternative investments like commodities. This minimizes the impact of a poor-performing asset on your overall portfolio.
Secondly, choose a variety of individual investments or funds to spread risk further. Rebalance your portfolio periodically to see that it aligns with your long-term financial goals and risk tolerance.
Lastly, stay focused on your long-term objectives. Resist the temptation to make impulsive changes based on short-term market fluctuations.
Contrast the Differences Between Short-, Medium-, and Long-term Financial Goals
Just as some travelers prefer safer, more familiar routes, short-term financial goals are often associated with lower risk tolerance. The focus is on preserving what you have. On the other hand, medium-term goals involve a bit more adventure and may accept a little more risk. When you're pursuing long-term goals, it's like embarking on an epic journey: more significant risks with the potential for greater rewards.
Short-term goals require quick decision-making and adaptability, similar to navigating unexpected detours on your road trip. Medium-term goals allow for a bit more planning but still require adaptability. Long-term goals involve long stretches of the road, and being flexible in your approach is crucial to successfully reaching your destination.
Just as a road trip involves different types of stops, your financial journey relies on short-, medium-, and long-term goals. They're interconnected, with each goal building on the other. Short-term goals provide immediate stability, which supports medium-term goals. Success in both short and medium-term goals sets the stage for achieving long-term financial goals.
Conclusion
Understanding the intricacies of short-, medium-, and long-term financial goals is like learning to read a map. It's an essential skill, allowing you to chart your course and reach your desired destinations. By setting and achieving these goals, you're not just planning your finances; you're choosing your financial destination.
To help you create your financial plan, I’m working on an invaluable resource for travelers on their financial journey. Building Wealth Framework will be your roadmap to wealth and financial success, so keep an eye out for this upcoming book!
Now, start your journey today, create your financial goals of each type, and let Invested Mom be your trusted travel companion along the way. Happy travels!
Meet the Author:
Inge was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, and moved to Canada in 2010 looking for a better life. She always had an entrepreneurial spirit and started her first side hustle when she was 9 years old – selling fudge at school during lunch breaks.
It wasn’t until much later that she realized that saving isn’t enough to get ahead. She was always very interested in real estate, but saving up for a down payment was grueling and slow, and the demands of life kept getting in the way.
She started investing in herself and upgrading her skills while learning how to invest. She quickly became debt free and compounded her money at a staggering rate.
It wasn’t until she became a coach that she realized how significant an impact she can make in people’s lives by sharing her journey, learnings, and processes.
So here she is, advocating for everyone who is invested and wants to build their wealth, especially the mommas!