Smart Money Strategy

CHAPTER 7Making a Plan: The Strategy Stacking Calendar

The reality is that even the best laid plans will only ever hit the road when you implement them. If you don't implement your plans, then they just become like all the other ideas that never see the light of day — and you never move forward. The same can be said for your own financial planning strategy stacks. You should set yourself a time frame. Exact dates aren't necessary, but monthly or yearly time frames certainly provide good direction to help you achieve your short-, medium- and long-term goals — your ‘why’.

I'm sure we all have things in the past that we've either missed or skipped. Some of them might have been things related to your financial life. It's not a great feeling and it might lead to regret. I've seen this kind of regret a lot in my line of work. So many times I've heard the words, ‘I wish I had done that sooner.’

We often don't give ourselves the best chance of success because we're too busy working or worrying about other people. I see this with clients all the time. They prioritise the needs of their employer or their career over the need to pause and take stock of their own financial life. Other clients do it with family or other important people in their life, prioritising others first before they look after themselves. If you're one of those people on the career ladder, or you're putting others before yourself, I genuinely encourage you to take some time out. Your personal goals and your ‘why’ ...