As 2013 is beginning to wrap up and we start planning for the new year it is often a time of reflection and review. Reflecting on what you have done or been or seen over the last 12 months and what you would like to be doing and being in the new year!
As part of our overall financial planning approach we often ask clients some really specific questions around how things might look or feel.
The idea is that if you can be really clear and specific around your goals and plans in life they are more likely to be achieved. It also means that if you have some hardship in getting to your goal you can reflect on what life is going to look, be and feel like once you achieve it!
Goal and Life Planning is such a fluid process but during this time of year of reflection and review it is a good time to start asking yourself what you you want like to look like in 2014?
Some great questions which you could answer include the following and if you are more creative type then i have had clients sometime do up a vision board or paint a picture of their outcomes and goals which is a really awesome privilege to be apart of.
THE QUESTIONS FOR YOUR LIFE IN 2014!
1. What does your ideal life look like?
2. What does your ideal life feel like?
3. What does your ideal life sound like?
4. What are you doing?
5. Who are you with?
6. Who are you being?
As an example think about this in the terms such as: It is Christmas day 2014 and I am hosting my family Christmas in my new House. It is the perfect home and space for entertaining with a large kitchen and outdoor entertainment space. I have enjoyed an inspiring year working in my small business and am really proud that I have been able to achieve profitability and work life balance with my family and friends. I am also really enjoyed the challenges with the volunteer work I have been doing.
When it comes to what your hope and dreams for the future we always say dont worry about how you will achieve it. Just put down the things you want to be doing and seeing and being. This will then help to inform your financial strategies and this is when a financial adviser can then assist you with prioritising the areas in your financial life today, do some modelling to see what (if any) financial impact there may be and how achievable your overall.
If you need assistance in exploring these further talk to a professional but most importantly start your journey to being free around your money and creating wealth with understanding.
Scott Malcolm (scott@money-mechanics.com.au) is Director of Money Mechanics a fee for service advice firm who are authorised to provide financial advice through PATRON Financial Advice AFSL 307379.
The information provided on this article is of a general nature only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.