What's Your System?

Atomic Habits author James Clear writes about developing systems to build strong habits. “You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” 

If you want to create healthier financial goals, you need better systems.   

Using my three Ground Rules – Save, Invest, and Plan, I offer a few suggestions on systems and habits to develop.

SAVE – Make it automatic. Make sure contributions to your 401(k), IRAs, 529 Plans, and other accounts are set up to pay yourself first.

INVEST – The easiest way to maximize investment returns in your portfolio is through low-cost index funds. These funds allow you to ignore the stock market and focus on planning issues that count.

PLAN – Build a plan that addresses these five components:

1. Your savings today.
2. Your expected spending in retirement.
3. Your tolerance for risk as reflected in your asset allocation between stocks and bonds.
4. The expected increase of your spending – your personal inflation rate.
5. The expected growth rate of your portfolio.

What systems will you put in place this year to make your plan work?

Are you looking for guidance in creating a plan? Let’s connect. I’d love to help you reach your goals this year.