Goal-based financial planning is a personalised financial strategy that helps individuals navigate through their different stages of life and achieve their goals. This article aims to showcase how setting well-defined financial goals, grasping basic financial principles, and seeking professional advice can guide you towards financial success and achieve the lifestyle you desire!

Life goals
Setting out your financial goals and life goals is an important part of this process. This can help you stay focused in the face of setbacks, distractions and challenges. Your goal might be ‘I want to be debt-free by 50’, ‘I want to take my family on the holiday of a lifetime’, or ‘I want to retire at 55.’ Each goal becomes a milestone in your financial journey. This will allow you to see if you are on the right track, without worrying about how long it takes to get there.

Choose timely milestones
Effective money habits, a lifestyle that you can afford, and thinking about your family priorities are key factors in ensuring your money serves you well throughout your entire life.
No matter what stage you’re at, you should review your spending, saving and investing habits and align them with what truly matters.

Set realistic goals
It is important to set realistic goals. While it’s great to be optimistic, being overly optimistic can be detrimental.
Realistic goals are those that you can achieve given your current mindset, motivation, time frame, skills, and abilities.
Realistic goals will also help you identify what you want, and what you can accomplish. They will keep you on track and motivate you until completed.

Divide goals into smaller targets
You need to decide on your individual targets. These will determine how much money you can save and invest to reach your goals. Each financial goal is different, so it’s important to break down your goals into small, medium, and long time frames.
A rule of thumb is that any financial goal you would like to reach within 5 years should be considered short-term. Medium-term goals typically have a 5-10 year time frame. Lastly, goals that last more than 10 years should be considered long-term. This way of thinking will allow you to choose the right savings and investment strategy for your goals.
You should also assess what major purchases you plan to make (e.g., buying property or renovating your house), as well as evaluate the future stages of your life, and how and when you would like to retire.
Not to forget inflation, which must be taken into account when assigning a monetary value or target to a future financial goal. Knowing the inflation rate is important when saving or investing. It will influence how much you can make in real terms after inflation.

Transparency is paramount
Protecting your finances before you invest is important. Protecting your loved ones financially should be your top priority, without having to worry about investment uncertainty.
Talk about your goals with the people closest to you, and create plans together so you can align them.
A review of your assets, liabilities and incomes will give you a good starting point. This will allow you to clearly see where you stand and help identify areas that need consideration. This strategy will protect you and your family against unexpected events. This is crucial to any financial plan.
You should also ensure that you have a Will in place to protect your family. It’s important to think about how they would cope without your income in the event of your death or illness. Although not nice to think about, it is important to be realistic.

Explore tax liability
Tax rules are constantly changing, so it is important to stay educated and regularly review your tax affairs and plan accordingly. Tax planning affects all aspects of your financial affairs. There are many things you should be aware of, such as the effect of rising property values on gifts and inheritance tax, the right way to dispose of shares in a company, and how to transfer your estate.
Utilising tax allowances or reliefs can help reduce your tax liability, and make significant savings over the course of your life. You may pay more than you need if you do not plan ahead.

Set retirement goals
Setting retirement plans allows you to calculate the rate at which you will earn on your investments, what risk you should take, and how much income your portfolio can afford.
With the introduction of pension freedoms, the number of options for retirement has increased. You can choose to take your benefits in various ways, including buying an annuity, tax-free cash, or drawing income from your savings instead of your pension fund.

Remember, life is unpredictable
As life changes, you should expect to make adjustments. These adjustments can ensure you’re on track towards your goals. We recommend that our clients set up a formal annual review. This gives them more confidence and certainty in their financial decisions.

We can help you monitor your plan and make adjustments as your circumstances, goals, or time frames change. We offer an objective third-party perspective, as well as the expertise necessary to assist you with financial planning.

We can make a positive difference in your life by understanding your specific needs and lifetime financial goals. We offer a wide range of services and can tailor solutions to your needs. For more information or to arrange a meeting with one of our advisers, please contact us on enquiries@manningandco.co.uk
Your first consultation is free.