Financial Services Review | Tuesday, December 12, 2023
There are many different ways to develop a financial plan. However, the eight crucial components every plan needs are included in this article.
FREMONT, CA: Financial planning is an assessment of one's financial status that includes the summation of factors like income, debt, investments, and assets. Its objective is to formulate strategies to achieve better financial status in the future. It is conducted in a systematic process, summarising eight essential components that are crucial for achieving the desired outcome.
Financial Goals
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Financial goals constitute a key foundation in financial planning, representing a set of objectives that help one organise capital utilisation. To ensure adequate financial planning, it is important to have a clear picture of every little spending and the date these spending will occur. These goals are divided into three types, depending on their duration.
Short-term goals: Goals that one wants to achieve in the next 5 years.
Medium-term goals: Goals that one wants to achieve in the next 5 to 10 years.
Long-term goals: Goals that one wants to achieve in over a decade.
Net Worth Statement
The next step in financial planning is to assess one’s net worth, which helps them evaluate their financial status. Calculating the net worth is easy, as individuals can determine it by subtracting their total liabilities (credit cards, loans) from their total assets (savings, investments, and personal properties).
Budget and Cash Flow Planning
Budgeting helps people determine their expenses, where they have to spend, and where they can reduce expenditures to meet their goals. When summarising a budget, one can separate their expenses into two parts: essential items such as rent and groceries and nonessential items such as leisure dining and gym.
Debt Management Plan
When managing high-interest debt, it becomes necessary to formulate an effective way to pay it off quickly. Sometimes, one can struggle to figure out a way. In this instance, one can reach out to a financial advisor, who can help them determine how much debt is realistically payable from their budget.
Retirement plan
An individual will need approximately 80 per cent of their current income to keep their living standards post-retirement. However, overlooking the possibility of debt and other additional expenses, this scenario might not be reliable for many.
The aforementioned rule can be applicable if one is saving 20-30 per cent of their current income, which can cover expenses like debt. Otherwise, it is wiser to aim to cover 100 per cent of income after retirement.
Emergency Funds
As the name suggests, emergency funds are necessary to counter unforeseen situations, such as losing a job or having to pay urgent medical bills.
The future is unpredictable. To be safe, it is always advised to have enough emergency funds to last over three months, covering all the daily expenses, including groceries, transportation, and housing. It is best to put this money in a highly liquid setting to access it when the time arrives quickly.
Insurance Funds
Insurance is an essential part of protection during financial downside, but one must be careful not to overspend on unnecessary coverage. Mentioned below are the four essential insurances one needs:
Health Insurance: Covering medical needs, health care insurance backs one up in a medical emergency. Moreover, health insurance can cover routine checkups, surgeries, and hospitalisation expenses.
Disability Insurance: This protects individuals and their dependents if they cannot provide for them. Employer-provided disability insurance can cover up to 60 per cent of one’s salary.
Auto and Homeowners/Renter’s Insurance: A necessary insurance for those who own a car or home and do not have any means to replace it. Auto insurance provides financial assistance in case of accidents and vehicle theft. Similarly, homeowners insurance covers expenses in cases of natural calamities and house fires.
Life Insurance: Life insurance is a must-have insurance for those with dependents, as it safeguards from unfortunate financial losses that may occur after the policyholder’s demise.
Estate Plan
Lastly, it is important to have a will that properly states how an individual wants to divide assets among the dependents and who they want to administer their estate. One must keep their beneficiaries updated on insurance policies and retirement accounts to ensure a smooth transfer of assets, avoiding potential conflicts. Also, they should consider establishing power of attorney to manage their financial and healthcare decisions, for instance, if they become disabled.
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