Don’t answer the question with a question. This is what we are taught, right? Of course, answering the question at issue is a way to frustrate the hell out of those who want a direct answer. But in other cases it is appropriate. Case in point: When I asked about the necessity of a written financial plan, I break the cardinal rule again and again, answering this question with a question:
What will happen to your family if you were not here tomorrow?
What impact will suffer injury leading to disability have you and your family?
You are protected from catastrophic loss due to an accident or the events of nature?
Can you pay for college education for your child?
You will pay more taxes than necessary?
When you or you retire?
What does retirement look like for you?
How much money is enough for retirement?
Will you survive your money?
You maximize your investment?
How much you want to donate, and for whom?
These questions and many others may or may not be new to you. I think we all raised and addressed similar issues from time to time, again and again. But I hope that by asking these questions again, the idea is beginning to emerge – that these questions, and answers to them, disappear when they are not transformed into permanent form.
The fact is, people who do not have a formal written financial plan actually have an informal financial plan. This informal financial plan is their historical structure of financial solutions and financial behavior. When woven together, this historical structure of financial solutions and financial behavior can be difficult to change, like any other habit.
Time and effort in order to reflect on the important issues, to think deeply about them, and produces refined written financial plan offers a variety of long-term benefits. You can create a comprehensive plan, which may include risk management, college funding, tax planning, retirement planning, investment planning and estate planning. You can clearly define the goals and objectives and increase your ability to plan for their achievement. You significantly improve awareness of the many choices available. You identify significant risks. You bring both order and discipline in your financial affairs and make informed decisions.
Most importantly, there is a written plan. It can be read again and again, to the extent necessary to deepen their commitments.
When you understand, internalize and write down what you want to achieve, why you want to achieve, and how and where it can be done, then you have to take responsibility for your financial plan. And you also developed a powerful agent of change who can help you break the chain usually financial decisions and financial behavior.
In so much to gain, the answer seems obvious. But, I will go ahead and answer the question with a question … You need a written financial plan?
For more advice about financial planning, please visit this financial planning website.
There and useful knowledge about it.