{"id":14541,"date":"2018-01-12T22:06:44","date_gmt":"2018-01-12T22:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/native\/uncategorized\/four-smart-steps-to-reach-your-financial-goals\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:34:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:34:16","slug":"four-smart-steps-to-reach-your-financial-goals","status":"publish","type":"native","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/native\/navy-federal\/four-smart-steps-to-reach-your-financial-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"Four smart steps to reach your financial goals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to improve your financial situation, then there\u2019s no time like the present. But focusing on an end goal can seem daunting if you\u2019re just getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The easiest way to set course for financial success is to imagine a series of steps. By completing each step, you can develop great habits and confidence with your money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Step one: Know your numbers<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research tells us only one in three Americans keeps a household budget. So if you\u2019re not budgeting, you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBudgeting is like creating a financial diet,\u201d said Kevin Driscoll, vice president of advisory services at Navy Federal Financial Group. \u201cWhen it\u2019s in writing, you\u2019ll realize where you can cut costs and where you should be focusing your attention to reach your goals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most people start by tracking their monthly expenses such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Income<\/li><li>Debt<\/li><li>Recurring expenses like your cable bill, taxes, insurance and any subscriptions<\/li><li>Routine costs like gas, groceries, clothing, haircuts, etc.<\/li><li>Non-routine costs like entertainment, vacations, birthdays, holidays, etc.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Debt, especially on credit cards, can be costly when interest payments add up. In fact, the average American household pays more than $900 a year in interest alone on their credit cards. \u201cKeep tabs of where you\u2019re paying the most in interest. Start there and make continued efforts to pay those debts,\u201d Driscoll added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Step two: Protect what\u2019s yours<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Life Insurance plays an important role in financial planning. It\u2019s not everyone\u2019s favorite topic, but it can go a long way for your legacy and the life you build for those you care about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your decision to get covered gives you peace of mind on big ticket items like your mortgage, or funding college education. You are essentially paying into a policy that protects your family and their future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navyfederal.org\/financial-group\/insurance\/life-insurance.php\">life insurance products<\/a> are designed to make this easy for you. You can choose a policy that\u2019s affordable and that makes sense for your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Step three: Fund your retirement<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the US Government Services Administration, you\u2019ll need about 80 percent of your pre-retirement income once you officially retire. Meaning, if you currently make $50,000, you\u2019ll need at least $40,000 per year in retirement, and you could eventually need more. So, where do you start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you\u2019re young, middle-aged, or approaching retirement, your first stop is your TSP or 401(k). These growth based accounts give you the power of compounded returns. The more you contribute, the more your savings can grow. If you don\u2019t have access to a workplace plan, or you\u2019re looking for another stream of income in retirement, consider opening your own<a href=\"https:\/\/www.navyfederal.org\/products-services\/checking-savings\/certificates.php?cmpid=PPC%7cGOOGLE%7c%7c%7c%7c%2Bnavy%20%2Bfederal%20%2Bira%20%2Bsavings%7c%7c%7c%7c\" title=\"\" class=\"\"> IRA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s easy to underestimate when it comes to retirement,\u201d said Driscoll. \u201cThere are so many variables when it comes to planning. Just because you\u2019re retired doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re exempt from taxes, or healthcare costs, to name a few. I\u2019d encourage everyone to meet with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navyfederal.org\/financial-group\/contact.php\" title=\"\" class=\"\">financial advisor<\/a> at some point to discuss their retirement plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Step four: Consider investing<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investing is a great way to build wealth, and by now there\u2019s a good chance you have a relationship with your bank or credit union. That\u2019s a great place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you prefer to work with a person, visit a branch or call your financial institution. If you prefer to do it yourself, there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.easystartinvestor.com\/easystart\/home\" title=\"\" class=\"\">DIY investing options<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are a few things you need to know before you start. First and foremost, there are no guarantees with investing as all investments carry some degree of risk. However, history shows that long term investing usually yields a return. This is something you\u2019ll want to read up on before you start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another important aspect of investing is diversification. Essentially, you don\u2019t want to put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify assets between stocks, bonds, cash and other investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Staying on track<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour first financial plan is important, but it won\u2019t be your last. As you progress through milestones like starting a family, getting a new job or moving, your situation will change. These are good reasons to take a look at your plan and adjust accordingly,\u201d said Driscoll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are unsure, seek help from a financial advisor. Your financial well-being and future are important, so enlisting the help of a professional is a great idea. With a confident outlook on your money, you\u2019ll be ready to take on opportunities to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nondeposit investment and insurance products are offered through Navy Federal Financial Group, LLC, (NFFG) and through its subsidiary, Navy Federal Brokerage Services, LLC (NFBS), a member of FINRA\/SIPC and an SEC registered investment advisory firm. Brokerage and advisory products are offered through NFBS. These products are not NCUA\/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guaranteed or obligations of the credit union, are not offered, recommended, sanctioned, or encouraged by the federal government, and may involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal. 1-877-221-8108.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":31471,"menu_order":0,"template":"single-native-legacy","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"11"},"advertiser":[3438],"class_list":["post-14541","native","type-native","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","advertiser-navy-federal"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"FUODH434KZHCLI7Z5PRIYJKLAI","arc_canonical_url":"\/native\/navy-federal\/2018\/01\/12\/four-smart-steps-to-reach-your-financial-goals\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Four smart steps to reach your financial goals - Army Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you want to improve your financial situation, then there\u2019s no time like the present. 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