January is the month to make resolutions, and while you might think things like vacations and weight loss are topping the lists, more Canadians have money on the brain than anything else. Several polls by financial institutions over the past month, show the trend towards money being a priority for most, and paying down debt and saving is at the top of those lists.
This week a poll by BMO Financial Group has made the media circuit, finding that 63% of Canadians spend more time thinking about finances than any other area of their lives. What might be more interesting than that, is that fewer of those people actually have a financial plan in place (59% in 2013).
Anything you do in your life that involves money, needs to have a plan. A financial plan might sound intimidating, but it actually just outlines your personal and financial goals, and how you’ll go about achieving them. Whether it be buying a home, saving for a trip, retirement, etc., having a plan in place will actually put things at ease.
If finances is a part of your resolutions or goals for this year, it never hurts to talk to a professional to get you on the right track. If you’re looking at homeownership this year, I’m always more than happy to sit down and help you create a financial plan to make that happen. And if you’re looking for guidance in other areas of financial planning, feel free to ask me for some recommendations of financial planners I work with.
Best of luck with your financial goals in 2014!
