While there are many ways to go about developing a financial plan—do it yourself, use a robo-advisor, work with a financial planner, or a combination thereof—Schwab has identified eight critical components every plan should include, regardless of the method used to create it. So, what does a good financial plan look like?
You can't make a financial plan until you know what you want to accomplish with your money—so whether you're creating it yourself or working with a professional, your plan should start with a list of your goals, both big and small, and the time horizons to accomplish them. Doing so can help to organize each objective by how soon you'll need the money:
For each goal, specify a dollar figure and a target date. "The more specific your goals, the easier it is to measure your progress toward them," said Rob Williams, managing director of financial planning at the Schwab Center for Financial Research.
A host of online tools can help you run the numbers, weigh competing priorities, and determine the best course of action for you. Also, if you have multiple goals to work toward, a robo-advisor, or automated investing platform, can help you weigh the importance of each goal, ranking them by needs, wants, and wishes.
Ideally, you start investing for financial goals early in life, but any time is a good time to check in on your current financial situation and assess how you're doing. Are you still on track? Do you have other goals you hadn't previously considered? Having a financial plan helps you assess where you are today and where you want to go next.
Knowing your net worth today can serve as a baseline for framing your financial goals and setting a target for your net worth at some point in the future, like in retirement. To determine your net worth, make a list of all your assets (bank and investment accounts, real estate, valuable personal property) and another one of all your debt (credit cards, mortgages, or student loans). Your assets minus your liabilities equals your net worth.
"Don't be discouraged if your liabilities outweigh your assets," Rob said. "That's not uncommon when you're just starting out—especially if you have a mortgage and student loans."
Your budget is really where the rubber meets the road, planning-wise. It can help you determine where your money is going each month and where you can cut back to meet your goals.
A budget calculator can help ensure you don't overlook irregular but important expenses, such as car repairs, out-of-pocket health care costs, and real estate taxes. As you're compiling your list, separate your expenses into two buckets: must-have items like groceries and rent, and nice-to-haves like eating out and gym memberships.
When considering how your goals fit into your budget, you may want to pressure-test it using "what if" scenarios: What if you want or need to retire earlier? What if you downsized your mortgage? Some robo-advisors offer tools that allow you to adjust certain assumptions to see how they could affect your savings strategy.
Debt is sometimes treated like a four-letter word, but not all debt is bad debt. A mortgage, for example, can help build equity—and boost your credit score in the bargain. High-interest consumer debt like credit cards, on the other hand, can weigh heavily on your credit score. Plus, every dollar you pay in finance charges and interest is one you can't put toward other goals.
If you have high-interest debt, make sure you create a plan that can help you pay it off as quickly as possible. If you're not sure where to start, a financial advisor can help you prioritize, then determine how much of your budget should go toward your debt each month.
An old guideline says you'll need approximately 80% of your present income in retirement. However, this assumes that retiring will free you from any work-related expenses, that you've paid off your mortgage, that any children will be financially independent, and you'll likely fall into a lower tax bracket.
It's also important to keep in mind that Medicare doesn't cover everything, and health care expenses that Medicare doesn't cover—such as long-term care—can add up quickly. You also might spend more on other things in retirement, like travel, dining out, gifts, or financial support to a relative or friend.
Plugging in different scenarios into a retirement savings calculator can help you figure out what you may need in retirement.
If you're saving 20% – 30% of your pre-retirement income, then the 80% income-replacement rule is a good place to start. Otherwise, it's safer to aim at covering 100% of your pre-retirement income, minus whatever you're saving for retirement. As with any general rule, there are plenty of exceptions. So be sure to sit down and fine-tune your retirement budget as the time draws near. This should be your top priority because you can borrow for most other goals but not for retirement.
When something unexpected happens—say you lose your job or get hit with an unexpected medical bill—an emergency fund can help you avoid tapping your long-term savings to make ends meet.
It's generally a good idea to save enough to cover at least three months'—but ideally six months'—worth of essential living expenses (for example, groceries, housing, transportation, and utilities). Save this money in a checking or savings account so you can access it in a hurry should the need arise.
Insurance is an important part of protecting your financial downside—but try to ensure you're not overpaying for coverage you don't need and make sure to cover all your bases:
At a minimum, most people want a will in place, which states your final wishes with regards to your assets, dependents, and who you want to administer your estate. You should also keep the beneficiaries of your insurance policies and retirement accounts up to date. Also consider establishing powers of attorney for financial and health care decisions, in case you become incapacitated.
For help getting started or tackling more complex estate-planning tasks, consider working with an estate attorney or a qualified financial planner.
