Matthew Littlemore, Orlando Financier, on Healthy Financial Goals

Like most things in life, finances require planning. People who want to achieve financial stability almost always benefit from making a plan. Research shows that people who write their financial goals down 42% more likely to reach them.

Financial success can almost never be attributed to luck alone. The truth is that people all make their luck. Those who are prepared can take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. On the other hand, people who don't prepare can find themselves drifting from one financial crisis to another for years.

The secret to avoiding upheaval is to make plans. In fact, making more than one is a good idea. In considering financial planning options, an A plan and B plan can both be useful. For example, most people can't afford to make big financial moves, even if they'd like to. But most people can probably plan to participate in a 401k. Lower-income workers may still want to take steps like buying savings bonds with a portion of their tax refund money.

There are plenty of good lists of financial goals to help people get started down a good pathway to stability. One of the most common tips is to start saving for retirement early. The simple fact is that compound interest on paltry retirement savings accumulated during a worker's 20s is important. Saving a little as a young person can have more impact than making big provision during their 40s and 50s.

Another common tip is to take advantage of employer savings plans. Companies often offer a matching program for 401k and 403b contributions. This is another way to really beef up savings for retirements. For first-time homebuyers, sometimes penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans are allowed. Retirement plans are a great way to level up in life.

Paying off debt and monitoring credit scores are also very important tips. Using credit responsibly helps people build a good reputation. When applying for loans and credit cards, issues like delinquent payments can scare creditors away. It's also not to be afraid of using credit. No one should be living off credit cards. But using credit responsibly can be a great way to manage emergency expenses and big purchases.

Taking the time to read up on financial strategies and write out a plan is a great way to ensure stability in life.

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This article was originally published matthewlittlemore.net

About the Author

Matthew Littlemore is a globally experienced financier living and working in Orlando, Florida. A leader in his field with 15+ years of experience, Matt has built his career on twin pillars of expertise in finance and in business intelligence. His experience and analytical approach to the latter in particular has set him apart from his peers. Follow Matthew on Twitter!

For more of Matthew Littlemore's blogs, visit matthewlittlemore.com & matthewlittlemore.net