
Seven Steps to Sustained Stability
Financial security, healthy lifestyles, and relaxing retirements are three common goals in today’s society. In order to generally be successful in all three of these areas, one needs to plan early. We suggest following seven steps outlined below.
Seven Steps to Sustained Stability
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Step 1: Invest
Simply put, investing may make your money last longer. But, you have to start early. Regardless of the size of your investment, the longer you invest, the more likely your money will compound and grow. In addition to investing early, investing often and with discipline, can cut the average cost of investments.
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Step 2: Save
If you spend all of your earnings, you will not be able to have funds to invest. Similar to investing, you should start saving early and often. Even if the sum you put away is small, your savings will grow over time. It might be hard to put your hard earned money away and out of sight, but, everyone knows they must do just that.
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Step 3: Spend Within Your Means
Living within your means enables unspent money to be saved and invested. If you spend more than you make, debt is the result, which causes financial insecurity as well as stress in your already demanding life. Additionally, the longer you are in debt, the more your debt increases, as interest capitalizes on top of a balance. This is a cycle that is hard to overcome.
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Step 4: Watch Added Expenses
Seemingly minor costs can add up. For example, adding extra avocado to a salad might sound enticing in the moment, but the extra dollar contributes to additional expenses. Another example of added expenses is forgetting to cancel a free trail, resulting in continued payments. If you are not thinking about the little things, you can ultimately spend a large amount of money. In essence, being cognizant of your spending habits may enable you to save, over time.
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Step 5: Budget
With a set plan for your necessary expenses and a few personal luxuries, you will have fewer financial surprises. Creating a budget allows for you to be able to have realistic financial expectations, whilst understanding where to save and when to splurge.
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Step 6: Make Knowledgeable Career and Lifestyle Choices
Find a job you’re passionate about, to motivate you to succeed. Working 40+ hours a week in an uninspiring job may discourage you, cause career stagnation, or lead you to quit, thus having career instability. In addition to this, you have to be honest with yourself. If you want to live a more luxurious lifestyle, then you have to work harder for a career that can help you attain this. In all, knowing your lifestyle goals and passions will help sustain your career, and in turn, your finances.
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Step 7: Know That You Are Not Alone
Throughout your career and professional journey, it’s important to recognize that you are not alone in making financial and investment decisions. It is also crucial to know who you can trust and to know what your goals are. Although much of the prior six points are able to be accomplished alone or with family, your financial security may be on more sturdy footing if you have a financial professional by your side, collaborating with trusted communication and advice.
Investing in securities is speculative and entails risk, including potential loss of principal. Asset allocation does not guarantee a profit nor protect against a loss.
This material is not a recommendation as defined in Regulation Best Interest adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is provided to you after you have received Form CRS, Regulation Best Interest disclosure and other materials.
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