Financial planning is often compared to planning a trip. When traveling, you need to know where you want to go and how you're going to get there. Likewise, a financial plan can help you determine where you want to be (i.e. the financial goals you want to accomplish), where you are right now (i.e. how your finances are looking currently), and the steps to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

Check back soon for our Guide to Financial Planning.

Set aside your SMART goals. Where we're going, we don't need roads! I mean... we don't need SMART goals. If you want to accomplish any goal, you need to focus on the process, not necessarily the destination. Find out how slow and steady really does win the race, and why consistency is king when it comes to accomplishing any goal.

Check back soon for our Guide to Accomplishing Financial Goals.

Having a plan for how you are going to spend (or allocate) your money each month is at the heart of your financial plan and is probably the greatest key to your financial success. A spending plan is about using your money purposefully; it is not about restricting your spending.

Check back soon for our Guide to Spending Plans.

Death and taxes, ugh. Not interesting! These are probably the least interesting topics in financial planning. We won't cover taxes, but we do need to address insurance and how it can protect you in cases like premature death, disability, illness, or property loss. We will keep the conversation short and engaging so you can get back on your journey.

Check back soon for our Guide to Insurance.

Emergency funds can serve as a financial first-aid kit for when life throws you a curveball. Life's unexpected events such as illness, job loss, or a car breakdown can create significant financial stress. An adequate emergency fund helps to cover these unexpected expenses so you don't have to go into debt or derail your financial goals.

Check back soon for our Guide to Emergency Funds.

Debt can be a major obstacle on your journey to financial freedom. A high-interest credit card, a personal loan, or other forms of debt can drag you down and prevent you from achieving your financial goals. But don't despair, there are simple strategies to help you get out from under it.

Check back soon for our Guide to Non-Mortgage Debt.

Now that you've got your starter emergency fund established and your debts in check, it's time to revisit your emergency fund. You may need to add more to your emergency fund to provide a larger buffer that can absorb the impact of life's unexpected events.

Check back soon for our Guide to Emergency Funds (Revisited).

If insurance and taxes are the topics that people want to talk about the least, investing is the opposite! Investing is all about your future and your dreams. But investing can be very intimidating. We will help you get started in a way that's easy to understand and won't leave you feeling lost.

Learn more about investing with confidence in our Guide to Investing.

The last major obstacle standing between you and the open road of financial freedom is your mortgage. We will explore mortgage debt, tax breaks you can get with a mortgage, and whether those tax breaks make sense for you.

Check back soon for our Guide to Mortgage Debt.

How do you retire and ensure that you can stay retired? Are you getting a late start and wondering if you have any chance at retirement? We will address these issues and offer some possible solutions. Retirement may not be out of reach if you are willing to try some new things and work at it.

Check back soon for our Guide to Retirement.