5 ways to improve your financial health

Financial wellbeing is more than having a lot of money in savings or a retirement account. It’s about the peace of mind you have when you know you are taking control of your personal finances. As you improve your financial health, your stress levels about money can start to ease. Perhaps you sleep better at night. You likely feel more in control of your life and the decisions you're making that can affect your finances.

Everybody has different goals or a different view of what “success” for financial health looks like, but here are a few ways you can assess your situation and begin to make improvements.

How to start to improve financial health

1. commit to doing it

If you’re reading this article, you have already begun your financial health journey. It’s about taking an honest look at where your money is coming from and where it’s going. This can be a daunting exercise because of the judgment or emotions we often associate with our finances. Maybe we feel pressure to compare ourselves to other people, such as friends and family, colleagues or even social media contacts. Or perhaps we feel guilty over some expense or another, or we are really anxious about being able to pay for retirement. Taking the first step to commit to your financial health goes a long way toward setting you on the right path.

2. Break it down

Setting goals is a great incentive for taking control of your financial health and sticking with it. Whatever your goals – from a long-awaited vacation to early retirement – you need to know how much it will cost, how much you’ll need to save and when you’ll need the money. What does your life look like, ideally, in five, 10 or 20 years? From those figures, you can work out how much to set aside each month or week. It’s often easier for us to envision saving $96 per week rather than $5,000 in a year, for example – and it can be more achievable that way. Just like in weight-loss goals, breaking it down can make it feel more achievable. So, those who aim to lose two pounds a week, for example, are often more successful than those who try to lose 25 pounds in three months. The same principles apply to improving your financial health. Break down the numbers into smaller, more manageable goals. Starting small is better than not starting at all. And track your progress. This can help reinforce your sense of being in control of your finances and it gives you something to feel good about!

3. Set it and forget it

Automating your savings is a great way to help achieve your goals: whether you’re putting money into a health savings account, an IRA, a 529 or a regular savings account, automate your contributions so that they just happen on the schedule you have set out. What’s more, some of the ways you can save, such as matching your employer contribution into a 401(k), can have tax benefits as well – so you’re saving more than the amount of your initial contribution.

4. Do some financial housekeeping

We all have various accounts with multiple statements, documents and emails – it can get overwhelming to keep track. Getting it all organized is a powerful way to reclaim control and have a more complete picture of your overall financial health. For example:

• Review your insurance coverage (life, disability, long-term care, umbrella liability and property coverage, including home and auto) to confirm your coverage is current and complete.
• Track down old or forgotten 401(k) plans with the U.S. Department of Labor’s search tool and request a meeting with your advisor to discuss options for consolidating assets.
• Check and update the beneficiaries on all life insurance and retirement accounts.
• Review your estate planning documents, including your will, trusts, medical directives and powers of attorney, and update them as needed. Be sure your digital assets and accounts are included in your plan.
• Help protect yourself from cyberfraud by resetting your passwords and using biometrics or multifactor authentication on all your online financial accounts.

5. Enlist the help of an advisor

If you’re reassessing your goals, it may be a great time to meet with a financial advisor. He or she can help you find efficient ways to help improve your financial health and keep your savings goals on track.

Financial wellbeing comes more easily when we feel in control and are confident that we’re doing everything we can to achieve our goals. By following these five steps, you’ll be well on your way with a plan to improve your financial health that could last for years to come.