Setting Financial Goals for the New Year
As 2025 comes to a close, the transition into a new year offers a powerful opportunity to reflect, reset, and realign your financial strategy. Whether you're preparing for retirement, planning a business exit, or simply seeking greater clarity in your financial life, setting intentional goals for 2026 can help you move forward with purpose.
Goal setting is more than wishful thinking—it’s about creating a roadmap that connects your values to your financial decisions. The most effective goals are specific, measurable, and aligned with both short-term priorities and long-term aspirations.
Yet surprisingly, only 33% of Americans have a written financial plan, according to Charles Schwab’s Modern Wealth Survey. Among business owners, just 37% review their financial plans before year-end. Even among high-net-worth individuals, nearly 40% admit they lack confidence in maintaining a financial strategy during market volatility. These gaps highlight a critical disconnect between wealth and intentional planning.
Define Personal, Professional, and Business Goals
Start by identifying what matters most across all areas of your life:
Personal goals might include saving for a second home, funding a child’s education, or increasing charitable giving.
Professional goals could involve career transitions, compensation planning, or maximizing retirement benefits.
Business goals may include succession planning, liquidity events, or reinvestment strategies.
Each goal should be supported by a clear financial strategy. For example, if you're planning to sell a business, your goals should include tax planning, cash flow modeling, and legacy considerations.
According to Upmetrics, businesses with formal plans grow 30% faster and are 2.5x more likely to secure funding than those without.
Align Your Financial Plan with Life Priorities
Financial planning should reflect your values, not just your balance sheet. Ask yourself:
Are my current investments aligned with my risk tolerance and time horizon?
Do my estate and legacy plans reflect my family and philanthropic priorities?
Is my cash flow structured to support both lifestyle and long-term goals?
Use this time to revisit your financial plan and ensure it’s responsive to life changes—whether that’s a new business venture, a shift in family dynamics, or evolving retirement timelines.
Among high-net-worth individuals, 82% cite generating income as their top investing goal, but 63% say creating happiness for others is their ultimate measure of success.
Do you have a written strategy to support these two priorities? If not, now is the time to collaborate with a team of advisors to help you get started.
Use Tools to Track and Measure Progress
Setting goals is only the beginning. Tracking progress is what turns intention into impact. Consider using:
Cash flow analysis to monitor income, expenses, and savings capacity
Investment dashboards to evaluate performance and allocation
Tax planning tools to project liabilities and identify opportunities
Legacy planning frameworks to visualize multi-generational impact
Starting 2026 with purpose means more than setting resolutions—it means building a financial strategy that reflects who you are and where you want to go. Whether your goals are personal, professional, or business-related, the key is clarity, alignment, and adaptability.
If you haven’t already, consider formalizing your goals in a written financial plan. The data is clear: businesses and individuals with documented strategies outperform those without. And in a world of complexity, clarity is your greatest asset.
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Building a financial strategy isn’t just about protecting assets—it’s about unlocking opportunity, reducing stress, and creating a legacy that reflects your values. Let us help you make 2026 your most intentional year yet.
This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.