Investing without Financial Plan and Goals

Article by Christopher KT Chew

Investing is a serious activity and many of us are oftentimes not qualified nor experienced to make wise investment decisions without help. This article will discuss a most important pre-requisite to making wise investments, viz. the need for SMART goals and a comprehensive financial plan.

As a licenced financial planner and a business and financial advisor to small and medium companies, I am often asked to give investment tips or advice. Whether I am a fantastic investment guru or tipster or not is immaterial as I would always avoid answering such questions without knowing and understanding the financial background, status and financial goals of the questioner. This article is not intended to be a primer in investing or financial planning as one can select a book on the subject in any good high street or online bookstore. Rather, I would like to share what I consider to be the top amongst the many pre-requisites an investor should consider before making an investment decision.

Planning in general is an activity we engage in all the time – planning for a holiday, planning for a wedding, or planning for any other event or planning to achieve a particular objective. However, how many of us really get involved in developing a truly comprehensive personal financial plan and implement the same? If not, why not?
The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc (CFPBSI) defines financial planning as “the process of meeting your life goals through the proper management of your finances”. Life goals are goals dear to us that we would like see come to pass, especially during our lifetime. Such goals can be as simple as saving to buy a car or for a cruise around the world, or a bit more challenging in investing to mitigate the effects of inflation in planning for retirement.

In goal setting, it is imperative that we be rational and do not set goals that will be too difficult to achieve in the timeframe required else we can be truly discouraged and discard the plan altogether. Thus, it is good to follow the SMART principle, taught in Management 101, which states that our goals should be Specific (say, save to buy our particular dream car), Measurable (say, save ,000 to buy a car), Achievable (say, plan to buy a car costing a sum we can afford), Realistic (as in planning to buy a car and not a trip to the moon although it can come true for some), and Timely (say, achievable within a reasonable time period).

Knowing our SMART financial goals will enable us to plan how to achieve them. If we are not sure how to develop a financial plan that is workable for us, we can seek the services of a financial planner. A point to note is to ensure that we consult a financial planner that is adequately qualified (say, having the CFPBSI’s Certified Financial Planner certification that is recognized worldwide) and experienced (and perhaps licenced to practice as a financial planner by the appropriate authorities to ensure accountability and ethical behavior).

In summary, the above is what I consider the essential pre-requisite to investing and the others perhaps can be the subject of a follow-up article by this writer. A last piece of advice is to re-emphasise the fact that we should not make any investment decisions that can adversely impact our financial well-being until we have a sound financial plan, and if professional advice is required, do always consult a qualified and licenced financial planner to help develop one’s personal financial plan. Always remember this well-known adage – FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL.

Investing with out Monetary Plan and Objectives

In instances of plenty, we seek out secure haven for surplus money that will generate passive earnings for the foreseeable future. In moments of need to have, some of us get desperate steps to enhance our cash supply to meet the demands of the day. Both actions necessitate expense decisions, selections that many of us are oftentimes not capable nor knowledgeable to make properly without having aid. As a result, begs the need to know the solutions to the four “wives” (why, when, exactly where, who) and 1 “husband” (how) questions with respect to investing and monetary arranging. This write-up will talk about the two most essential pre-requisites to creating wise investments.

As a licenced financial planner and a enterprise and monetary advisor to small and medium businesses, I am typically asked to give expense ideas or suggestions. Regardless of whether I am a amazing expense guru or tipster or not is immaterial as I would often stay away from answering this kind of concerns without figuring out and knowing the fiscal qualifications, position and fiscal objectives of the questioner. This post is not supposed to be a primer in investing or financial planning as 1 can choose a guide on the issue in any excellent higher street or on the internet bookstore. Relatively, I would like to share what I take into account to be the prime two amongst the many pre-requisites an investor need to think about before making an investment choice.

Planning in basic is an activity we engage in all the time – preparing for a vacation, organizing for a wedding ceremony, or preparing for any other function or arranging to accomplish a distinct objective. Even so, how a lot of of us genuinely get concerned in creating a truly complete individual fiscal plan and carry out the exact same? If not, why not?

The Licensed Economic Planner Board of Standards, Inc (CFPBSI) defines economic organizing as “the method of meeting your daily life goals through the correct management of your finances”. Daily life goals are goals dear to us that we would like see arrive to pass, specially for the duration of our life span. Such ambitions can be as basic as saving to purchase a auto or for a cruise all around the planet, or a bit far more demanding in investing to mitigate the results of inflation in planning for retirement.

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In aim setting, it is essential that we be rational and do not set goals that will be too challenging to accomplish in the timeframe necessary else we can be actually discouraged and discard the plan completely. As a result, it is great to follow the Intelligent principle, taught in Management 101, which states that our goals should be Particular (say, conserve to obtain our distinct dream car), Measurable (say, save ,000 to obtain a vehicle), Achievable (say, strategy to buy a vehicle costing a sum we can pay for), Reasonable (as in planning to acquire a vehicle and not a journey to the moon even though it can arrive correct for some), and Timely (say, achievable inside a sensible time period of time).

Realizing our Wise monetary objectives will enable us to plan how to obtain them. If we are not confident how to develop a economic program that is workable for us, we can find the companies of a economic planner. A level to notice is to guarantee that we check with a financial planner that is adequately capable (say, getting the CFPBSI’s Certified Economic Planner certification that is identified around the world) and knowledgeable (and probably licenced to practice as a fiscal planner by the acceptable authorities to make sure accountability and ethical behavior).

Prior to producing any investment decisions, it is needed that we understand ourselves in relation to our personal economic chance profile. All of us take pitfalls in our day-to-day lives and these could contain crossing a chaotic road, or taking a flight somewhere, or even obtaining married taking into consideration the rising number of separations/divorces. It is crucial to notice that different individuals have diverse thresholds in the level of danger they are inclined to take for any quantity of reasons. 

Assuming a risk that we are not ready or able to cope with may outcome in adverse outcomes and detrimental to our health. Likewise, the degree of economic chance we are prepared to suppose or can tolerate should be meticulously evaluated and this kind of an workout will typically be based on a set of requirements pertinent to each personal.  In addition, the danger profile of an specific can transform as his or her personal status alterations and it is normally accepted that a more youthful particular person can presume a greater financial threat in comparison to a man or woman nearing retirement as the former has time to accumulate or recoup losses due to expense selections not realizing their preferred potential.

As a result, it is wise to comprehend our economic danger appetite and risk profile so that the investment choices we make will commensurate with our danger profile. Expense chances abound in the marketplace for all risk profile types, whether 1 is regarded as a conservative or can consider high threat.

, the previously mentioned are what I consider the two crucial pre-requisites to investing and the other individuals mostly pertain to facts in knowledge investing, expense tactics, and expense opportunities that can be found in any good investment text guides or content, advice from expense professionals or economic planners, or possibly can be the subject of a follow-up write-up by this author. A very last piece of assistance is to re-emphasise the reality that we should not make any investment decisions that can adversely affect our fiscal well-being right up until we have a sound financial plan, and if specialist advice is necessary, do often consult a qualified and licenced economic planner to aid produce one’s private economic strategy. Usually remember this well-acknowledged adage –