Set Financial Goals

Be Smart About Your Goals

Perhaps you'd like to take a vacation next summer. Or, maybe you hope to go back to school in the next five years. Whatever your goals might be, you have a better chance of achieving them if you write them down. As you list your goals, divide them into three categories: short-term, medium-term, and long-term.

• Short-term goals might include buying a new computer, or paying off credit card debt. 
• Medium-term goals could be purchasing a car or going back to school. 
• Long-term goals might be to buy a home or retire with enough money to live comfortably.

Try to set SMART goals. These are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Trackable. Make sure you prioritize your goals. Which ones are the most important to you? Work toward achieving these goals first. To help you set your goals, download the Smart Goals Worksheet.