It is possible for just about everybody to achieve financial success. Getting there is usually not a matter of financial wizardry. By following some basic principles, you can make your financial dreams come true.
Set Objectives
Goals setting is the foundation of achieving financial success. If you don’t have a target to shoot for, how can you expect to hit it? By writing down your goals, you will clarify them and establish your personal and financial priorities.
Be specific when setting goals. For example, instead of having a goal to reduce debt, set a goal to reduce debt by a certain amount by a certain date.
Pay Yourself First
This is the best way to build wealth. It simply means that your savings come off the top of your paycheques instead of from what little, if any, is left at the end of the month. A good starting point is 10% of your gross monthly income.
A good way to establish and maintain a savings plan is to have a set amount automatically taken from your bank account each month. Like a loan payment, you get used to the regular commitment.
Protect Your Income
Your most valuable asset is not your home, your business or your RRSPs – it is your ability to earn an income. If you are 35 and earn $60,000 per year, your total earnings, assuming a 5% annual salary increase, would be about $4.2 million by age 65.
Even a short-term disability, resulting in six months without income, can wipe out years of savings. Adequate disability insurance gives much peace of mind and provides an income when an injury or illness prevents you from working.
After all, your debts should not last longer than you do.
Maximize RRSP Deposits.
Your RRSPs can offer a valuable tax deduction, the power of tax-deferred compounding interest can be dramatic. For example, $6,000 per year to an RRSP at 7.5% will grow to about $620,396 in thirty years.
Instead of spending your RRSP tax refund, use it to pay down your debts or invest it. This is one of the most powerful methods available for building wealth.
Avoid Personal Debt.
Too much personal debt is the most serious obstacle to reaching your financial goals. Even modest levels of debt can put a drain on your cash flow, leaving less to invest. Since the interest paid on personal debt, such as mortgages and credit cards, is usually not tax-deductible, paying it off is one of the best investments you can make.
