Goals or No Goals for 2023?

My Goals for 2023

It’s Friday morning, 7AM. Not really wanting to get up. Not feeling like going to my morning workout with my Fitness Coach, Justin. He’s always there, ready to go. I’m really not sure I like Justin… He never seems to sweat and I’m not sure he understands the massive amount of pain I experience during his sessions. During this morning’s session (yes, I got up and actually joined the group for this morning’s workout) Justin was talking about Goals. In this video, I share a couple of thoughts about Goals or No Goals, you can blame this one on Justin.

My Fitness Goals for 2023

To be honest, I’ve had the same fitness goals since I got married in college. If you know me well, you probably know that I prefer to blame anyone (except myself) whenever possible. When it comes to blaming someone else for the failure to meet my fitness goals, my wife, Connie, is a super easy target. When we got married, she had about 5 family recipes she brought to the table (literally). Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy was my favorite and so being the blessing that she is, I was treated to my favorite meal at least once a week for the first year we were married. The 50 extra pounds came on with no effort.

Here’s how I would describe myself before getting married:

• 6’3

• 225 lbs

• Full head of hair

• Bullet-Proof

Half of those things were true about me then, if I was wearing those cool Dingo Cowboy Boots with the 3 inch heel, I was 6’3″ tall. Without the boots, I was barely 6′. Like most college kids, the bullet-proof part is all in the imagination. Connie bought me a sweet pair of Calven Klein jeans for my 20th birthday (before we got married). Size 36×32. Six weeks after we got married, there was no way I could fit into those jeans. For almost four decades, I’ve had this one goal – to be back at that 225 lbs college weight. Its not impossible. I got down to about 235 a couple years ago. Watch the video and I’ll tell you the rest of the story.

Financial Planning Goals

Achieving financial success and security requires careful planning, diligent execution, and a well-informed approach. At MissionalMoney.com, we are committed to providing you with the necessary insights, strategies, and education to help you navigate your financial journey successfully but there is one thing we cannot do for: Goals or No Goals.

Setting Goals for Financial Success

As the world continues to turn, so do our financial needs, wants, and wishes. Whenever I think about Financial Planning Goals, I think of my friend Paula Pant. I love the title of her blog: Afford Anything. While it is crucial to align our financial goals with the prevailing economic conditions and our personal circumstances, it’s really important to actually have some specific goals to focus your energy, your thoughts, and your actions. Paula will tell you that, yes, you CAN afford anything. But you can’t afford everything. Getting clear about your needs, wants, and wishes is a good place to start.

Assessing Your Current Financial Situation

Before embarking on any financial journey, it is imperative to conduct a thorough assessment of your current financial situation. Take stock of your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. Understanding where you stand financially allows you to set realistic and achievable goals or no goals if you’re like many Americans who are buried in debt or living paycheck to paycheck. Having goals is supposed to be a better approach but I’ve come to believe that it’s not really my job to tell anybody they should have goals. Most people I know are a little (or a lot) like me. I hate for anybody to tell me what to do.

Goal 1: Building an Emergency Fund

Life is unpredictable, and unexpected emergencies can arise at any time. Establishing an emergency fund is a crucial first step in securing your financial foundation. In my Personal Finance course at the Bauer College of Business at University of Houston, I always suggest that having an Emergency Fund would be a great goal for each student to commit to during the semester. If you have $500, why not make a goal to have $1,000? If you have no Emergency Fund, well, its probably not my place to tell you that’s a bad plan. You might consider trying to save at least six to twelve months’ worth of living expenses in a liquid, not so easily accessible account. Trust me, if the money is just a little out of reach, it will be easier to reach this goal. This fund will provide you with a safety net during challenging times, allowing you to weather any financial storms that may come your way. Goals or No Goals, Emergencies will happen.

Goal 2: Clearing High-Interest Debt

Debt can hinder your financial progress, especially high-interest debts such as credit card balances. You can focus on paying off these high-interest debts as quickly as possible. You could consider utilizing the avalanche or snowball method, depending on your preferences, to efficiently reduce your debt burden and free up resources for other financial objectives. If you sign up for my Free Course 30 Days to Make Your Money Count, I’ll help you find the best debt strategy and I’ll help you create a compelling Financial Plan that can help you achieve your goals or no goals, whichever plan you like. Its free for 30 days, after that its my goal that you sign up and pay a small monthly membership fee so that I can raise a lot of money to pay for college for Caleb and Maddie. If you need the money more than me, I’m happy to help you along with 30 Days to Make Your Money Count.

Goal 3: Retirement Planning and Investments

Planning for retirement is vital to ensure a comfortable and stress-free future. I’ve helped a lot of small business owners who had success building wealth by contributing to retirement accounts such as a 401(k) or IRA. By taking advantage of tax benefits and employer matching programs, you can Save More Money, Pay Lower Taxes, And Build a Better Retirement. A good Financial Advisor can help you diversify your investment portfolio to achieve a balance between risk and return. You may want to regularly review and adjust your investments to align with your changing goals or no goals. A good place to start is knowing Your Risk Number – click here to get your risk number now.

Goal 4: Saving for Major Life Events

Whether it’s purchasing a home, funding your child’s education, or taking that dream vacation, saving for major life events requires diligent planning. Set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to help you stay on track and achieve your aspirations. Or, you may want to check out some SMARTER Planning Goals that seem to work well for people who are serious about building wealth.

Goal 5: Protecting Your Financial Future

Safeguarding your financial well-being and that of your loved ones is of paramount importance. Consider obtaining appropriate insurance coverage, such as life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance, to protect against unforeseen circumstances that could jeopardize your financial stability. As a State Farm agent, I always offered a free Risk Review for current customers and anyone who wanted a second opinion on their current insurance program. The Risk Review is part of the Financial Planning Process, it includes what I call a Gap Analysis.

Goal 6: Estate Planning and Wealth Transfer

Estate planning is not just for the wealthy; it’s for anyone who wishes to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes. Engage in estate planning to create a will, designate beneficiaries, and establish trusts if necessary. Proper estate planning ensures that your loved ones are taken care of and minimizes potential estate tax implications. Estate Planning is part of the Financial Planning Process, it includes what I call a Gap Analysis.

Goal 7: Continual Financial Education

Financial knowledge is power. Commit to enhancing your financial literacy by reading reputable financial publications, attending seminars, and seeking advice from qualified financial professionals. The more informed you are, the better equipped you’ll be to make sound financial decisions.

Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Financial Future

If you’re interested in setting clear and achievable financial planning goals, building an emergency fund, paying off debts, investing wisely, protecting your future, and continually educating yourself, you may want to join us for 30 Days to Make Your Money Count.

Remember, financial planning is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process that requires diligence, discipline, and adaptability. Stay focused, remain committed to your goals, and seek guidance when needed. BayRock Financial and The Missional Money Podcast are here to support you on your journey to financial success.

Click here to Join Us: 30 Days to Make Your Money Count.

Goals or No Goals 25 Funny Tweets

1. Setting goals in life gives me the power to conquer Mondays like a boss! 💪 #Goals #MotivatedMondays

2. When life gives you lemons, turn them into goal-crushing lemonade! 🍋😄 #MotivationMonday #NoGoals

3. Waking up with purpose and chasing my dreams like there’s a sale on happiness! 🏃‍♂️💨 #LifeGoals #Winning

4. My goals are like my morning coffee – they give me the energy to tackle anything that comes my way! ☕️💪 #MondayMotivation #DreamBig

5. Procrastination tried to hit me, but I hit it right back with some serious goal-setting moves! 👊🎯 #NoGoals #GetItDone

6. Life’s a game, and I’m here to set high-score goals! 🎮🏆 #GamerGoals #WinningAtLife

7. Setting goals is like adding extra toppings to the pizza of life – it makes everything more awesome! 🍕😎 #LifeGoals #DeliciousSuccess

8. Me without goals? That’s like a unicorn without a rainbow – it just doesn’t make sense! 🦄🌈 #NoGoals #UnicornMagic

9. Just set a new goal, and now I feel like a superhero with a cape made of determination! 🦸‍♀️💫 #SuperGoals #AchievementUnlocked

10. Forget being a couch potato – I’m a goal potato, and I’m on a roll! 🥔🎯 #NoLazyDays #Goaldigger

11. Life’s too short not to chase after your dreams with a jetpack of ambition! 🚀💨 #LifeGoals #DreamBigOrGoHome

12. I’ve got 99 problems, but a lack of goals ain’t one! 💯🎯 #GoalGetter #MotivatedAF

13. Setting goals in life is like having a personal GPS – it guides me towards success! 🗺️🚗 #DirectionToGreatness #NoGoals

14. If setting goals was an Olympic sport, I’d be the gold medalist! 🥇🏆 #ChampionMindset #GoalOlympics

15. When I set my goals, the universe high-fives me with cosmic energy! 🌌🙌 #CosmicGoals #ManifestationMagic

16. My goals are so fabulous; they’re strutting down the runway of success! 💃🏽💫 #FashionableGoals #LifeOfAnAchiever

17. Setting goals is like giving my dreams a first-class ticket to reality! ✈️🌟 #JetsetterGoals #DreamBig

18. Dear fear, I’ve got goals, and they’re bigger than you! Sincerely, a goal-crushing warrior! 🔥🛡️ #FearlessGoals #ConquerEverything

19. Life’s a game, and my goals are cheat codes for success! 🎮💡 #GamerGoals #WinningAtLife

20. My goals are the secret sauce that turns ordinary days into extraordinary adventures! 🍔🌟 #LifeGoals #DeliciousSuccess

21. Setting goals is like giving my motivation a rocket booster – now I’m unstoppable! 🚀💪 #RocketGoals #PowerUp

22. Forget Netflix and chill; I’m all about setting goals and thrill! 🎬🎯 #NoTimeForNetflix #Goaldigger

23. My goals are like rainbows – they fill my life with vibrant colors of purpose! 🌈💫 #LifeGoals #DreamBig

24. When I achieve my goals, I feel like a unicorn doing the victory dance! 🦄💃 #GoalAchieved #UnicornMagic

25. Some people have to search for motivation, but for me, it’s right there in my goal-setting toolbox! 🔧🧰 #MotivatedAF #GoalGetter

Goals or No Goals Tweets for Twitter