It's not surprising that saving money and getting on track financially are some of themost popular resolutionspeople make each year.Regardless of your current situation in life, most people want to work towards greater financial success so they can feel confident about their future.If this is the year you want to get serious about your finances, review these four critical habits for pursuing financial success.1. Plan ahead and set financial goals you want to achieveHave you ever wonderedwhere you will be in five years' Will your income and savings have changed' Will you be retired or working at another job' While financial success may fall into the laps of some, most of us need to actively plan where we want to be in the future as financial success is typically the result of proactive planning and action.A good way to start planning ahead is to break your big goals into smaller, digestible pieces. This can help you stay on track and work towards your larger long-term goals. (For more from this author, see: How You Can Prepare for a Financial Setback.)Let's say you're 30 years away from retirement and you've estimated that you'll need around$4 million to retire. Rather than focus on saving $4 million by the year 2047, try establishing several short-term goals, such as reaching $500,000 in retirement assets by the year 2020. Once you reach that goal, you can reassess where you stand and create a new savings goal for 2025, and so on.The same principle applies to just about any short or long-term goal, from saving for college to buying a house. In order to know what strategy to employ (such as deciding betweensaving first for retirement or college, you'll need to know what you ultimately want to achieve. This is why setting goals is so important.2. Set a budget (and stick to it)Regardless of your income, there's a reason why so many financial professionals recommend following a budget. A budget helps you establish parameters for operating your household, understand if your goals are achievable in your desired timeframe and may help reduce stress in the event of an unexpected incident, such as the loss of a job or an injury.Whencreating your budget, you will first need to determine what your necessities are. Ask yourself, "If I were to lose my job tomorrow, what expenses must I maintain in order to run my household'" This may help you realize that you may not need the premium cable package, but it's necessary to keep the air conditioner and heater running. (For related reading, see: Budgeting Basics.)After determining your necessities, you can build into your budget the savings goals you previously determined you wanted to achieve. Compare the two and any additional funds left over can be used for expendable expenses.3. Save early and oftenOne of the biggest benefits of saving early and regularly is thepower of compound interest. If given the choice, most people would choose to spend less money on achieving their goals so that they have more money to pursue their passions in life. Compound interest helps the money you put away grow faster due to interest building upon itself. You can make your money work smarter rather than harder to pursue your goals.If youprocrastinate and delay saving, you not only lose out on your money working for you, but you also make it harder on yourself. You'll also have less time on your side, so you will have to save more money and may have to increase yourtolerance for riskin order to achieve your goals. (For related reading, see: How to Avoid the 3 Most Common Investor Mistakes.)4. Seek the guidance of a professionalWorking with the right professional may help make your financial journey less stressful,save you time and instill confidence that you areon the right tracktowards achieving your goals.Think about professional athletes. They have coaches and trainers that keep them focused on the critical areas for success. These coaches have the experience and expertise in training with others to help their athletes work more efficiently and more effectively. Or, if you've ever worked with a personal trainer at the gym, you may know firsthand that you feel much more motivated to keep progressing because you have someone to check in with.A financial advisor can serve as a financial accountability partner, providing ongoing guidance, support and advice. It's easy to slack on your budget or slip up on following your goals when you don't have someone holding you accountable. Find a financial advisor you trust to help you stay on track and provide advice when you need it.(For more from this author, see: 3 Ways People Inadvertently Disinherit Loved Ones.)The opinions voiced in this article are for general information only. They are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual and do not constitute an endorsement by NPC.To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult with your financial professional. Please remember that investment decisions should be based on an individual's goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk.SEE ALSO:You can take the biggest step toward building wealth in 10 minutes at your computerDON'T MISS:Top financial adviser: 'If all you do in life is work really hard, you're never going to get wealthy'Join the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Here's footage of the US military's new helicopter that'll cost as much as an F-35
Click here to read full news..
