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Financial freedom gives you choice: are you thinking of your next chapter?

NZFP • Oct 08, 2019

Plan for your future lifestyle and consider your financial goals now

By now, you’ve likely had a full career; you’ve invested in property or other assets and have a fair bit of savings. Retirement is within arms reach…  

With the changes that this next chapter brings (including income); there’s a little more planning required to have the freedom of choice in your lifestyle. 

What will get you there? Setting goals and organising your finances

Planning for the future starts with goals

Have you envisioned your next life chapter? Do you know where you want to be?

Setting lifestyle-oriented financial goals ahead of time will reap clarity and comfort in your next stage in life. 

Whatever you envision yourself doing – whether it be travel, charity work, or simply relaxation – setting those goals now will lead you on the track to achieve them.

Take our client Matthew for example; as a life-long hobby, Matthew has invested time and money into travelling internationally, and collecting model trains. But as an expensive hobby, he needed to structure his finances in order to turn this passion into a goal and continue this enjoyment in the future. 

So, how will you set your goals to achieve a financially-sound future – and continue to enjoy the lifestyle you choose? 


Secure your future; turn your vision into achievable goals

How can your ‘today’ help your ‘tomorrow’?

They say nothing is impossible, and when it comes to your future, this can be all too true. 

But this won’t come without thought – start thinking about tomorrow, but don’t forget today. 

Strategise tomorrow: where do you want to be?

Taking your first step involves considering where you want to go in life. More specifically; setting those lifestyle and financial goals you want to achieve for your next life chapter. 

But how? 

Start thinking about what you would like to accomplish in the next 10-20 years before you retire. 

It could be as simple as:

  • Paying off your mortgage
  • Travelling the world
  • Charity or volunteering 
  • Spending time with family
Whatever these goals may be, taking the time to assess your finances and figuring out your direction will help you achieve your aspirations and create a future of financial freedom of choice. 

Assess today: where are you now?

When it comes to goal planning, in order to turn your goals into reality, it is important to consider your ‘today’. This means thinking about where your finances sit, but also, where your life is – do you feel you’re already en route to the goals you’ve put in place?

Starting with an assessment of your future lifestyle and financial goals, you’ll need to consider how much capital you have now, and how much you think you’ll need to accomplish these.

To help you grasp the financial freedom you dream of, you’ll need to then review and refine your financial status, savings and thought-process. 

Our tips to follow will help you break down your ‘today’ in order to improve your ‘tomorrow’.

Break down your assets and liabilities and grasp your goals

Now that you’re heading into the stage in life where you’re thinking of ‘the next chapter’, taking the time to organise your finances will help you reach your goals and reap value for your future.

Put thought into the following financial elements now and build the lifestyle you aspire to!

Evaluate your income

Other than more free time and hopefully relaxation, when it comes to moving into your retirement chapter, income will be your most prominent financial change.

Start thinking about your income now, and ask yourself these questions:

  • How much discretionary income do I have? 
  • Is my income likely to change between now and retirement? 
  • Once my working income stops, will the NZ Super be enough for my goals? 
  • Do I, or will I have another source of income in the future? (E.g. through investments)
Make use of your Kiwisaver

Unlike many countries, here in New Zealand, we’re lucky to have the KiwiSaver scheme to help encourage people to save for their retirement!

Retirement planning is the perfect place to make use of your KiwiSaver and secure your path towards financial freedom.

Utilise your KiwiSaver savings and ponder these thoughts:
  • What percentage of your income are you contributing to your KiwiSaver currently?
  • Will your KiwiSaver future balance be enough to fund your retirement or do you need to save more elsewhere?
  • Are you invested in the appropriate fund for your needs? 
  • If you’re self-employed, are you putting enough away to be be eligible for the Government contribution?
Keep in mind funds invested

“Invest in your future, because that is where you are going to spend the rest of your life.”

- Habeeb Akande, author and historian 

 
It's time to start thinking about the investments you’ve made over the years and the value they will add to your future. 

Your home, bach, shares, apartment, office, or business – whatever the type of investment; if invested well, can benefit your future. 

Take for example, if you own a business; by retirement, this investment – along with related investments outside your business – would have likely built a solid foundation for wealth.

Each of these investments could continue to support your choice of lifestyle, both now, and into your future. 

Determine your net worth

As you create your future path, considering your net worth will help you plan accordingly.

Your home, car, art – all of your belongings – along with your investments and cash in the bank have value. Assessing this now, will add value to your future later. 

For example, if you’re paying off a mortgage, we’ll help you strategise your finances to sort this pre-retirement. 


Finding clarity in your finances now, will be invaluable for your future

Financial planning helps evaluate the goals you have now, and the capital you’ll need for this later – it’s about enjoying now, all the while looking towards the future. 

Remember Matthew? By taking the step to ground his lifelong hobby into a future financial goal, he was able to achieve the joy of travelling internationally with his elderly father to a renowned model train convention – adding to his collection, and more importantly; fulfilling his lifelong passion. 

Guiding Kiwis to financial wellbeing is what we do. Talk to us.

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