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How to Prioritize and Save for Multiple Financial Goals Thumbnail

How to Prioritize and Save for Multiple Financial Goals

By Scott Tschappat

It doesn’t seem to matter how much money you make—there’s always something to spend it on! Whether it’s home renovations, an upgraded car, retirement savings for yourself, or tuition for your children, staying on track to achieve your financial goals can often feel like a challenge. No matter how much income is generated, it’s easy for people to spend much of what they earn—76% on average! (1) 

For those in the healthcare profession, it’s not that you’re spending money frivolously. Your out-of-pocket expenses for things like scrubs, medical tools, electronics, journal subscriptions, and travel expenses can add up quickly! (2)

So how do you attain your savings targets while saving for multiple goals? Here are some steps to get you started in the right direction.

Step 1: Define Your Goals

Defining your goals is half the battle. The best goals will be SMART: 

  • Specific: The more you can identify exactly what you’re saving for, the easier it will be to work toward it. 
  • Measurable: As much as possible, try to identify how much your financial goal will cost. Do the research to figure out what you need to save so that you’re able to see tangible progress along the way. 
  • Attainable: Make sure your goal is realistic and achievable. This might require some self-reflection or reevaluation of your priorities.
  • Relevant: Ask yourself which goals align with your core values. Remember that your finite assets will be split amongst your seemingly infinite list of wants. The more you can scale back your list to what is truly relevant, the quicker you’ll be able to achieve each goal.
  • Timely: Identify the timeline for each goal so that you can prioritize which ones need to be addressed first. 

Step 2: Prioritize Your Goals

Now that you have a clear idea of what you’re saving for, you can get to work prioritizing. Before you begin, it is highly recommended that you have a solid financial foundation in place first. This includes planning for emergencies and opportunities through a healthy cash reserve fund as well as having proper risk management tools in place using insurance.

Beyond those two standard priorities, you can then assess which of your other goals are most important to you. Typically, the goal with the shortest timeline tends to be the top priority, but this might not always be the case

Step 3: Categorize Your Goals

Next, group your goals into time-specific categories, each with a different asset or account tailored for that time horizon.

  • Short-term goals are those that will be accomplished within 2 years. Money saved toward these goals should be in easily accessible accounts like high-yield savings accounts or money market funds. You won’t get the highest return, but your money will be there when you need it.
  • Intermediate goals are between 3-10 years and should utilize certificates of deposit or short- to intermediate-term bond funds. These assets will offer a greater return, but they are not as liquid and should only be used for goals you will not need to fund right away.
  • Long-term goals are those that are 10+ years away. The best way to invest for these goals is to focus on growth-oriented assets, which generally includes a large allocation toward stocks. Since the stock market can be volatile, it’s important to make sure the money you invest will not be needed anytime soon. Over time, your money will grow, but short-term volatility can cause your portfolio to fluctuate.

Step 4: Start Saving

The final (and perhaps most challenging) step is to actually start saving toward your various goals. There is no one way to go about this, as it is highly individualized to each person’s specific circumstances. 

Start by determining your discretionary cash flow, and how much of it you can dedicate toward your goals. Each person’s situation is different; however, a good starting point is to aim to save 20% of your pre-tax income. Next, allocate the appropriate percentage of that total amount to each goal, ensuring you’re positioning your savings and resources efficiently. If your cash flow doesn’t allow you to fully fund each of your goals, allocate your savings to vehicles that can be effectively applied toward multiple goals. Automating these contributions is a great way to stay consistent in your savings.

To stay on track over time as you receive bonuses or pay raises, consider implementing the 1/3 rule. One-third of your pay increase will or should be set aside for taxes, 1/3 can be used to enhance your lifestyle or keep up with inflation, and with the remaining 1/3, immediately establish a system to save for longer-term goals.

Step 5: Talk to a Wealth Advisor

Building wealth and saving toward multiple financial goals can seem intimidating at times. As your income grows, so do your expenses, and it can feel like you aren’t making the significant progress you should be.

As a healthcare professional, your passion is caring for others. At Acute WealthCare, our passion is caring for your financial security, and we specialize in helping people like you prepare for the future by prioritizing and achieving financial goals. Schedule a 15-minute introductory phone call to get started today!

About Scott

Scott Tschappat is a wealth advisor at Acute WealthCare, an independent, fee-based comprehensive financial management firm with over 20 years of experience. Scott is committed to helping his healthcare worker clients create a financial plan that brings them peace, security, and dignity. Scott learned the importance of proper financial management and making a plan for the unexpected at a young age when his father passed away suddenly and he watched his mother use the life insurance money wisely to take care of their needs, both present and future. He strives to steward his clients’ money well, as if it were his own mother’s, and help them every step on the journey to their financial future. 

Scott lives in Highlands Ranch, CO, with his wife, Bridget, a school counselor at All Souls Catholic School, and their two daughters, Sarah and Emily. He loves sports and has been lucky enough to coach both of his daughters’ basketball teams. In the spring and summer, you can find Scott getting his hands dirty gardening and enjoying live music at Red Rocks or another local venue. To learn more about Scott, connect with him on LinkedIn. You can also register for his latest webinar on What We Do & How We Help.

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(1) https://www.thebalance.com/breakdown-of-average-monthly-household-expenses-4687519#:~:text=1%20This%20means%20that%20the,%2Dcare%2C%20and%20even%20entertainment.
(2) https://huddle.florence-health.com/discover/content/article/nurses-physician-assistants-out-pocket-expenses-year/