Setting Realistic Financial Goals For Your Future
Oftentimes we tend to be unrealistic when it comes to planning how much we can achieve and how long it will take, especially when it comes to setting money goals. A general rule to reaching your financial goals is to establish a plan that prioritizes your goals by timeframes: short-term, mid-term, and long-term. Classifying your goals can allow you to form an achievable strategy for your own personal financial trajectory.
- Short-term financial goals. These are priorities that can be accomplished within one to two years such as building an emergency savings fund or paying off credit cards. By setting and achieving short-term goals, it can provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to achieve larger goals that take a little bit more time.
- Mid-term financial goals. While these can’t be achieved right away, they shouldn’t take too many years to accomplish. Examples may include purchasing a car, saving for your children’s education, or buying a new home.
- Long-term financial goals. These are goals that may take over five years to accomplish and, as a result, require longer commitments and more money invested. One of the most important long-term financial goal for everyone is saving enough money to retire. And the first step to working towards larger goals such as retirement is to start early.
When it involves money, the key is a disciplined saving and investing strategy. Call us at 715-808-8981 and together, we’ll lay out all your goals, help you prioritize, and then develop a solid plan to achieve them. And over time, we’ll help you monitor and track your progress to ensure that you’re on the right path towards financial success.
Spring Panzanella Salad with Asparagus
With its vibrant colors and diverse textures and flavors, this traditional Tuscan salad is an instant crowd pleaser. Introduce this light and fresh eye-catching dish at your next family picnic!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 4 large eggs
- Four thin slices of peasant bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
- 2 pounds fat asparagus, peeled
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- Salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 2 cups packed young mustard greens or chicory
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4-pound ricotta salata, thinly sliced and crumbled
- 1 watermelon radish or 2 large red radishes, very thinly sliced
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Put the eggs in a saucepan of water and bring to a simmer over moderately high heat. Simmer for 6 minutes. Drain the saucepan and fill it with cold water. Crack the eggs all over and let stand in the water for 1 minute. Peel and thickly slice the eggs; the yolks will be barely cooked but not runny.
- Spread the bread pieces on a baking sheet and brush lightly with olive oil. Bake for about 12 minutes, until crisp.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the asparagus until just tender, about 3 minutes. Drain, cool and cut the asparagus in half lengthwise.
- In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of oil with the vinegar; season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, toss the asparagus, toasted bread, greens, onion and cheese. Drizzle with the dressing and toss. Garnish with the eggs and radish and serve.
Recipe adapted from Food&Wine1
Go with the Wind
When conditions are rough on the golf course because of high wind, it becomes challenging. Instead of fighting it, use Mother Nature to your advantage and ride it. On right-to-left winds, aim to the right and let the ball drift back; on winds from the left, aim left and ride it in that way. This will allow the ball to go farther and roll a bit more.
Tips adapted from Shark.com2
Switch to a Standing Desk
Ever feel that long-lasting back upper and lower back pain? Well, it’s probably from sitting at your desk for eight hours, five days a week. This puts recurring pressure on the base of your spine which can lead to long-term issues, such as chronic back pain and herniated disks. To avoid this, it is recommended that you switch to an adjustable standing desk or try work standing up for a least half of your day. It also doesn’t hurt to take breaks and get up to take short walks around your office.
Tips adapted from BestLife3
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This document is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. One should consult a legal or tax professional regarding their own personal situation. Any comments regarding safe and secure investments and guaranteed income streams refer only to fixed insurance products offered by an insurance company. They do not refer in any way to securities or investment advisory products. Fixed insurance and annuity product guarantees are subject to the claims paying ability of the issuing company. Variable annuities are considered securities products and require one to have proper FINRA registrations, in addition to proper state insurance licensing, prior to selling or discussing such products.
1 https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/spring-panzanella-with-asparagus
2 http://www.shark.com/the-shark/golf-tips/lesson-78/
