The events that occur throughout each of our lives can provide both opportunities and hurdles in the forecast of our finances. There’s no way to predict the way our lives will unfold or the financial outcomes, so for these reasons, it is important to have some sense of guidance when it comes to unforeseen changes that can happen in regards to our financial planning.
There are many factors that are involved when it comes to the outcome of our finances. Here are a few examples.
Income
Income obviously plays a major role in the leverage of financial planning. But it also includes external factors such as family size, ability for your spouse to work, education for the children, and whether you make any initial plans for investments. Every element contributes to potential future outcomes for your finances, and it can be tricky to know exactly where you may end up.
Job Loss
These days, no one can predict what the security of our jobs are, or will be over the next 20 years. Things change fast. If the loss of a job in your household occurs without any sort of safety net or plan set in place to allow some wiggle room for securing another, this could cause much added stress down the road. Being unprepared for turbulent outcomes can throw a peg into the wheel that can shake up any future plans that have been set in place.
Inheritance
At some point in life, you may receive some family inheritance. This can give you an opportunity that didn’t exist before. Whether you choose to spend it on a fancy car or invest it, for example, in some rental property in order to ensure a more secure financial future, the option is clearly up to you. But remember that every decision will affect your future. Properly planning ahead requires discipline.
Dealing With Your Parents’ Health
It may come to a point where you or your spouse’s parent may require frequent care. This means unexpected financial hurdles. Placing your loved one in home care is something that may require significant time, money and planning. Without the proper financial planning, this could cause potential problems for providing education funds for the kids down the road or a safety net for the future.
The bottom line is that life is unpredictable, and things change fast. It’s impossible to always foresee life events and changes that may occur. This is why it’s imperative to have guidance in developing some sort of financial planning for when life does throw hurdles at you so that you can do your best to make the most out of each situation and turn those hurdles into opportunities.
For all your financial planning needs, The Beacon Group of Assante Financial Management Ltd. is on your side.