Fisher Investments Ireland takes the time to understand your overall financial situation, including your financial goals, needs, expenses, investment time horizon and more. At the conclusion of a detailed review, we may recommend, where deemed suitable, an asset allocation strategy we feel best fits your particular situation, along with a recommendation for the discretionary investment management services of Fisher Investments. Fisher Investments Ireland partially outsources aspects of the day-to-day investment advice, portfolio management, and trading functions to its affiliates.
The Importance of Clear Financial Goals
Determining your financial goals may be one of the most important things you can do to help achieve long-term investing success. When you’re young, you tend to have short-term financial goals that are usually simple, such as establishing an emergency fund, starting your retirement savings, buying a new car or accumulating a down payment for your first home purchase. But, as you become more financially stable, your goals should reflect the increasing complexity of responsibly managing your wealth.
Where to Begin
Identify Your Financial Goals
Setting financial goals can be challenging, and most people don’t know where to start. Financial goals don’t just have to be about saving money. They can be about anything tied to your finances. Drafting a will, assigning pension beneficiaries, selecting a power of attorney in the event you become incapacitated, and establishing trusts can all be financial goals—and are all things worth doing! In many cases, common financial or investment goals may include:
Goal 1: Avoid Running Out of Money
For some investors, their primary goal is avoiding poverty in old age. Whilst some believe the key to avoid running out of money is to invest in low-volatility investments (fixed interest, for example), this approach isn’t always prudent and could even be detrimental.
Goal 2: Maintain or Improve Lifestyle
If you want to ensure your pre-retirement lifestyle continues or improves throughout retirement, then you’ll want to maintain or grow your purchasing power. But inflation will have an impact, so it’s important to consider this in your retirement plan.
Goal 3: Increase Wealth
If you’re able to enjoy your desired retirement lifestyle without fear of depleting your assets during your lifetime, it’s possible you wish to grow your investments over a long period—often beyond your life expectancy. Common goals are to leave a legacy for heirs or a charity.
By writing out your personal finance objectives, you can hold yourself accountable and increase the odds you achieve them. There is a reason many of us still make grocery lists! They reduce the chance we forget something critical.
Identify Your Investment Time Horizon
Once you’ve identified your financial goals, it is important to determine the length of time you need your money to last so you can achieve these goals, also known as your “investment time horizon.” For long-term financial goals, this may be your life expectancy or even extend beyond that. Short-term financial goals may only require a specific number of years, for example, setting aside a specific monthly amount for five years to pay for a kitchen renovation.
Assess Your Financial Picture
Another important part of achieving your financial goals is having a clear understanding of your current and expected future financial situation. For example, you should document your current income, expenses, investments, debts and savings. Likewise, you should identify future cash-flow needs required to help you maintain a comfortable lifestyle in retirement.
Achieving your financial goals isn’t easy, especially if you are trying to do it alone. Fisher Investments Ireland can help you achieve your long-term financial goals. We offer our clients tailored portfolio management services and the right advice to help them stay on track.
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Learn why 165,000 clients* trust Fisher Investments and its affiliates to manage their money, and find out how we may be able to help you achieve your financial goals.
*As of 30/09/2024. Includes Fisher Investments and its affiliates.
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