In every area of your life, submitting yourself to a checkup is essential to determine your health. That way, you can make course corrections and ensure that you remain on the path to the success you were born to experience.

This is especially true about your finances. Your fiscal health affects your overall sense of well-being, self-confidence, and happiness more than anything else. Once or twice a year, evaluating where you are financially, where you’re going, and how best to get there is essential.

Follow these tips to perform a personal financial checkup that ensures you experience the peace and prosperity you deserve:

1. Identify where you are. If you don’t have a family or personal budget, now’s the time to create one. List your income and monthly expenses. Any time you spend money, write it down. Simply being aware of your spending habits and the amount of money you have available will cause you to make more sound financial decisions.

• • If you already have a family budget, now’s the time to ensure that your expenses are listed in the budget and funded accurately. An updated budget is your roadmap for your journey into the next few months. 

• The more you see your current financial status, the more motivated you’ll be to make the necessary changes to reach your goals.

1. Identify where you want to go. If you’ve already established financial goals, evaluate whether those goals still make sense in light of your current situation. Consider what’s most important to you, and match your financial budget and goals to those values. Include a fun purchase or vacation to keep you motivated.
2. Review your insurance coverage. As the circumstances of your life change, your protection needs may also change. Look over your homeowner’s, health, and life insurance, and ensure your coverage meets your current needs. Also, consider disability insurance, especially if you provide income that your household counts on.
3. Create or bolster your emergency fund. The backbone of any financial plan that genuinely provides comfort is a fund that can pay for unexpected expenses. If the car or air conditioner breaks down, your emergency fund ensures that all the financial claims you made above remain intact.

• While other families struggle to make ends meet, falling behind at the first unexpected expense, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re covered no matter what goes wrong. This can only come from a well-funded emergency fund.

1. 1. Establish or update your will. While the end of life is an uncomfortable subject for many, having your affairs for those you may leave behind is essential if something should ever happen to you.
   2. Evaluate your investments. How’s your investment portfolio performing? Are you investing in suitable vehicles to match your retirement, college savings, and other goals? You may want to seek the advice of a financial advisor if you’re unfamiliar with this area of your financial picture.
   3. Adjust your tax withholding if necessary. Many people provide the federal government with an interest-free loan every year. It would be best if you were close to breaking even at the end of the year. Instead of receiving a large refund, adjust your deductions and use a savings or money market account to make interest off the difference.

• Think about upcoming life changes. Do you anticipate anything significant happening shortly? Is your car getting old? Are there any medical expenses for a surgery or pregnancy that’s coming up? To complete your checkup, consider upcoming expenses outside your regular budget and plan.

Once you’ve set yourself up for financial success by reviewing these areas of your family’s plan, repeat this personal financial checkup once or twice a year. The keys to financial success are awareness, determination, and the ability to dream big dreams. Your financial checkup is the roadmap that’ll keep you on track.