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Financial planning has never been an easy task, but the pandemic has made it even more difficult. Finance professionals are used to consistency and accuracy. They are not trained to plan for unclear economic conditions. No one is! The five-year plan that we are supposed to send to our supervisors is now completely out of the window.
How can you plan for your finances, if you do not know what is going to happen in the future?
#1: HAVE A ROBUST PLAN
You can better understand your financial resources such as investments and cash flows, if there is a robust financial plan in place. A comprehensive plan covers the ares of budgeting, investment, insurance, retirement, credit, and estate planning. When these areas are well covered in a sound financial plan, you have a greater clarity on how each financial decision affects another.
Specifically, the financial-planning team should focus on the following five steps: getting a clear view of the company’s position, building a fact base, aligning the financial plan to a concrete direction, determining the best moves, and identifying the trigger points that prompt businesses to adjust.
#2: KNOW WHERE TO START
Companies and individuals must know where to start. To get this, you need the support of experts. Together, you can see the historical and current financial trends. The January 2020 financial plan can be a good place to anchor on. This can help you to establish any assumptions that will need to change as a result of the pandemic.
#3: ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE POSITIVE CASH FLOW
Set up a realistic budget, which indicates your money inflows and outflows. Having an emergency fund that covers you for three months can ensure that you have enough liquidity to tide you and your dependents during financially difficult times. Doing so will give you some peace of mind even if you suffer temporary setbacks such as losing a job or are unable to make a living because you must be quarantined
#4: GET INSURANCE COVERAGE
Insurance is a means to cushion against financial losses and unexpected events. Find a suitable hospitalization and life insurance plan to cover your hospital bills and critical illnesses. There are also insurance plans that are related to growing your savings like endowment plans and investment-linked insurance plans.
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Focus on what you can control. Set up a sound financial plan, carve a realistic budget, get insurance protection, diversify your investments, and commit to a long-term strategy to achieve our life goals.
