The Look Forward: Your Intentional Planning Guide for 2026

If you followed the steps from the previous two posts, you just completed your deep financial check-in, identifying your wins, surfacing any misalignment, and celebrating your stability. You looked back, you confirmed your current trajectory, and now you are ready for the most empowering step: intentional planning.

Planning the new year is not just about setting an arbitrary savings rate. It is about translating the lessons you just learned into actionable financial goals that directly support the life you want to live.

Step 1: Translate Reflection into Action

Your annual review should immediately give you the first items for your new plan. Focus on correcting the issues your check-in revealed:

• The Foundation Fix: If you realized your debt repayment was slipping, your top priority for 2026 is a hyper-focused debt elimination plan for the highest-interest accounts. If you identified that your trust documents are outdated after a move, your first action item is to call your lawyer.

• The Values Check: Did your review confirm that your significant spending truly aligned with your values? If yes, your goal should be to protect that line item in your new budget. If no, your goal is to redirect those funds to a value-aligned area, like self-development or investment.

  
  

Step 2: Define Your "Next Number"

When you are pursuing long-term goals like financial independence or "Relaxed Employment," the annual plan should focus on hitting the next measurable milestone on your journey.

• Set the Increment: If you are halfway to your "Relaxed Employment" number, your goal should be to determine the next logical increment is. This turns a long-term dream into an achievable, 12-month target.

• Focus on Composition, Not Just Growth: Based on your performance review (e.g., if stock investments performed better than real estate), your goal might not be just to increase net worth, but to change the composition of your assets. For example, your goal might be to "Increase liquid investment allocation by 5% to rebalance against real estate." This is a goal about risk mitigation and diversification, not just accumulation.

Step 3: Prioritize Protective & Holistic Milestones

Intentional finance is holistic. My plan must include protective goals that reduce future stress, not just optimize spreadsheets. These milestones ensure my structure is sound.

• Anticipate My Taxes: I make it a planning goal to consult with a tax professional early in the new year or to use tax software to run preliminary projections. My goal is to anticipate my tax liability well in advance so it is never a surprise, and I can budget for it intentionally.

• Structural Security: I set a deadline for calling a professional to create or update my essential legal documents (wills, trusts). This protective step is a major win that frees up mental energy.

• Account Optimization: I set a strategic goal to review my financial accounts. This includes making proactive decisions on opening new accounts, closing redundant accounts, or consolidating old investments for simplified management.

• Risk Review: I consciously review my personal insurance coverage. This involves evaluating the need for new policies, such as life insurance, or making decisions on changing my existing medical, home, or auto insurance to ensure my coverage aligns with my current assets and liability risks.

  
  

Step 4: Create Your Monthly Spending Plan

The final step of annual planning is translating your year-long goals into a monthly budget or spending plan. This provides the tactical map needed to stay on track.

1. Calculate Your Annual Totals: Your intentional annual plan should provide these key numbers:

   • Yearly Planned Income

   • Yearly Planned Taxes (from Step 3 anticipation)

   • Yearly Planned Expenses (aligned with Step 1 values)

   • Yearly Planned Savings & Investments (aligned with Step 2 goals)

2. Determine Monthly Cash Flow: Once you have your yearly expense number, you can create your monthly spending plan in one of two ways:

   • Fixed Monthly Budget: Divide your total annual expenses by 12 for a fixed monthly limit.

   • Category Spending Plan: Create a flexible plan by category and month, accounting for seasonal expenses like holidays or annual vacations.

3. Allocate Savings and Investments: Decide exactly where and how much you will deploy your planned savings each month. This means specifically allocating funds to your targeted vehicles, whether it is a High-Yield Savings Account (HYSA), a retirement account, a brokerage, or even VC investments.

   
   

The annual financial check-in gives you clarity on where you are. The new year's plan is your intentional, actionable map to where you want to be. It is the confirmation that you are working in concert with the things you care about most.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. I am an AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor) Candidate, not a licensed financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney. The content herein is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have regarding your individual financial situation. The opinions expressed are my own and do not represent the views of my employer.