What is a financial plan?

When you make a financial plan, you create a written record of your goals and the ways you plan to turn those goals into realities. The way to start is by writing down all the things you want to achieve financially, arranging them in their order of importance.

You don't have to choose just one or two: You can include as many as you'd like. Then you identify those that have the greatest importance or the shortest time frame and emphasize achieving them.