by Bruce Helmer, President of Wealth Enhancement Group

Planning is the only way to make sense of the five things you can do with money. If you don’t plan, you will likely spend more, save less, invest less and do nothing to reduce your taxes. Don’t sell yourself short by planning your retirement based on some arbitrary percentage of your income. “Needs planning” is a good start for someone who has given no thought to retirement savings. It’s a way to convince people that they should save something, but it’s not good for people who want to do better than get by.

Don’t settle for mediocrity in your investment planning. Try to excel. It’s fine to set a floor for what you will need, but then aim higher-and plan to get there! Become a “wants” planner, instead of a “needs” planner. Only when you determine what you want from life can you determine the role money will play in helping you achieve your dreams.