Taylor Schulte | Finance News

I love to-do lists. Even more so, I love crossing things off those lists.

If you visit my office, you will likely notice that I keep a to-do list on my desk at all times. It helps clarify my thoughts and holds me accountable for the most important items I need to tackle in the coming days, weeks and even months.

It may be common sense, but according to the famous Harvard/Yale study, those who write down their goals, share them, and maintain accountability, are 33 percent more likely to achieve them.

As we begin a new year, I often hear rumblings of resolutions — many of them relating to money and finances. Most of the time, these rumblings turn into a distant cry by February and little progress is ever made.

If you actually want to make changes to your personal finances this year, consider drafting a to-list for your financial goals.

Here a few ideas for your list that we think might help improve your financial situation in 2015:

Increase 401(k) contributions. The limit on employee contributions to a 401(k) plan will increase to $18,000 in 2015. For participants over 50 years old, the limit will increase to $24,000. Take advantage of this opportunity and elect to increase your contributions starting in January. This will reduce your taxable income and increase your retirement savings. And if you haven’t started contributions, now would be a good time!

Review debt. Contrary to analysts’ predictions, interest rates have remained low for an extended period of time. Rates are at historical lows, so I’m not sure how much longer this will last. If you haven’t done so already, review your current debt obligations to see if there is an opportunity to restructure them at a lower rate. This includes credit card debt, home loans, auto loans, and even student loans. If you’re not sure where to start, begin with the highest interest rate loans first and work down from there.

Reduce fees. Every fee you pay means less money in your pocket. Banks are often changing their rules and you might be surprised to learn you are paying a fee for something you previously received for free. Sites like mint.com will help you track the fees you are paying and alert you when a fee has hit your account. Challenge yourself, and see how many fees you can reduce or remove this year. Consider re-investing the dollars saved into a savings or retirement account.

These ideas should be a great start, but did you also notice I stated that my to-do list was located on my desk — not in my phone, tablet, or computer? Though I’m a technology junkie, I still firmly believe that the physical act of writing out my to-do list reinforces the importance of the tasks. The act of crossing off my tasks as I complete them is much more enjoyable, too.

Please contact us for a copy of our comprehensive financial health checklist for 2015. We wish you a happy new year filled with peace, prosperity, and financial wellbeing.

—Taylor Schulte, CFP® is the founder of Define Financial in Downtown San Diego. Schulte specializes in providing independent, objective, financial advice to individuals, families and businesses. He can be reached at 619-577-4002 or [email protected].