The basics of financial planning are not at all difficult. The emphasis – as with any course of action – is in the "planning". To get from Point A (where you are) to Point B (where you want to be), if you've never been there before you'll need a roadmap. The same concept holds true where your money is concerned. To get your finances from where they are now to where you need them to be in order to support your retirement in the way that you'd like, you'll have to follow a reliable financial map.

Unfortunately, you won't find such a map at the local department or convenience store. You'll have to write this type of map yourself. But don't worry; it's not nearly as difficult as it may sound. This section will lay out some of the basics that you'll need to address in the formulation of your own personalized financial plan. You'll learn why goal-setting is important (in virtually everything you do), why it's never too early to start planning, even how to choose a professional planner to help you along the way. The information and concepts you'll see are vital to a solid head start on your journey toward financial freedom.