The start of a new year brings a fresh opportunity to pause, reflect, and realign, especially when it comes to your financial goals. It’s a chance to think not just about spreadsheets, savings rates, and market performance, but about the memories you want to create with your family, the security you want to build, and the example you want to set for your kids. Setting clear financial goals provides a roadmap for informed decision-making and helps you enter 2026 with intention and confidence.
Here’s how to set meaningful financial goals for your family for the coming year:
Define What Success Looks Like in 2026
Instead of thinking about goals only in terms of broad terms (“save more” or “see our investments grow”), think about the kind of year you want your family to have. Do you want more stability, and if so, what specifically will make you feel that you achieved it? A bigger emergency cushion, and if so, what amount/metric will determine success? Money set aside for school or vacations, and if so how much? Feel less stressed about month-to-month spending because you have a savings target you set to track against? Finally get your wills done?
When you define success in real-life terms and attach a measurable number, definition or milestone, it becomes easier to shape your financial decisions around what matters most. And it helps any financial professional you work with build a plan that’s grounded in your values, reaches toward your goals, and addresses your concerns.
Create a Family Strategy That Reflects Your Values
A family budget isn’t about restrictions; it’s about giving your money a purpose. Start by understanding where your money is currently going: childcare, groceries, activities, weekends, and all the little things that pop up with kids. Then identify the expenses that truly matter to your family, whether that’s quality childcare, experiences, or weekend adventures.
Just as important is recognizing where money tends to slip away—last-minute takeout, impulse Amazon buys, or subscriptions you no longer use. When you have a strategy and goals, places where you aren’t satisfied with the use of your resources almost jump off the page and call out to you. Importantly, savings should be a part of this, with intention, not as an afterthought or result of what, if anything, is leftover.
A helpful approach is treating your budget as a shared family plan rather than a spreadsheet of rules. Have quick monthly “money check-ins” with your partner, plan ahead for big seasonal expenses like summer camp or holidays, and leave room for the spontaneity that comes with raising kids. Add a small “family fun” category and individual “no-guilt spending” amounts so your plan feels supportive.
The goal of planning is creating clarity. A well-designed plan reduces stress, keeps you and your partner aligned, and ensures your money supports the family life you want to create.
Develop a Savings Strategy That Works for Your Life
Saving feels easier when it’s built into your financial plan. Start by setting up automatic transfers to wealth building destinations. Aim to save something every month, even if the amount varies and even if you would like to be saving more. Even small improvements and contributions are a great starting point.
We provide our clients with a very powerful method for establishing good habits and for easily quantifying the end results. It has consistently helped our clients become stronger savers and be able to make better decisions on where their money is going. Keeping your goals simple and focused helps you stay motivated and ensures your dollars are working toward the things your family cares about most. And our methodology will help make sure that money is in motion for you even when you are too busy to find the time to sit down and review it. Quarterly progress check-ins give us the opportunity to tweak and adjust based on what we are seeing together.
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Plan for the Unexpected!
Young families tend to experience a lot of financial curveballs, from work changes to medical needs to home repairs to childcare surprises. Taking proactive steps to plan for the unexpected helps ensure that when life gets messy, your finances don’t have to.
And while it’s natural to feel “too young” to worry about major risks, protecting what you already have is one of the smartest financial moves you can make, especially when it comes to your future earning potential. For most people, your ability to earn an income is your single biggest asset. It’s what funds your lifestyle today and what will continue to shape your family’s opportunities in the years ahead.
One accident, illness, or unexpected event can change that picture overnight. That’s why life insurance and disability insurance aren’t just for later in life; they’re essential tools for safeguarding the income your family depends on now and the income you’re projected to earn in the future. The added advantage is that coverage is often easier to secure and far more affordable when you’re young and healthy, making it a smart long-term investment in your family’s stability.
To help your family weather any unexpected storms:
- Build an emergency fund with at least six months of expenses
- Ensure proper insurance coverage across life, disability, and health
- Create an estate plan (yes, even if you’re young!) to name guardians and protect your children’s future
- Keep important documents organized and easily accessible - consider an electronic document vault like the one available on The Living Balance Sheet®
Monitor Progress and Revisit Regularly
Life changes quickly, so your financial plan should evolve with you. It’s helpful to establish a cadence for reviewing your goals to make sure they still reflect your reality. If you’re working with a financial professional, it’s a great idea to schedule regular check-ins to review progress, catch issues early, identify new or changing priorities, and make intentional decisions throughout the year. Consistently monitoring your financial picture helps your family stay on track no matter what 2026 brings.
Reach Out if You Need Help Setting Goals
Your family’s goals deserve a financial plan that reflects your values, priorities, and dreams. If 2026 is the year you want to get organized, gain confidence, or simply feel more in control, please reach out to me at Gary_Blum@strategiesforwealth.com, call me at 914-288-8862, or leave your name and email via this web form. I’d love for our team to be part of your financial journey.
Gary Blum is a Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Strategies for Wealth is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. Not practicing CPA for Guardian or its subsidiaries or affiliates. CA Insurance License #0M10186.7749189.8
