Greetings to you from the lull between Christmas and New Year’s, the purgatory of the holiday season where, if you’re lucky, you can enjoy a bit of time to recharge and reflect before ringing in the new year.
Let me ask you, are you someone who sets resolutions? Resolutions are a time-honored concept, but personally, I find it difficult to gain much traction with them unless I think of them as goals. And SMART goals are where the real magic happens.
In my mind, here’s how they differ: Resolutions are things you muscle through with sheer willpower for a couple of weeks each January. Goals come with a plan and intention. SMART goals involve planning done with the help of specifics, measurability, achievability, relevance, and time-sensitivity. They’re the kind of goals that transform wishful thinking into real progress.
If you’re trying to better yourself in 2025, I admire you. Change is achievable when you define what success looks like. Change is more likely when you align your goals with your own personal values.
You’re most motivated to achieve goals that naturally jive with what’s most important to you. Maybe that’s why my weight loss goals never make it very far – my values align more with eating good than defining my waistline.
Jokes aside, this time of year is perfect for reflecting on your beliefs and how they shape your priorities.
At our house, we’ve been having a lot of those conversations lately as we weigh college decisions for my son. What’s best for him? What fits with our family’s goals and values? And, of course, what works with our finances?
Planning for the future – for college, retirement, or any personal milestone – requires balancing dreams, realities, and priorities. My two cents? Take some time to define your goals, make them actionable, and ensure they align with the way you see the world.
Looking into 2025, the same approach applies to financial planning. At Secured Retirement, we work to create a roadmap that reflects your values whatever they may be – protecting your family, giving back to your community, or embracing life’s adventures in retirement.
In the space of this season, take some time for consideration. And may your 2025 be filled with wealth, health, and happiness. We’re rooting for you!
CUP OF JOE
From Joe Lucey, Founder of Secured Retirement
There’s something about sitting down with a steaming cup of coffee that always kicks my day into high gear. And it’s not just because of the caffeine it sends coursing through my veins.
Throughout my career, some of my biggest revelations have come to me in conversation with my mentor over a cup of joe. Good conversation and personal connection can pick you up in a special way. It’s that feeling that I’m hoping to bring to you with my series, your Cup of Joe.
