Key Points
- The new year is a natural time to revisit your values and reset or strengthen your financial plan.
- If you’re looking for a manageable starting point, consider reviewing your budget, emergency fund, debt repayment and investment plans, and financial goals.
- An important but often overlooked planning area is insurance coverage. Reviewing your coverage helps protect your financial plan as life changes.
- Take this as a reminder to schedule a check-in with your financial advisor. If you don’t have one, reach out today to start a conversation with a Curi Capital advisor who can help you plan for your financial goals in the year to come.
As we enter January 2026, the turning of the calendar offers a natural pause, an opportunity to reflect on what matters most and ensure your financial decisions support the life you want to build. Before diving into numbers and strategies, the most meaningful place to begin is with your values.
Revisit Your Values as You Set Financial Goals for 2026
Goal setting is most effective when it extends beyond numbers and timelines. As you define your financial goals for 2026, take time to reflect on your underlying values. What do you want your money to support? Greater flexibility? Security for your family? Experiences, generosity, or a lasting legacy?
When your goals are grounded in what truly matters to you, financial decisions become clearer and more purposeful. Translate these priorities into well-defined short-term and long-term objectives using a structured, achievable framework. Break larger goals into actionable steps and revisit them throughout the year as circumstances evolve. Regular conversations with a financial advisor can help ensure your plan remains aligned with both your values and your financial realities.
Revisit Your Budget with Fresh Perspective
Once your values and goals are clear, your budget becomes a tool to support them. Effective planning begins with awareness. A budget connects day-to-day spending with long-term objectives, but it is only useful if it reflects reality. Begin by reviewing last year’s spending patterns. Where did your money consistently flow? Are there expenses that have quietly crept up, such as dining out, travel, or recurring subscriptions, that no longer provide meaningful value?
January is an ideal time to conduct a subscription audit. Identify streaming services, apps, memberships, or software you pay for but rarely use. Redirecting even modest monthly savings can meaningfully support more intentional goals.
As you refine your budget for 2026, be sure to acknowledge progress you have already made, whether that is building retirement assets, funding a 529 plan, or gaining better control over cash flow. Budgeting tools and apps can enhance visibility and help ensure your plan remains aligned with your priorities throughout the year.
Strengthen Your Emergency Fund
Financial resilience depends on preparation. An adequately funded emergency reserve, typically three to six months of essential living expenses, provides a critical buffer against life’s inevitable surprises. Review the current balance of your emergency fund and assess whether it remains sufficient in light of rising costs or changes in income.
If the fund has been drawn down, make replenishment a near-term priority. Automating monthly contributions can help rebuild this safety net steadily and efficiently, similar to the systems you may already use for retirement or education savings.
Take a Strategic Approach to Debt
Debt, particularly at higher interest rates, can limit flexibility and slow financial progress. Take inventory of outstanding obligations, including credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, and mortgages. From there, establish a deliberate repayment strategy, often prioritizing higher-interest balances first while maintaining required minimum payments elsewhere.
For some, refinancing or consolidating debt may improve cash flow or reduce total interest costs. As balances decline, take time to recognize these milestones. Small, consistent wins can reinforce momentum and support long-term success.
Review Your Investment Strategy
Periodic investment reviews are essential. They are not meant to react to short-term market movements, but to ensure your portfolio remains aligned with your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Working with your financial advisor, evaluate performance within the broader context of your financial plan and confirm that your asset allocation continues to support your objectives.
Markets will inevitably fluctuate, but disciplined investment is rooted in long-term strategy, diversification, and consistency. Reaffirming your investment philosophy at the start of the year can help you stay grounded and focused, even amid uncertainty.
Bonus Tip: Conduct an Insurance Checkup
A comprehensive financial plan also accounts for risk management. Review your insurance coverage, including health, life, disability, auto, and homeowner’s policies, to confirm that coverage levels remain appropriate. Major life events such as marriage, the birth of a child, career changes, or purchasing a home often warrant updates.
Whether the past year brought financial progress, unexpected challenges, or a combination of both, January 2026 offers a timely opportunity to refine or thoughtfully recalibrate your approach. By starting with your values and following through with these foundational steps, you can make more intentional decisions, reduce financial friction, and build a plan that supports both your goals and the life you envision.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why should I review my budget annually?
An annual review helps you track spending, adjust for rising costs, and align your finances with current goals.
How much should I save for emergencies?
Aim for three to six months of living expenses to help cover unexpected events.
What debt should I pay off first?
High-interest debt is typically best to prioritize, as it can slow financial progress.
How often should investments be reviewed?
At least once a year or after major life changes, ideally with a financial advisor.
What makes a financial goal effective?
Effective goals are specific, measurable, and time-bound, helping turn plans into action.
When should I review my insurance?
Review coverage annually or after major life events such as marriage, a new child, or buying a home.
Disclaimers
The opinions and analyses expressed in this newsletter are based on Curi Capital, LLC’s (“Curi Capital”) research and professional experience are expressed as of the date of our mailing of this newsletter. Certain information expressed represents an assessment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast or guarantee of future results, nor is it intended to speak to any future time periods. Curi makes no warranty or representation, express or implied, nor does Curi accept any liability, with respect to the information and data set forth herein, and Curi specifically disclaims any duty to update any of the information and data contained in this newsletter. The information and data in this newsletter does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, investment or other professional advice. Returns are presented net of fees. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. The index data assumes reinvestment of all income and does not bear fees, taxes, or transaction costs. The investment strategy and types of securities held by the comparison index may be substantially different from the investment strategy and types of securities held by your account.
The content contained herein was generated by Curi Capital with the assistance of an AI-based system to augment the effort.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
