A financial plan is for those who want to structure their future. Although you cannot plan the future, you can at least think about it. And that is what a financial plan supports you with.

Here are some simple steps (A spreadsheet will help you a lot...):

One - Income. Start with your current income. Analyse the growth rate if this income of previous years and calculate an average (growth rate). If you use a spreadsheet you can use a first line on the income sheet and add for each next line the increment in salary and other income. You can place YEAR in the first column. Than have the spreadsheet calculate your income until the age of your retirement.

Two - Expenses. A next sheet could be dedicated to expenses. You can analyse this up to any level, but the main idea is that you understand how many percent of your income is spend on normal and extra expenses, taxes and what percent is left for savings. In order to plan you need the get clear what percentages are dedicated to what category (see the next step). The financial plan stops here if there are no structural savings...

Three - Possessions. What have you built up previously? You can choose to balance this with (long term) debts like a mortgage, but to keep it simple you can leave this out. This first line is about historic data. You will have to calculate the next (Years) by adding income, and deducting (future) taxes and other expenses. Investment returns fall also in this category. What kind of a yield (rate) do you plan for your future investments?

Four - Scenarios. This sheet is where financial planning is all about. You want to plan. And therefore a (personal) financial plan is not any different than a project planning. You want to discuss possible scenarios with other stakeholders (for example with your partner). Scenarios are about questions like; when could we stop, can we take a sabbatical, or other questions starting with; "what if..." Things you need to know in advance. You need to anticipate. This, because you have to steer the scenarios with some kind of investments.

The last step is about realizations. Setting up a financial plan is very easy, although you can make it as complex as you would wish. If your investments grow less than planned, you need to take (additional) actions.

Hans Bool

Hans Bool has worked for many companies in many countries in different (mainly) management positions.

Recently he started Astor White. A company that offer a new approach in management advice and consulting.