By Fox 40 Staff.

Jason:


IN THIS FIRST WEEK OF 2016 YOU MAY HAVE


HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT FINANCIAL


RESOLUTIONS. GREG LESKO OF LESKO


FINANCIAL WANTS TO HELP SIMPLIFY YOUR


MONEY GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR. GREG...


Greg:


THANKS JASON. INSTEAD OF ADDING TO


NUMEROUS PUBLISHED LISTS OR


OVERWHELMING YOU TO THE POINT WHERE


YOU GIVE UP ON ANY FINANCIAL


IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, IT MIGHT BE


BETTER TO CONSIDER THINGS IN TERMS OF


SIMPLE PRIORITIES: FUNDAMENTAL


BUILDING BLOCKS TO START YOU OFF ON


FIRMER FINANCIAL FOOTING. THESE MAY


VARY SLIGHTLY--DEPENDING ON YOUR


UNIQUE SITUATION--BUT THEY’RE THE


BASIC COMPONENTS UPON ON WHICH YOU


CAN BUILD MORE SUCCESS WITH MONEY.


Jason:


WHAT ARE THESE FUNDAMENTAL


PRIORITIES?


Greg:


INCOME…A CUSHION…AND RETIREMENT.


INCOME IS SIMPLY ENOUGH MONEY TO


COVER LIVING EXPENSES. A “CUSHION” IS


A RAINY DAY FUND, SO WHEN THE


UNEXPECTED HAPPENS—AND IT WILL—IT


WON’T CAUSE A FINANCIAL CATASTROPHE.


RETIREMENT SAVINGS ARE NOW A


NECESSITY BECAUSE TRADITIONAL


PENSIONS ARE A THING OF THE PAST. YOU


COULD DIVIDE YOUR ATTENTION AMONG


ALL THREE, OR, IF ONE AREA NEEDS MORE


OF A BOOST, MAKE THAT YOUR FIRST


PRIORITY.


Jason:


WHAT’S NEXT ON THE LIST OF BASIC


MONEY GOALS?


Greg:


OTHER PRIORITIES INCLUDE HEALTH AND


MEDICAL CARE NOT COVERED BY


INSURANCE; PAYING DOWN


DEBT—ESPECIALLY HIGH INTEREST CREDIT


CARD DEBT--AND SAVING FOR SPECIFIC


GOALS. PART OF TACKLING THESE


PRIORITIES IS TO MAKE A START, BY


PUTTING MONEY ASIDE OR OPENING


ACCOUNTS. YOU SHOULD ALSO HAVE A


WAY TO ORGANIZE AND TRACK YOUR


PROGRESS. ONCE YOU DEFINE PRIORITIES,


IT WILL BE EASIER TO SET SPECIFIC


FINANCIAL GOALS AND MAKE DECISIONS


ON THE RIGHT MIX OF INVESTMENTS TO


GET YOU THERE. NO MATH DEGREE


NECESSARY.