How to Achieve Long-Term Financial Goals

Just like you set goals for your education, career, and family life, you may also have big dreams for your finances. Some money milestones take a long time to achieve, but they can be extremely satisfying when you reach them. Keep reading to learn how setting long-term financial goals can help you make progress towards your ideal financial future.

What is a long-term financial goal?

A long-term financial goal is an objective that you set for your money in the distant future. Typically, these goals revolve around significant life events, like purchasing a house or planning for retirement. These goals also demand more money and attention than short-term goals, such as creating an emergency fund or saving for a kitchen appliance, because of their longer lifespan. Acting as a blueprint for your money, long-term financial goals offer motivation and direction for managing your finances.

What are some examples of long-term financial goals?

Long-term financial goals often take several years or decades to reach. Furthermore, the road to financial independence may be filled with obstacles. However, these money goals serve as significant checkpoints. Here are some common long-term financial goal examples for students:

Paying off high-interest debt

Paying off debt, whether it’s $4,000 or $40,000, can feel overwhelming. There are many strategies to pay off your student loans or eliminate your credit card debt. However, you don’t have to settle all your debts at once. Establishing a long-term financial goal allows you to steadily chip away at debt with high interest rates over several years. The longer timeframe can help you focus on repaying debt without sacrificing your current financial needs. Plus, reducing your debts can free up money to put towards other financial goals, improving your overall financial health.

Saving for retirement

While you’re in college, retirement may feel distant, but it creeps up faster than you think. In your 20s, you can take action by starting a savings account dedicated to setting aside money for retirement. Then, automate a portion of each paycheck to that account. Some popular options to consider are an individual retirement account (IRA) or employer-sponsored 401(k) plan. While putting aside money isn’t the most glamorous, saving now can help ensure you have the funds to live out your desired lifestyle in retirement.

Owning a home

Many people aspire to own their own home, but buying a house outright is often not feasible for the average person. That makes saving for a down payment– typically 20% of the total home cost– necessary. Setting up a separate savings account for your down payment or monthly mortgage payments can help you resist the temptation to spend the funds for other needs and track your progress. Despite the challenges, homeownership is a rewarding long-term financial goal, as it is both a financial and emotional investment. 

Improving your credit

A good credit score can make it easier to achieve your other personal finance goals. For example, you’re more likely to receive a better interest rate on a car loan or mortgage with better credit. Strive to always make your payments on time, as it only takes one late payment to potentially impact your credit score. You should also watch your credit utilization ratio and the number of hard inquiries you make. Finally, the length of your credit history also affects your credit score. Improving your credit is a long-term financial goal that remains important for a considerable part of your life.

How do long-term financial goals differ from short-term financial goals?

When you create a financial goal, you outline a clear path for your money to follow. These goals can be short-term, long-term, or mid-term, influencing how you save and spend your money. While short-term and long-term financial goals both serve as a guide for your money, they do have distinct variations: 

Time frame

The most obvious way that short-term financial goals differ from long-term money goals is their time frames. Typically, short-term goals are those that are to be achieved within two years. Long-term goals, on the other hand, are goals that are set to be achieved in 5 or more years. The financial goals that land between the short- and long-term– those spanning two to five years– are generally considered mid-term financial goals. Additionally, as the money goal becomes larger, the deadline to meet it typically becomes more flexible.

Significance

Long-term goals take more time and discipline to achieve. They can also be made up of several short-term goals. For example, a short-term goal might be paying for one semester of your child’s tuition. A long-term goal might be to be able to cover the cost of an entire four-year college education for your child. All financial wins are worth celebrating, but meeting a long-term goal is typically considered more significant than achieving a short-term financial goal. 

Savings strategies

Because long-term goals generally require tucking away savings for extended periods of time, the savings methods that you will use will likely be different. For short-term goals, you might try to reduce your expenses or automate a portion of your income to savings. On the other hand, long-term goals may involve retirement accounts and long-term investment strategies. Whether your goals are short-term or long-term, the key to successfully saving for the future is consistency and discipline.

Which is the best way to achieve a long-term financial goal?

While everyone should have long-term financial goals, not everyone needs to have the same goals. It doesn’t matter if you're saving for a long vacation or starting a new business. Luckily, the strategies to reach your long-term goals are similar for most financial goals. 

1. Set SMART goals 

Regardless of importance, you should always try to make your goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For example, a generic financial goal like, “I want to reduce some of my debt”, is broad and unclear. Instead, make it SMART by stating, “By May 2028, I want to pay off $22,000 of my student loan debt.” Creating clear long-term goals helps you stay motivated and track your financial progress.

2. Write them down

Once you’ve decided on what you want to achieve, you need to write the goal down. With a long-term goal, you may not progress towards your goal every day. To ensure you don’t forget about your goal, write it down, and place it somewhere you will see it daily, like your fridge or mirror. This can help you keep the big picture in mind and say no to expensive social events or impulse purchases now.

3. Create smaller checkpoints

To avoid feeling overwhelmed in the long run, you can break down achieving a goal into monthly checkpoints until you meet or surpass it. Saving enough money to be able to cover expenses for one month without an income is much less intimidating than trying to reach 6 or more months right away. Reaching a few smaller goals can keep your money motivation high and enhance your confidence in reaching your larger goals.  

4. Automate your savings

Because of the longevity of long-term goals, it may be smart to automate your savings. You can allocate a portion of the check to be transferred to the savings account for each goal. This will happen automatically each paycheck, almost effortlessly. As every little bit counts, you may not even realize how much consistent savings is adding up over time. 

5. Stay true to your own goals

Comparing yourself to others is a recipe for unneeded money stress. Just because your friends are taking on extra debt for home renovations or an influencer is taking another luxury vacation doesn't mean you should follow suit. It’s important to stay true to your own financial goals. Try to block out financial peer pressure and understand why each goal is important to you. Everyone’s path is unique, so don’t waste time comparing your financial progress with that of others. 

6. Regularly review and adjust

You should regularly reflect on your goals throughout the year, but especially after any major changes to your personal finances. For example, if you receive a salary increase, consider boosting your retirement savings. Conversely, if you and your partner are expecting a baby, you may need to pause some of your long-term financial goals to prioritize your little one. Be prepared to make adjustments to your budget, whether your financial situation improves or faces challenges. 

7. Talk to a financial advisor

Balancing your daily expenses, short-term goals, and long-term aspirations can sometimes feel daunting. A financial advisor can provide you with an unbiased perspective on your finances, ensuring you are progressing towards your goals. Regular check-ins can help you stay accountable and on the right track. Because professional financial advisors help deliver a holistic view of your finances, you will be able to make smarter financial decisions now without jeopardizing your future. 

Why are long-term goals important?

Long-term financial goals provide direction and motivation for your financial decisions. By defining your long-term goals, you will have a clear picture of what you want to achieve and the steps needed to reach it. Investing in long-term goals can help you take advantage of the power of compound interest and grow your wealth over time.

If you only focus on the goals relevant to your current situation, you may find yourself unprepared when you experience future life events. For example, building an emergency fund is an incredibly useful short-term goal in case of unexpected car repairs or medical bills. Yet, without savings outside of that fund, you’ll likely be unprepared for retirement. Long-term financial goals bring awareness to events that may be decades away and help to ensure you’ll be ready when they arrive.

Long-term financial goals play a vital role in managing your finances. With each financial goal that you achieve, you are one step closer to financial independence. Yet, it’s important to note that financial stability is a journey, not a destination. Keep setting new goals and challenging yourself to continue growing and improving your financial well-being.