Determining Your Overall Financial Picture

Investments can be a very important part of your overall financial management. In order for your investments to be good financial management decisions, it is important that you have a very clear picture of how much money you have and how much of it can be invested. This is not an arbitrary decision, but one that should be made after considering several factors including those discussed here. Failure to earmark your money in advance could prove disastrous, because without a monetary plan you may find yourself inappropriately allocating money to the wrong purpose. Again, investments are only one portion of a good financial management plan that should also include

• Determining income

• Determining expenses

• Amassing savings

• Paying down debt

• Reviewing your credit report/establishing credit