Start your financial journey now: tips for sticking to your 2025 goals

The new year presents a perfect opportunity to kickstart your financial goals, but you don’t have to wait until January to begin. For many, the new year symbolizes a fresh start, especially when it comes to finances. A recent Fidelity survey reveals that the most common financial resolutions Americans made for 2025 include saving more money (43%), paying down debt (37%), and cutting expenses (31%).

If improving your finances is on your resolution list, having a solid plan will increase your chances of success. Here’s how you can set and achieve your financial resolutions for the year ahead.

Review Your Finances in Context of Your Life Changes The end of the year is a great time to assess your finances and adjust your goals based on any major life changes. Boaz Lahovitsky, Head of JPMorgan Personal Advisors, suggests reflecting on events like marriage, a new baby, or career changes to ensure your financial goals align with your new priorities. It’s important to revisit your goals periodically, as life circumstances naturally evolve.

Link Resolutions to Both Short- and Long-Term Goals Financial goals can be both short-term, such as paying off credit card debt, and long-term, like saving for retirement. Most people focus on short-term goals, but it’s important to also plan for the next few years. Kevin Coombs, Lead Financial Planner at Donaldson Capital Management, advises tailoring your financial resolution to your life stage, whether you’re nearing retirement or just beginning to save.

Set SMART Goals and Track Your Progress To increase your chances of sticking to your goals, make them specific and measurable. Lahovitsky recommends setting SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For instance, instead of saying “I want to invest more,” define a clear amount and timeframe, like “I’ll invest $500 by March.”

Tracking your progress is key to staying motivated. By celebrating small wins, you’ll build the momentum needed to achieve your long-term financial goals.

Keep It Simple and Seek Help Setting unrealistic goals can lead to frustration. To make your financial journey easier, Coombs suggests automating savings. This can be as simple as setting up automatic transfers to a retirement or savings account. Automation ensures that your savings grow even without constant attention.

If staying on track becomes difficult, Coombs recommends digging deep into your personal motivations and sharing your goals with others. Writing down your goal and sharing it increases accountability and commitment.

By making small, realistic changes, you can achieve significant progress toward your financial goals in 2025 and beyond.

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