Debt-Free And On Track For Retirement? Your Next Money Priorities

Last time you checked, you carried no credit card balances, had six months of take-home pay saved up in your emergency fund, and had been steadily increasing your retirement contributions every year.

Congratulations! You’re one of the lucky, financially diligent few who have your basic financial security numbers—that is, retirement, credit card debt and emergency savings—under control, and you deserve a big pat on the back. But the big question remains: Now what?

For starters, you should make sure you’vereally met those financial security needs. This means that on top of having six months of net pay saved up in an emergency fund and zero credit card debt, you should also consider being on track to replace about 85% of your income in retirement through regular contributions to a retirement account.

If that still sounds like you, that means you’ve likely got a cash stash that you’re trying to figure out a use for. Before you decide to start living a little larger, check out these four ideas for your extra dough from LearnVest Planning Services CFP® David Blaylock. They just might give you some options for smart decisions about your spending and saving.

1. Set New Financial Goals With Timelines

The basic financial security goals are similar for everyone. But beyond that, the plans you have for your money are all yours. What do you need and want in life? What is worth saving for next? Your answers to these questions can help you get startedon financial goal-setting, the process by which you figure out which goals to focus on first based on what you want, when you want it.

“We always have goals beyond [basic financial security],” says Blaylock. “It could be college savings. Maybe we’re looking to purchase a home [and need the] down payment. Or maybe it’s saving for something special, like a large trip, a wedding or a new vehicle. Those are some common ones I see. Some people even want to save up to start their own business. There’s always a next-in-line goal.”

Chances are you’ll find yourself making a list of multiple goals, and to help figure out which of them you want to start saving toward first, determine a timeline for each. For example, your goal could be saving at least $30,000 for a down payment on a home in the next five years, or saving $5,000 for a vacation in two years.

“You want to determine, ‘What is your target date for that goal?’” says Blaylock. “Timing does have an impact on how much of our resources we want to devote to it.” In other words, if you have more time to save for a goal such as college for your kids, that goal might be less of a priority than saving for the house you want to buy in the next few years—unless saving for your child’s college tuition is, far and away, the most important financial goal you have.

Once you’ve determined what your savings priorities are, you can figure out how you want to allocate the dollars you have left over at the end of the month. And it’s usually better to save for more than one goal at a time, Blaylock suggests.

“You may decide that putting all $400 per month [that you have left over in your budget] into a particular goal is important, and there’s nothing wrong with that—but then you’re giving up on other goals,” says Blaylock. “It’s usually better to have a balance.”

Also keep in mind that you may have new life circumstances—such as the birth of a child, day care, or taking care of an elderly parent—that could change your financial situation. If that’s the case, you may need to reevaluate some of the goals you thought you had and rework your budget. Working with a financial planner can help you come up with a strategy for reallocating your extra funds or help you find more room in your budget in anticipation of any big life changes.

2. Invest With Purpose

The word “investing” often conjures images of buying shares in, say, a brand-new tech start-up to see if it hits the big time—and can result in a big payout for you. But the reality is most of us probably don’t have money to throw into high-risk ventures, says Blaylock. “I always hate investing without a goal,” he adds. “In my world, there is no ‘play money.’”

So if you’re looking for other ways to invest your money beyond retirement, you should stop and think about what you want to grow your money for, what level of risk you’re comfortable with and the vehicles you have at your disposal—not all investing has to be done through a brokerage account. For example, you might save for college by choosing to invest in a 529 plan.

If you do opt to open a taxable brokerage account, you should consider investing only toward a goal that is five or more years away. If you intend to pull your money out sooner than that, a brokerage account may not be worth the risk because you may be forced to sell when the market is down—or you may need to put off your goal until the market goes up again.

How much risk you can afford to take is largely based on the timeline for your goal. “If we’re talking about college savings, investment makes perfect sense for the future. If it’s a goal to start your own business, investing doesn’t make much sense,” says Blaylock.

For those who work with a financial planner, consider talking to him or her about your risk preferences, time horizon and the specific goal you’re trying to reach so you can both come up with an amount of money you’re comfortable setting aside and investing each month.