Disciplined people are usually successful because they take control. If you haven’t made the effort to invest in your future, now is the time to start. Follow these exercises and you’ll be on your way to a more secure financial future. And these basic tips also apply to your physical health!

• Resolve to get healthy – Change your mind-set and make physical and fiscal fitness a priority in your life. You can do this – real change takes time, so be patient with yourself.
  
  
• Determine your goals – Would financial security give you confidence? Do you want to live comfortably in retirement? Or maybe you’re concerned about your family’s future if something were to happen to you. Focus on what’s important to you and the rewards you’ll receive from accomplishing your goals.
  
  
• Get a fitness assessment – Achieving financial security is like a marathon, not a sprint. A financial professional, like a personal trainer, can provide an analysis of your situation, which also helps measure your success along the way. Maybe you have life insurance, for example, but the amount of insurance protection is not sufficient for your family to maintain their current quality of life if something were to happen to you. Now’s the time to make an adjustment.
  
  
• Create a plan – A plan doesn’t have to be a formal document, but it should be put in writing and focus on short- and long-term financial goals. A good financial professional can not only help assess your financial needs, he or she should also recommend financial solutions and help you actively manage your plan.
  
  
• Reward small milestones – Building a retirement nest egg isn’t something you can accomplish in the short term. Set goals for this week or next month. Increasing your 401(k) contribution, for example. Then, reward yourself – without shopping! Take an indulgent bath, read a favorite book or go on a scenic hike.
  
  
• Enlist help – Make sure your spouse, friends, family and co-workers are onboard with your physical and fiscal fitness program. Others can sabotage your best efforts to save more and spend less, but only if you let them. Get the family involved – your children may enjoy learning about money matters, and are more likely to cooperate if they’re included in setting and managing the household budget.