(KRON) September is National Personal Development Month, a great time to reassess your goals and direction in life.

Alameda’s financial advisor, Sam Gaeta of Defined Financial Planning, joined Noelle Bellow of KRON4 to share five ways to improve your personal finances and relieve stress for the rest of your life.

Goal setting

• Goal setting is the basis of a successful financial plan.
• Sit down with your spouse or partner and write down your goals; separate these goals into long-term and short-term categories.
• When discussing these goals with your spouse, explain why you want to achieve them.
• This will help you prioritize what to save first and how to achieve each goal.

Follow your financial plan

• Once your goals are in place, create a financial plan to help you reach them.
• Figure out exactly how much money you are bringing in and how much you are spending each month.
• But don’t stop there! A lot of people put a plan in writing and never see it again. A plan is as good as the paper it is on. Put it into action, follow it and follow it!
• I work with people who are or are about to retire, and we create plans specific to their needs and goals.

Get out of your comfort zone

• Investing can be intimidating or intimidating, but you can start by investing from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. The amount should be something you are comfortable with and fit into your financial plan.
• The important thing to remember when investing is to think long term. Just because a certain stock is performing poorly doesn’t mean you need to make adjustments.
• Work with a financial professional to build a diverse portfolio that presents appropriate risk for your age and how close you are to retirement.
• Investing is a great way to build wealth, and your future self will thank you!

Learn something new

• A recent survey found that nearly two-thirds of Americans are financially illiterate and unable to manage their finances.
• Take the challenge this month to improve your financial literacy. Read a book, listen to a podcast, take a class, or attend a seminar on a topic in the financial world that you want to learn more about.
• Find something in your finances that you don’t understand and fix it. The more you know, the better you can manage your finances.

Ask for help

• Finances can be complicated. It’s good to ask for help.
• Start by talking with trusted friends, family or coworkers. Being open about your financial situation with others can help motivate yourself and get you on the right track. It might also be helpful to find an accountability partner.
• If you have questions, find a professional you can trust who can help you.