Press Room

Gain control of your finances in five easy steps

Money Management

Monthly financial advice
from the MACPA

For release: October 2006

Would you like to start off each year on firm financial footing? By following these five easy steps, recommended by the Maryland Association of CPAs, you can gain control of your finances before year end.

Assess

The first step is to assess your current financial situation. Start by calculating your net worth. List all your assets (what you own) and all your liabilities (what you owe). If your assets exceed your liabilities, you have a positive net worth. If you have more liabilities than assets, your net worth is negative. At the end of each year, recalculate your assets and liabilities to determine your progress toward building your net worth.

Identify

Once you have a clear idea of your financial picture, you should set financial goals. Whether your plans call for buying a home, taking a vacation, retiring early or paying off debt, your financial goals help you determine what is important to you. Financial goals also serve to motivate you. It's always easier to save money when you know what you are saving for.

CPAs recommend that you divide your goals into short-, medium- and long-term goals. Be sure each goal is focused, realistic, measurable and has a specific target date. You should review your goals regularly and make adjustments when necessary.

Budget

Your next step is to create a budget that will help you attain your financial goals. The key is to spend less than you earn. The first step in preparing a budget is to figure out your current cash flow. Start by adding up your income from your salary, bonuses, investment income and any money you get from other sources.

Next, track all your expenses for a month or two. That includes regular expenses, such as your mortgage or rent, food, transportation, insurance and credit card payments, as well as discretionary expenses, including entertainment, dining out and gifts. Be sure to factor in expenses that do not occur every month.

It's important that you record every dollar you spend, whether it's with cash, check or credit card. Seeing how you are spending your money will help you determine where you can make cuts and redirect that money toward meeting your financial goals.

When creating your budget, be sure to pay yourself first. That means deciding how much you can save each month and treating it like any other bill. Better yet, have the money automatically deducted from your paycheck and deposited into a savings account. You won't miss what you don't see.

Manage

Managing debt is a critical step in gaining control of your finances. If you are carrying a high level of debt, make paying down your credit cards a priority. There are several strategies you can use, such as consolidating your debt on a credit card with a lower interest rate and /or paying off high-interest debt first. But the best way to reduce debt is to double or triple your card's minimum monthly payments. Depending on your balance, higher payments could save you thousands in interest payments and shave months, or maybe even years, off your debt.

Prosper

There's a great deal of peace of mind that comes with gaining control of your finances. If you need help in completing these steps, contact a CPA. He or she can work with you to create a plan for achieving your financial goals.

Only CPAs are equipped to address your full range of financial needs with integrity and insight. In Maryland, CPAs must pass a rigorous two-day examination, adhere to strict ethical and professional standards, and, beyond college, complete 80 hours of continuing education every two years to be certified by the state — accountants do not.

Your doctor is certified; your lawyer is certified. Make sure your accountant is a certified public accountant.

For CPA referrals in your area, contact the MACPA at (410) 296-6250 or click here.

The Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA) is a statewide professional association that provides leadership, information and services for its nearly 10,000 CPA members, who are employed in private practice, industry, government and education. CPAs are business and financial professionals who have passed a rigorous two-day examination in order to be licensed by the state. CPAs are committed to protecting the public interest, and must adhere to stringent ethical and professional standards and continuing professional education requirements.

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