Objective or target, usually driven by specific future financial needs. Some common financial goals for an individual are: saving for a comfortable retirement, saving to send children to college, managing finances to enable a home purchase, minimizing taxes, maximizing return on investments given a certain risk tolerance, and estate or trust planning.

Given a person's goals, he/she decides on a pattern of expenses and suitable investments that will enable those goals to be achieved. Institutions also have financial goals, for example making certain pension contributions at specific times, or retiring a certain amount of debt by a certain date. Often, both people and institutions find it useful to employ a professional to help them in setting up a financial plan that will enable their goals to be met.

Related Terms

asset allocation, planning, financial planner, confidence level, fiscal policy, strategy, investment strategy, milestone, project, quota, tactics, target

Source: Investorwords.com

Author's Bio: 

This definition is part of a series that covers the topic of Personal Finance. The Official Guide to Personal Finance is Leo J. Quinn. Leo J. Quinn, Jr. has been teaching and motivating people all around the world to get out of debt as quickly as possible. His best-selling book, “How To Own Your Paycheck Again”, has transformed literally thousands of financial lives. He also authors a lively weekly newsletter and is a much sought-after speaker for self-help and marketing seminars. One of Leo's most important goals is to help people improve their overall attitude about money or their "Moneytude" as he calls it.

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Leo J. Quinn, The official Guide to Personal Finance