Here’s what should be on your financial to-do list for 2025, advisors say

When it comes to financial resolutions, pay the debt is at the top of many 2025 to-do lists.

But financial advisors who work with clients every day have their own wish list for what they think should be the top financial priorities for 2025.

Here are some tips covering everything from budgeting to estate planning from experts who are members of the CNBC FA advice.

“Start slow and manageable with any new financial goal,” said Lee Baker, a certified financial planner and founder, owner and president of Financial advice Claris in Atlanta. “You’d better get some victories under your belt than try to build Rome in a day only to end up frustrated.”

“A little time spent understanding your current spending and then deciding if it’s in line with your goals and values ​​is time very well spent,” said CFP Jude Boudreaux, a partner and senior financial planner with The Planning Center in New Orleans.

Ask yourself if your spending aligns with your goals and values ​​and if it should continue, he suggested. Once you sit down and look at the numbers, it can help you identify where you might want to make changes.

Being aware of your spending can help ensure you’re making the most of the money you take in, advisers say.

“Careful spending that reflects personal values ​​can lead to greater satisfaction and stronger relationships,” said Rianka Dorsainvil, CFP and founder and senior wealth advisor at Wealth YGC.

The new year is also a good time to review your credit and debit card statements for the year, said Ted Jenkin, a CFP and founder and CEO of OXYGen Financialan Atlanta-based financial advisory and wealth management firm.

Look for subscriptions, apps and subscriptions you don’t use and cancel them, he said.

Also be sure to take a look at how much you’re paying for streaming services, and where you might be able to cut back, Jenkin said. Multiple streaming service subscriptions can now add up to more than one cable bill. Families can save by cutting the number of subscriptions or having multiple family members on one account, he said.

Also be sure to take a look at grocery bills and the tendency to add spontaneous purchases that can add up, Jenkin said.

But research shows that the market’s worst days happen often closely followed from the best days. If you sell during a market drop, you are missing out.

By creating a personal investment policy statement, you can avoid reacting to what happens in the market and instead stay focused on your goals, said CFP Carolyn McClanahan, founder of Life planning partners in Jacksonville, Florida.

For example, an investor with a long time horizon before retirement may choose to allocate 80% of his portfolio to equities and the remaining 20% ​​to fixed income. When the market goes up or down, they can choose to rebalance to that 80% equity allocation instead of giving in to the temptation to react to the latest moves, McClanahan said.

The start of a new year usually provides an opportunity to meet with your supervisor or boss to discuss your accomplishments and value to your team and company, said Cathy Curtis, CFP and the founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning, a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm.

Before this meeting, research your market value and determine what salary or other compensation you want to ask for with a clear and concise argument for it, Curtis said.

Be sure to also evaluate whether your work can be more rewarding elsewhere, he said.

One area of ​​financial planning that people tend to avoid is estate planning, according to Louis Barajas, a CFP, enrolled agent and CEO of International Private Wealth Advisors in Irvine, California.

For anyone who has young children or who owns property, it’s especially important to make sure you complete your estate plan, Barajas said.

In particular, estate planning doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, he said. For people with uncomplicated financial situations, there are good online estate planning resources that help prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney and guardianship appointments for minimal costs.

Proper estate planning can help ensure that your wishes for where you want your money to go are honored when you die. Importantly, that should also include your digital assets, said CFP Preston Cherry, founder and president of Concurrent Financial Planning in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“These areas require annual reviews to help you account for life and money milestones and adjustments in your value system,” Cherry said.

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More than half of Americans — 56% — say their parents never discussed money with them, according to the recent Fidelity surveys.

To have a family money conversation, it helps to set a formal time to discuss the topic.

Lazetta Rainey Braxton, CFP is founder and CEO of The real wealth Coterierecommends planning at least two multigenerational family meetings per year to discuss intergenerational wealth.

Possible topics that can be discussed include financial resolutions, long-term care needs for older generations and the status of estate planning documents.

A successful marriage is often a predictor of personal happiness, said Tim Maurer, a CFP and the chief counsel of Signature FDwith offices in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina.

If you have a spouse, investing more time and money in your marriage will pay off, he said.

Start with open money conversations, where both spouses answer the questions “What’s the job?” and “What could work better?” Maurer said.

It also helps to have regular weekly meetings to discuss schedules and budgets, where you can identify any adjustments that need to be made, he said.

Make sure you create a new budget category that’s held sacred for date nights, and make an effort to schedule that time together every week, Maurer said.