Getting ready to set goals You probably don't expect to attain great wealth in your lifetime. Simple financial security would do, if only you knew what that meant. It's a slippery notion, all right, but it does have a few characteristics you can grab on to. You need a steady source of income . This comes from your job, or your business if you're self-employed, or investments if you're fortunate and alert.
Future income is the bedrock on which financial security is built.
You need financial reserves . Cars break down, household appliances wear out, roofs spring leaks. Kids aspire to college educations, and someday you'll want to retire. These are expenses you have to provide for with savings and investments. You need protection against financial catastrophes .