Reset Your Mind for 2018

Take steps now to make 2018 your best year yet!

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Juli McNeely, CFP, LUTCF, CLU

Setting a theme to focus on throughout the year will allow you to have a better chance of making a significant change.

Welcome to a New Year! Each time we flip our calendars from December to January, we have an opportunity to reset our minds and focus on where we want to be in a year from now. For me, it is always a time to clear my mind, evaluate the past year and refocus on the year ahead. It’s time to write my plan and set the strategies that will help me achieve my goals.

How do you welcome the New Year? Don’t just let it pass like another sunrise. Take this opportunity to set yourself up for success. The lessons from the past can help you mold the future. So why not take the steps to make 2018 the best year yet?

The Theme— Each year I set a theme. Sometimes it’s a personal theme and sometimes it’s a business theme or both. My personal theme for 2018 is to be intentional. Intentional with my thoughts and actions. No longer living life out of habit but out of intention. As I write this, my year hasn’t even started and I’m already anticipating how making intentional decisions will allow me to find even more success.

My business theme for 2018 is to get my clients organized. Many people don’t take the time to document where they are financially and to truly understand what they have and where they fall short. As advisors, we can do more than just sell a single product. We can help our clients make sure they have their bases covered should something unforeseen occur.

So, what is your theme for 2018? Do you need to create more processes in your office so that you can more efficiently serve your clients? Do you need to find more balance in your life? Setting a theme to focus on throughout the year will allow you to have a much better chance of making a significant change.

The Plan —Don’t just wing it. Write a business plan for the year. We use the One Page Business Plan in my office. Each person, including support staff, writes their plan for the year. This doesn’t need to be a lengthy or a daunting task. You simply need to document what you are measuring to reach your goals, what strategies you will utilize to make the goals happen, and the high-level, to-do list for the year. Without a plan you won’t know when you have arrived at your goal.

The Follow-Up —Measuring and tracking your results will help you make adjustments along the way. If you have done a good job of writing the plan and determining the strategies that will get you results, then the tracking will show you how you are doing. For example, if you know that getting referrals is key to reaching your goal of obtaining new clients or growing your insurance sales or assets under management, then tracking the number of referrals you receive would be a wise idea. If your referral tally is not on track, then reaching your goal will be more difficult. Hopefully, that’s a reminder to make the “ask” or come up with a creative strategy to get more referrals.

The Accountability —Don’t go it alone. If others know what your goals are and see your progress, it can only help you to become more accountable. In our office, we share our plan and review our progress monthly. You may also have a mentor that you can share with or a study group. Regardless of what method you choose, allow others to hold you accountable and strategize about how to obtain the results you are looking for.

I’m looking forward to a great 2018. I hope you are, as well. I wish you great success!

A 21-year veteran of the financial-services industry, Juli McNeely, LUTCF, CFP, CLU, is president of McNeely Financial Services in Wisconsin. She is past president of NAIFA, having served as the first female president. She is also a member of MDRT and is affiliated with Woodbury Financial Services. You can reach her at juli@mcneelyfinancial.com