For many people, setting financial goals is the first step to achieving financial security and freedom. Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve and by when can provide a helpful guide to reaching your objectives. However, setting goals is the beginning of the process; having a proper financial plan in place is the best way to bring these goals to life. Having financial goals is a good way to set the big-picture objectives of where you want to be in the future and in how much time. These goals could include wanting to buy a house in five years, saving a certain amount for your retirement, saving up for college tuition for your children, or reaching a certain level of income. No matter what your financial goals are, having a goal gives you motivation to take guided steps towards achieving it by carefully managing your finances. The next step after solidifying your financial goals is to create a specific financial plan that details the steps it will take to reach those goal...