Financial Goals For 2026

As we come to the end of this year, setting goals for 2026 may be top of mind. If you want to achieve success in the coming year, consider the PACT technique (Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, and Trackable) when setting your goals.

PACT Technique Framework:

  • Purposeful: When setting your goals, they should align with your values to give them purpose. Start by identifying what you value by reflecting on what makes you happy and gives you confidence. Also consider where you spend your time and energy, moments that you felt fulfilled, and qualities you admire in others. From here you can make list of values. Trim your list down by categorizing them by similarities and then rank them by importance. Then, select the top five values that best represent you and can help guide your goal setting.
  • Actionable: Knowing what actions you need to take can provide a roadmap to success. Break your goals into smaller tasks to help move you toward achievement. Set parameters such as days of the week you intend to do something, how long you will need to complete a task, and what activities need to be done. Be detailed about what you want to achieve and provide a realistic time frame to achieve it.
  • Continuous: Mistakes happen and unexpected roadblocks come up, don't give up! Make a pact with yourself to learn from your mistakes, adjust as needed, and continue to move forward. Giving yourself grace to do so will help you achieve your goal.
  • Trackable: Monitoring your progress and reflecting on your journey can keep you moving forward. Write down the tasks you need to complete to reach your goal and check them off as you go along, create a visual tracker that will let you see how you are doing, or keep a journal to document your growth.

With this framework, now consider what long-term financial goals you want to achieve. Start by calculating your net worth to get a snapshot of your current financial situation and highlight areas to work toward improving. Calculate your net worth by:

  • Making a list of all your assets (everything you own with monetary value).
  • Making a list of all your liabilities (all the debts you owe).
  • Then, subtract the sum of your liabilities from the sum of your assets. This is your net worth.

BMI Federal Credit Union® has a Know Your Net Worth Activity that can help guide you in your calculation.

Calculating your net worth will reveal the full impact of your debt situation and can help you identify specific debt that is weighing you down. It will also provide motivation to build your assets. It can help you see how building your savings, participating in your 401k, and learning more about how to grow your money can improve your net worth. With the knowledge gained, use the PACT framework to set informed goals to improve your financial situation.

BMI Federal Credit Union is here to help you achieve your goals. We offer free Financial Education Services to help improve your financial life:

Setting goals that will help you achieve financial stability is beneficial for your health and well-being. Get excited for 2026 by reflecting on what you want to achieve in the new year and set concrete goals that will get you there. You can do this!

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(December 2025)