Take control Financial planning is for everybody. It’s for the 25 year old who has just graduat- ed from university, started a job. He wants to get off on the right foot by paving down that student loan and start planning for the future. Ie’s for the 35-year-old worker who knows that for the past 10 years regular deductions from her paycheque have been invested in the company pension plan. She feels she should be doing something more, but isn’t exactly sure what that something is. It’s for the couple in their 40s who, because - they’re concemed about being able to help the kids through university, want to take a second look at where they could be saving and how they should be doing it. ___ It’s for anyone who is within « decade or se of retirement and wants to make sure they’re able to enjoy the free time they're looking for- ward to. And financial planning is for chose who have retired and want to make sure their moncy lasts as long as they do. * You know you should be saving. You want to ‘take charge of your finances and plan for the HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF YOUR DOLLARS of ye future, but aren't sure where to start. Or perhaps you have already read something on personal finances — there’s a Jor of material out there — but can’t quite remember how to put the lessons vou learned into practice. Maybe you feel vour finances aren’t quite under control, your debts aren't getting any smaller and you don’r have that comfortable fecling of balance. You may feel vou don’t need to start saving yet — or you feel there’s no point: you don’t have enough money to make a differ- ence in the long run It is never too late, or too soon, to start sav- ing for the things that are important to you. And you can start small and save just $50 cach month, and then gradually increase that amount to as much as $150 per month after one year and to $200 the next. Or, start small and increase your savings rate by 10 per cent or $10 every three months. You can [carn to save on a monthly basis, just as you pay your phone bill. It’s important to remember that the sooner you start saving, the more time you have to let your money work for you, and the more you ur finances stand to gain. Starting tomorrow is fine — but today is better. Whether you choose ta manage your own investments, work with a financial advisor, or rely on a variety of mutual fund managers to watch your investments, it always comes back to you. You have control of your finances. You can make the choices you are comfortable with and ensure the risks you take are ones that will let you sleep at night. Don't get hung up on an investment mistake you may have made in the past. Look at it as a learning experience: education isn’t free. What counts is what vou do from today on. Investing is like a buffet — you need to taste most of the choices before you can focus on what you like best. Investment planning is 60 per cent personal and 40 per cent financial. It’s your personality and your appetite which count. Explore and then pick from the buffet what appeals to you most. A little bit of knowledge and the right amount of initiative are all you need to overcome the barriers between you and financial independence. Create a personal fiscal! plan for your future One of the first things you need to do as you start sav- *" ing is to determine