2010 is here and if you ask around, many say it’s come none to soon! 2009 was a difficult year for a lot of folks, in Missouri and across the US, with a troublesome economy, and lots of questions about where our country was headed.

So more than ever as we look ahead to the new year it is time for resolutions and making sure you are organized and ready to face the months and the year ahead—in your house, within your family, and always important: your finances.

As you set resolutions for the new year, think about your financial picture. If you have an advisor that you work with, schedule a meeting with him just to check in and make sure your investments are still tracking your goals. If you don’t have an estate plan established, with a will and documents covering powers of attorney, you should do so. Maybe you have a resolution to be a better saver; see if you can set up some automatic withdrawal plans so that a portion of your paycheck goes into a savings account, or into a investment fund or an IRA, automatically.

It’s a great time to review levels of coverage, as well, for your life insurance policies—whether they are term life, variable life, or if you have several policies (as part of an employer’s benefit package and on your own, for example). Discuss with your advisor what your needs are, for your life insurance policy (an investment vehicle, to cover your spouse and/or children in the event of your passing, etc)—and be sure that together you agree that your children or spouse are covered at the appropriate level; an advisor can help you run scenarios on what college expenses or the like might be. Be sure that you are not “over-covered”—this is less common than being “under-covered”, but if you have too much life insurance, together you and your advisor may determine that your money could be better invested (tax wise and “potential for growth” wise) elsewhere.

And, it may be a wise time to ask your insurance provider if there is anything you can do to make your policy more cost-effective (changing deductibles, etc) for a homeowner’s or a health insurance policy.

The big picture: as you set resolutions and make a plan for goals for the year, don’t neglect your financial picture. A conversation with your advisor or some simple steps put in place now can have an impact on your entire year, so don’t delay!