Your financial priorities should not remain unchanged forever. Income changes, expenses increase, debts are paid off, savings goals evolve, and major life events can completely change what you need your money to accomplish.

That is why a biannual financial check-up can be a valuable part of a long-term money management system.

Reviewing your finances every six months gives you an opportunity to step back from everyday spending and examine the bigger picture. Instead of simply following a budget created months or years ago, you can determine whether your current financial decisions still match your circumstances and goals.

A six-month financial review can help you:

• Evaluate your current cash flow
• Identify unnecessary spending
• Review your savings progress
• Reassess your financial goals
• Monitor debt and credit
• Review insurance coverage
• Examine tax-related issues
• Check your investment strategy
• Update your emergency fund
• Prepare for upcoming expenses
• Adjust your financial priorities

The goal is not to change everything twice a year.

The goal is to identify what has changed, determine what still matters, and make targeted adjustments before small financial problems become larger ones.

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1. Understand Why a Six-Month Financial Review Matters

A financial plan is based on assumptions about your income, expenses, goals, debts, investments, and personal circumstances.

Those assumptions can change.

For example, six months ago you may have:

• Had a different income
• Been paying off credit-card debt
• Been saving for a vehicle
• Had lower housing costs
• Had a different insurance policy
• Been investing a different amount
• Had different family responsibilities

If your circumstances have changed but your financial plan has not, your money may no longer be directed toward your most important objectives.

A biannual review creates a scheduled opportunity to ask:

“Does my current financial system still match my current life?”

That simple question can reveal opportunities to improve your finances.

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2. Choose a Consistent Review Schedule

Consistency is more important than choosing a perfect date.

You could conduct your financial review in:

• January and July
• March and September
• April and October
• Your birthday month and six months later
• Any other two dates approximately six months apart

Choose dates that are easy to remember.

For example:

March → Full Financial Review

September → Full Financial Review

You can also perform shorter monthly budget reviews between these larger check-ups.

The six-month review should be more comprehensive than your normal monthly review.

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3. Gather Your Financial Information

Before starting, collect the information you need.

This may include:

• Bank statements
• Credit-card statements
• Loan statements
• Investment account statements
• Retirement account information
• Insurance policies
• Recent tax information
• Pay statements
• Monthly budget
• Savings balances
• Major upcoming expenses

You do not necessarily need complicated software.

A spreadsheet, budgeting application, or notebook can be enough.

The objective is to work from actual financial information rather than memory.

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4. Calculate Your Current Net Worth

Net worth provides a high-level picture of your financial position.

A simple formula is:

Net Worth = Total Assets − Total Liabilities

Assets

Examples include:

• Cash
• Savings
• Investments
• Retirement accounts
• Real estate
• Vehicles
• Business interests
• Other significant assets

Liabilities

Examples include:

• Credit-card balances
• Personal loans
• Auto loans
• Student loans
• Mortgage
• Other outstanding debts

For example:

The purpose is not to compare your net worth with someone else’s.

Instead, compare your current position with your own previous review.

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5. Audit Your Income

Start your review by determining how much money is currently coming into your household.

Compare your current income with six months ago.

Ask:

• Has my salary changed?
• Have I received a raise?
• Have I changed jobs?
• Has my business income changed?
• Have I started another income source?
• Have bonuses or commissions changed?
• Has household income increased or decreased?

For people with variable income, use conservative estimates rather than assuming unusually strong months will continue indefinitely.

An income increase can create an opportunity to increase savings and investments.

An income decrease may require an immediate adjustment to discretionary spending.

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6. Audit Your Spending Over the Previous Six Months

One of the most important parts of the review is examining where your money actually went.

Do not rely only on your monthly budget.

Look at your actual transactions.

Categorize spending into areas such as:

• Housing
• Utilities
• Food
• Transportation
• Insurance
• Healthcare
• Debt
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Travel
• Subscriptions
• Savings
• Investments

Then compare actual spending with your planned spending.

For example:

The purpose is not to criticize yourself.

It is to understand what actually happened.

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7. Look for Financial Leaks

Small recurring expenses can become significant over time.

During your review, search for:

• Unused subscriptions
• Duplicate services
• Memberships you rarely use
• Recurring fees
• Convenience charges
• Excessive delivery spending
• Frequent impulse purchases
• Services you no longer need

Suppose you discover three unused subscriptions:

$20 + $15 + $12 = $47 per month

Over six months:

$47 × 6 = $282

Over a year:

$47 × 12 = $564

Canceling expenses that provide little value can improve cash flow without requiring major lifestyle changes.

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8. Check for Lifestyle Inflation

Lifestyle inflation occurs when spending increases as income increases.

Suppose your income increased by $800 per month.

If your expenses increased by $750 at the same time, only $50 of the additional income remains available for improving your financial position.

Ask:

“Did my lifestyle increase faster than my financial progress?”

When income rises, consider directing part of the increase toward:

• Emergency savings
• Retirement
• Investments
• Debt repayment
• Short-term goals

You can still improve your lifestyle.

The goal is simply to ensure that your financial progress improves as well.

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9. Revisit Your Financial Priorities

This is the central purpose of a biannual financial review.

Your priorities may have changed.

Six months ago, your priority may have been:

Pay off high-interest debt

Today, it may be:

Build a larger emergency fund

After that, your priority may become:

Increase long-term investing

Create a list of your current goals and rank them.

For example:

Ranking your goals helps prevent every financial objective from competing for the same money.

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10. Ask Whether Your Goals Have Changed

Your financial priorities should reflect your current life.

Ask yourself:

Has my income changed?

A major increase or decrease can change how much you can save.

Has my household changed?

Marriage, children, separation, or other family changes can affect financial priorities.

Have my housing plans changed?

You may now be considering buying, selling, or relocating.

Have my career plans changed?

A career transition may require additional cash reserves.

Have my long-term goals changed?

You may now care more about retirement, education, business ownership, travel, or another objective.

If the answer to these questions is yes, your financial plan may need to change as well.

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11. Review Your Emergency Fund

Your emergency fund should also be reviewed every six months.

Calculate your current essential monthly expenses.

Then compare those expenses with your emergency savings.

For example:

Emergency savings: $15,000

Essential monthly expenses: $3,000

Your approximate emergency-fund coverage is:

$15,000 ÷ $3,000 = 5 months

If your essential expenses have increased to $3,500, however:

$15,000 ÷ $3,500 ≈ 4.3 months

Your savings balance has not changed, but your financial runway has decreased.

This demonstrates why emergency savings should be evaluated in relation to expenses rather than as an isolated dollar amount.

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12. Review Your Sinking Funds

Sinking funds are designed for predictable future expenses.

During your six-month review, check whether your sinking funds are still adequate.

Possible sinking funds include:

• Vehicle maintenance
• Insurance premiums
• Property taxes
• Holidays
• Gifts
• Travel
• Education
• Home maintenance
• Annual memberships

Suppose you expect an annual $1,200 expense.

A monthly contribution of:

$1,200 ÷ 12 = $100

can help spread the cost throughout the year.

If the expected expense increases to $1,500, your monthly contribution may need to increase:

$1,500 ÷ 12 = $125

The six-month review is a good time to make this adjustment.

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13. Assess Your Debt

Review every major debt.

Record:

• Current balance
• Interest rate
• Minimum payment
• Remaining term
• Payment due date

Then compare the balances with your previous review.

For example:

This gives you a measurable view of progress.

If high-interest debt remains, determine whether paying it down should continue to be a major priority.

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14. Calculate Your Debt-to-Income Ratio

Your debt-to-income ratio, commonly abbreviated as DTI, compares debt payments with income.

A simplified formula is:

DTI = Monthly Debt Payments ÷ Gross Monthly Income × 100

For example, if monthly debt payments are $600 and gross monthly income is $5,000:

$600 ÷ $5,000 × 100 = 12%

DTI calculations can vary depending on the context and the type of debt payments included.

The purpose of tracking it in a personal financial review is to understand whether debt obligations are becoming more or less burdensome relative to income.

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15. Review Your Credit Reports

Your six-month financial review can also include a credit check.

Depending on your country, review the credit reports available to you and look for:

• Accounts you do not recognize
• Incorrect balances
• Incorrect payment information
• Outdated information
• Unauthorized inquiries
• Other potential errors

If you find inaccurate information, follow the applicable dispute process with the relevant credit-reporting organization or creditor.

Monitoring credit is particularly useful when you are planning major borrowing, such as a mortgage or vehicle purchase.

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16. Review Your Interest Rates

Interest rates can materially affect your finances.

Check whether:

• Credit-card rates changed
• Loan rates changed
• Promotional rates expired
• Variable-rate debt changed
• Savings rates changed
• Refinancing opportunities exist

Do not refinance or consolidate simply because a lower rate is advertised.

Consider:

• Fees
• New loan terms
• Total interest
• Repayment period
• Penalties
• Other contractual conditions

A lower monthly payment does not necessarily mean a lower total cost.

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17. Review Your Insurance Coverage

Financial planning is not only about growing money.

It is also about protecting yourself from significant financial losses.

Review relevant insurance policies such as:

• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Auto insurance
• Homeowners insurance
• Renters insurance
• Disability insurance
• Liability coverage

Ask:

• Has my household changed?
• Has my income changed?
• Have I purchased major assets?
• Have I sold a property?
• Has my coverage changed?
• Are my beneficiaries current?
• Are my deductibles still appropriate for my cash reserves?

Major life events may require an earlier review rather than waiting for the next six-month checkpoint.

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18. Review Your Tax Position

Taxes can influence your financial decisions throughout the year.

Depending on your country and circumstances, review:

• Tax withholding
• Estimated tax payments
• Retirement contributions
• Tax-advantaged accounts
• Investment gains and losses
• Business income
• Major deductions or credits

For example, in the United States, an employee may review their federal tax withholding using their Form W-4.

If you consistently receive a very large refund, you may want to evaluate whether your withholding is appropriate.

However, tax planning is highly dependent on personal circumstances and jurisdiction, so significant changes should be considered carefully.

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19. Review Your Investment Contributions

Your six-month review is a good opportunity to determine whether you are still contributing the amount you intended.

Ask:

• Am I investing consistently?
• Has my contribution amount changed?
• Are contributions automated?
• Am I taking advantage of applicable employer retirement contributions?
• Have my financial goals changed?
• Has my investment time horizon changed?

Do not automatically increase investment contributions simply because your portfolio performed well.

Your contribution decisions should be based primarily on your broader financial circumstances and goals.

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20. Review Your Investment Allocation

Over time, market performance can cause your portfolio to move away from your intended asset allocation.

For example, suppose your target allocation is:

• 70% stocks
• 30% bonds

After a period of strong stock-market performance, your portfolio could become:

• 78% stocks
• 22% bonds

The portfolio now carries more stock exposure than originally intended.

A review can determine whether rebalancing is appropriate.

Rebalancing does not necessarily mean selling investments every six months.

The appropriate frequency and method depend on your investment strategy, taxes, transaction costs, account type, and personal circumstances.

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21. Avoid Turning a Financial Review Into Market Timing

A financial review should not become an excuse to constantly trade investments.

Avoid asking:

“What investment performed best during the last six months?”

Instead ask:

“Is my investment strategy still appropriate for my goals and risk tolerance?”

Markets can rise and fall significantly over short periods.

A six-month review should focus on whether your financial plan remains appropriate rather than trying to predict what markets will do next.

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22. Check Your Savings Rate

Your savings rate can provide another useful measure of financial progress.

A simple formula is:

Savings Rate = Amount Saved ÷ Net Income × 100

Suppose your monthly net income is $5,000 and you save $1,000:

$1,000 ÷ $5,000 × 100 = 20%

Compare your current savings rate with your previous review.

If it has decreased, determine why.

Possible reasons include:

• Higher housing costs
• Increased food costs
• Lifestyle inflation
• New debt
• Reduced income
• Major one-time expenses

The goal is not to force yourself into a particular percentage.

The goal is to understand the trend.

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23. Review Your Cash Flow

Your cash-flow position tells you whether your financial system is producing a surplus or deficit.

The basic formula is:

Cash Flow = Income − Expenses

For example:

$5,000 − $4,200 = $800 surplus

If your monthly surplus has decreased from $800 to $300, investigate what changed.

If the decrease is caused by temporary expenses, you may not need to make major changes.

If the decrease is caused by permanent increases in fixed costs, your financial plan may need to be redesigned.

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24. Evaluate Your Fixed Expenses

Fixed expenses deserve particular attention because they are often more difficult to reduce quickly.

Review:

• Housing
• Insurance
• Loan payments
• Internet
• Phone plans
• Memberships
• Childcare
• Other recurring commitments

Ask:

“Which of these expenses are difficult to change if my income falls?”

A sustainable financial system generally benefits from keeping unavoidable fixed costs manageable.

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25. Review Your Subscriptions

Subscriptions can quietly accumulate.

Create a list of recurring charges.

For example:

If you identify services you no longer value, cancel them.

The objective is not to eliminate every subscription.

Keep services that genuinely provide value.

Remove those that continue only because you forgot about them.

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26. Review Your Upcoming Six-Month Expenses

Your next financial review should not focus only on the past six months.

Look ahead.

Identify expected expenses such as:

• Travel
• Tuition
• Insurance renewals
• Vehicle maintenance
• Home repairs
• Holidays
• Major purchases
• Annual fees
• Property taxes

Estimate the amount required and determine whether you are already saving for it.

This prevents future expenses from appearing as unexpected emergencies.

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27. Review Your Financial Protection

Your financial system should protect against major risks.

Consider whether you have appropriate:

• Emergency savings
• Insurance
• Account security
• Estate documents
• Beneficiary designations
• Important-document backups

Review your emergency financial checklist and make sure important information remains current.

A strong financial plan should address both growth and protection.

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28. Reassess Your Financial Goals

At the end of the review, rewrite your goals.

Do not simply carry forward goals because they appeared on an old spreadsheet.

Ask:

What matters most now?

What has become less important?

What needs to happen within the next six months?

What needs to happen within the next five years?

What long-term goal am I building toward?

Then create a prioritized list.

For example:

Priority 1: Complete emergency fund

Priority 2: Eliminate high-interest debt

Priority 3: Increase retirement contributions

Priority 4: Save for home purchase

This gives your money a clear direction.

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29. Create a Six-Month Financial Action Plan

Once the review is complete, avoid making twenty changes simultaneously.

Choose a few high-impact actions.

For example:

Next Six Months

1. Increase emergency savings by $2,000.
2. Cancel three unused subscriptions.
3. Pay an additional $300 per month toward high-interest debt.
4. Increase automated investing by $100 per month.
5. Review insurance coverage.
6. Save $150 per month toward an upcoming annual expense.

A focused action plan is easier to maintain than a massive list of financial goals.

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30. Use a Simple Biannual Financial Scorecard

You can create a simple scorecard:

The exact numbers are less important than the trends.

A scorecard allows you to see whether your overall financial system is moving in the desired direction.

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31. Do Not Judge Yourself by One Bad Six-Month Period

Financial progress is rarely perfectly linear.

You may experience:

• A major repair
• Job transition
• Family expense
• Medical bill
• Moving costs
• Temporary income reduction
• Unexpected travel

One difficult period does not necessarily mean your financial system has failed.

Instead, ask:

“What caused the deviation, and does my system need to change?”

If an unexpected expense was genuinely unpredictable, the appropriate response may simply be rebuilding savings.

If the problem occurred because predictable expenses were not planned for, a sinking fund may solve it.

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32. Avoid Making Financial Decisions From Guilt

A financial review should be analytical rather than punitive.

If you spent too much on dining out, do not conclude:

“I am terrible with money.”

Instead ask:

“Why did my spending increase?”

Maybe your work schedule changed.

Maybe food prices increased.

Maybe your budget was unrealistic.

Maybe convenience became more valuable.

Understanding the reason behind a financial behavior allows you to design a better system.

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33. Include Your Partner When Finances Are Shared

If you share finances with a spouse or partner, a six-month financial review can help keep both people aligned.

Discuss:

• Income
• Spending
• Savings
• Debt
• Upcoming expenses
• Major purchases
• Financial goals
• Investments
• Lifestyle priorities

The purpose is not to assign blame.

It is to make sure both people understand the financial direction of the household.

A shared financial review can also help prevent disagreements caused by different assumptions about money.

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34. Do Not Overcomplicate the Review

You do not need:

• Expensive financial software
• Dozens of spreadsheets
• Complicated investment models
• Multiple budgeting applications
• Daily portfolio analysis

A simple spreadsheet can be enough.

The most important information includes:

Income → Expenses → Savings → Debt → Investments → Protection → Goals

If you understand these seven areas, you have a strong foundation for your review.

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35. Create a 90-Minute Biannual Financial Review

A practical review can fit into approximately 60–90 minutes.

First 15 Minutes — Cash Flow

Review income and spending.

Next 15 Minutes — Savings and Emergency Fund

Check savings balances and financial runway.

Next 15 Minutes — Debt and Credit

Review balances, interest rates, and credit information.

Next 15 Minutes — Insurance and Protection

Review policies, beneficiaries, and important documents.

Next 15 Minutes — Investments

Review contributions and asset allocation.

Final 15 Minutes — Goals

Set your priorities for the next six months.

This structure makes the process manageable.

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36. Biannual Financial Review Checklist

Use this checklist during your next review.

Income

• Review current income.
• Compare income with six months ago.
• Identify major income changes.
• Review variable or business income.

Spending

• Review six months of transactions.
• Check fixed expenses.
• Check variable expenses.
• Identify unnecessary recurring costs.
• Look for lifestyle inflation.

Savings

• Check emergency-fund balance.
• Calculate essential monthly expenses.
• Calculate emergency-fund coverage.
• Review sinking funds.
• Check savings rate.

Debt

• Review all balances.
• Review interest rates.
• Review minimum payments.
• Check debt-to-income ratio.
• Review repayment progress.
• Consider whether refinancing or consolidation is appropriate.

Credit

• Review available credit reports.
• Check for errors.
• Check for unfamiliar accounts.
• Review credit inquiries.

Insurance

• Review health coverage.
• Review auto coverage.
• Review home/renters coverage.
• Review life insurance where applicable.
• Review disability coverage where applicable.
• Review deductibles and policy limits.

Taxes

• Review withholding where applicable.
• Review estimated tax payments where applicable.
• Review tax-advantaged accounts.
• Consider whether professional tax advice is appropriate.

Investments

• Review investment contributions.
• Review asset allocation.
• Review risk tolerance.
• Review time horizon.
• Consider whether rebalancing is appropriate.

Goals

• Review short-term goals.
• Review medium-term goals.
• Review long-term goals.
• Remove outdated goals.
• Prioritize the next six months.

Protection

• Review emergency contacts.
• Review important financial documents.
• Review beneficiary designations.
• Check account security.
• Confirm secure document backups.

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37. Example of a Biannual Financial Review

Imagine someone earns $5,000 per month after taxes.

Six months ago:

• Emergency savings: $8,000
• Credit-card debt: $5,000
• Monthly investments: $400
• Essential expenses: $2,800

Today:

• Emergency savings: $12,000
• Credit-card debt: $2,000
• Monthly investments: $600
• Essential expenses: $3,000

Several things have changed.

Emergency savings increased by:

$12,000 − $8,000 = $4,000

Credit-card debt decreased by:

$5,000 − $2,000 = $3,000

Monthly investments increased by:

$600 − $400 = $200

However, essential expenses increased from $2,800 to $3,000.

That means the emergency-fund coverage should also be recalculated.

$12,000 ÷ $3,000 = 4 months

The person has made significant progress, but the review reveals another useful opportunity: determine whether the emergency-fund target should increase because essential expenses have increased.

This is exactly why periodic reviews are useful.

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38. What to Do After Completing the Review

Do not let the review end with a spreadsheet and no action.

Write down your top three financial actions for the next six months.

For example:

Action 1

Increase emergency savings from $12,000 to $15,000.

Action 2

Eliminate the remaining high-interest credit-card balance.

Action 3

Increase automated long-term investment contributions.

Then assign each action:

• A target amount
• A deadline
• An automatic transfer where appropriate
• A progress measurement

This turns your review into an actual financial plan.

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Common Mistakes When Evaluating Financial Priorities

1. Only Reviewing Your Bank Balance

Your bank balance does not tell you everything about your financial health.

You also need to consider debt, savings, investments, insurance, and upcoming expenses.

2. Focusing Only on Investment Performance

A strong investment return does not necessarily mean your financial system is healthy.

Your cash flow and debt situation also matter.

3. Ignoring Small Recurring Expenses

Small monthly charges can accumulate into significant annual costs.

4. Changing Everything at Once

Too many financial changes can make the system difficult to maintain.

Focus on the highest-impact improvements.

5. Using the Same Goals Forever

Your financial goals should evolve with your life.

6. Ignoring Increased Expenses

If essential expenses rise, your emergency-fund target may need to rise too.

7. Making Emotional Investment Decisions

Do not turn a routine financial review into an attempt to predict the market.

8. Forgetting Insurance

Financial progress can be undermined by inadequate protection against major risks.

9. Failing to Review Debt Interest Rates

A change in interest rates or expiration of a promotional rate can materially affect borrowing costs.

10. Never Taking Action After the Review

The review is useful only if you use the information to improve your financial system.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I review my financial priorities?

A comprehensive review every six months can be a useful schedule. You can supplement it with shorter monthly cash-flow and spending reviews.

You should also review your finances whenever a major life event occurs rather than waiting for the next scheduled review.

Why should I review my finances every six months?

A six-month review gives you an opportunity to identify changes in income, expenses, debt, savings, investments, insurance, and financial goals before those changes become difficult to manage.

How long should a biannual financial review take?

A thorough review can often be completed in approximately 60–90 minutes, although more complex financial situations may require additional time or professional assistance.

What should I check during a financial review?

Review:

• Income
• Spending
• Savings
• Emergency fund
• Debt
• Credit
• Insurance
• Taxes
• Investments
• Financial goals
• Upcoming expenses

Should I review my investments every six months?

You can review your investment strategy and asset allocation every six months, but that does not mean you need to trade investments every six months.

The appropriate review and rebalancing schedule depends on your strategy and circumstances.

What if my finances have gotten worse?

Do not treat the review as a failure.

Identify what changed.

If expenses increased, determine whether the increase is temporary or permanent.

If income declined, consider reducing discretionary spending and reviewing available resources.

If debt increased, identify the cause and establish a repayment strategy.

The purpose of a review is to identify problems early enough to address them.

What if I have no savings?

Start with a small, realistic emergency-savings goal.

Even a modest cash reserve can provide some protection against smaller unexpected expenses.

Then gradually work toward a larger emergency fund as your financial situation allows.

Should couples conduct financial reviews together?

If finances are shared, reviewing major financial priorities together can help ensure that both people understand the household’s goals, spending plan, debt obligations, and savings strategy.

Do I need financial software?

No.

A spreadsheet, notebook, or basic budgeting tool can be sufficient.

The quality of the review depends more on accurate information and consistent follow-through than on the software you use.

Should I change my budget every six months?

Not necessarily.

If your current budget still accurately reflects your income, expenses, and goals, you may not need major changes.

The purpose of the review is to determine whether changes are necessary.

What is the most important part of a financial review?

There is no single answer for everyone.

However, understanding your cash flow, emergency savings, debt, goals, and long-term investment strategy provides a strong foundation for evaluating whether your financial priorities remain appropriate.

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Final Thoughts

Learning how to evaluate your financial priorities every six months can turn financial planning from a one-time activity into an ongoing system.

Your financial life is constantly changing.

Income can rise or fall.

Expenses can increase.

Debt can disappear.

New goals can emerge.

Investment portfolios can change.

Insurance needs can evolve.

A financial plan created six months ago may still be appropriate—but it may also need adjustment.

A biannual review gives you a structured opportunity to find out.

Start by reviewing your actual income and spending. Calculate your current net worth and savings rate. Check your emergency fund against your essential expenses. Review your debt balances and interest rates. Check your credit information and insurance coverage. Examine your investment contributions and asset allocation without turning the process into short-term market speculation.

Then step back and ask the most important question:

“Are my financial decisions today still helping me achieve the life I want in the future?”

If the answer is yes, continue.

If the answer is no, make targeted changes.

You do not need to completely rebuild your financial system every six months. In many cases, a few small adjustments can make a significant difference over time.

The purpose of a financial check-up is not perfection.

It is course correction.

By reviewing your financial priorities consistently, you can identify problems earlier, take advantage of new opportunities, and keep your money aligned with the goals that matter most.

Your financial plan should reflect the life you are living today while helping you prepare for the life you want tomorrow. A six-month review is a simple way to keep those two things connected.

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Financial Disclaimer

This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered personalized financial, investment, tax, legal, insurance, or other professional advice. Financial circumstances, laws, regulations, tax rules, investment products, and insurance requirements vary by individual and jurisdiction. Investment values can rise or fall, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Before making significant financial decisions, consider your own financial situation, objectives, time horizon, risk tolerance, and applicable laws, and consult an appropriately qualified professional where appropriate.