Almost all of us come into a new year with the best intentions to make changes, and we resolve to do things better in 2026 than in 2025. These noble intentions are often health related, lose weight, healthier diet or exercise more often. Unfortunately, very few of these resolutions last for very long and we often drift back into old habits.

Very few people venture into a new year with financial resolutions and as we enter 2026, I would challenge myself and all of you to seriously consider the following financial new year resolutions.

• Create margin for savings and investment in the monthly budget: Do you have a monthly budget and does this budget include a healthy slice to savings and retirement. The global benchmark highlights the 50/30/20 budgeting framework, where:
  • 50% → Needs (housing, medical aid, insurance, transport)
  • 30% → Wants (entertainment, dining out, discretionary spending)
  • 20% → Savings + Investments

• Review your investment portfolio and ensure that it is strategically aligned to your life stage and life goals: At the very least, on an annual basis, you should undertake a “deep dive” into your retirement and investment portfolio. This meeting with your financial advisor should include a performance analysis against the portfolio benchmark, review of asset allocation and changes made by you to the portfolio over the last year, review of all costs and charges made against the portfolio and set the strategy for the ensuing 12 months.

• Review your investment structures and tax efficiency of your portfolio: Are you making the most of tax breaks to retirement funding structures and do you have a tax-free savings account? Are all of the ownership structures within which your investments are housed the most efficient available and suitable to your needs, circumstances and financial goals?

• Make inroads into settling/reducing debt levels: Settling and reducing debt is often the most efficient after tax return you can get on your surplus income. You cannot have true financial independence if your debt levels are unsustainably high and you do not have a plan to eliminate debt.

Make 2026 different and have fixed, firm financial new year resolutions that set you on the path to financial independence and financial freedom. Feel free to reach out to an Activ8 professional financial advisor to assist you in formulating a plan and strategy to achieve your 2026 financial new year resolutions.

Email: info@activ8group.co.za