How to Start a Personal Finance Strategy

The economic storm is not over, but there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke issued a statement last week saying that the U.S. economy is stabilizing and will begin to rebound later this year, but the recovery will be slow and cautious.
So what does that mean for us? This is actually the perfect time to set your personal financial strategy so you are well positioned to obtain your goals and priorities once the market does recover.

The financial strategy process is based on you as an individual -- you and your spouse, or your immediate family. Think about your life goals. Do you want to purchase your first home? Are you hoping to retire in the next few years? Once this is determined, you should analyze your portfolio and compare it to your current personal or household strategy. Is it aligned? Is your portfolio consistent with the life priorities you just laid out? CNBC On the Money article