Does anyone call their financial advisor before buying a car? Does anyone analyze the time value of money cost whether they pay cash, finance all or part of it or keep their old car longer? In my experience not very many people speak with their financial advisor before buying a car. Some might ask questions relating to leasing versus purchase or they might ask tax related questions if business use is involved.

Financial decisions should not be made in a vacuum. Planning is the key to financial success. All financial decisions should be made under the context of an overall written financial plan which is updated annually. Each financial decision that you make affects your overall long-term financial picture. I've seen people look for the highest yielding CD and lock in to long-term guaranteed rates. Once a person finds what they believe to be the highest rate, they choose it and feel like they have found a great deal. How does one decide how much to invest in this CD? How does one decide the period of time to lock up the CD money? Whether you are putting a new roof on your home, planning a trip around the world, purchasing a new vehicle or making an investment, the best decisions are those that are consistent with your overall long-term plan.

Remember, a picture is made up of millions of little dots or pixels. Each individual pixel might not seem to be that important in and of itself. But when you begin to place each pixel next to each other, at some point the greater picture begins to come into focus. You need to focus on each individual pixel but only with the overall picture in mind to ensure that it eventually comes in clearly. Each financial decision is like a pixel today that will help shape your overall financial picture tomorrow. Having a written financial plan in place helps you to make informed, consistent decisions that help to validate your long-term financial goals.