The Long Game How to Do Your Annual Financial Review (Step-by-Step)
Mar 13, 2026
A step-by-step walkthrough of an annual financial review, from checking net worth to analyzing cash flow and spending. Learn how to set and map this year’s goals, project take-home pay, and build a cashflow plan. Tips on automating allocations, handling irregular income, rebalancing investments, and reviewing insurance and estate essentials.
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Map Surplus Cashflow To Specific Goals
- Do define this year's goals and map your cashflow to them so surplus dollars have a purpose.
- Kopelman walks through turning a $5,000 monthly surplus into travel, 529s, and extra retirement/taxable contributions then automating those allocations.
Automate Goal Contributions Immediately
- Do automate transfers to each goal as soon as pay arrives to avoid spending drift.
- Kopelman instructs automating to travel accounts, brokerage, and backdoor Roths instead of waiting until month-end.
Recalculate Emergency Fund From Real Spending
- Do review and adjust your emergency fund based on actual last-year spending and comfort level.
- Kopelman suggests recalculating months of expenses (e.g., 3, 6, 12) because realized expenses may be higher or lower than you thought.