PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – As 2025 comes to a close, many people are beginning to set New Year’s resolutions, with financial planning ranking high for 2026.
Financial adviser Ashley Terrell said about 85% of Americans report feeling anxious about their finances, while roughly one in four do not have an emergency fund. Those savings are often critical for unexpected expenses such as car repairs, medical bills or job loss.
“Whether it’s just starting to develop that emergency fund and start saving for retirement, some people want to work on paying down that credit card debt, so whatever goal you have just make sure you visualize it, you write it down and you create a plan to get that accomplished,” said Terrell, who works with Burns Estate Planning and Wealth Advisors.
Terrell said creating a written financial plan and reviewing it regularly can help reduce stress, especially as inflation and rising living costs continue to strain household budgets.
“With inflation and the cost of living continuing to increase, it can be easy to get discouraged if you get off track a little bit,” Terrell said. “But getting discouraged makes the situation worse, so it’s good to remember that you can always adjust that plan. If you are finding that it is difficult to afford groceries every month, then making that savings goal just a little bit less is the right move to make.”
Experts recommend staying accountable by discussing financial goals with trusted friends or family members. They also suggest building financial literacy through books, podcasts and other educational resources.
To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app, and check out what’s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app.
Copyright 2025 WJHG. All rights reserved.