Financial inertia occurs when people continually defer or delay financial decisions, actions or planning that they know would be good. Research shows that financial inertia is not borne of laziness but out of the fear of making a mistake, confusion over the details or thinking the barriers are too high.

The Costly Consequences

Our professional lives are littered with stories of people who never got around to doing the right thing. The effects ranged from irreparably catastrophic to merely wasteful.

Consider:

• Regardless of age, health, genetic history or wealth, you and your loved ones need continuous health insurance. However, a new study from academic researchers found that 2 out of 3 personal bankruptcies were tied to medical issues and the accompanying high cost of care, time out of work, or both.
• Common wisdom says start saving for retirement as soon as possible, yet some people wait decades.
• Term life insurance is inexpensive for those who qualify medically.
• No one wants to leave a legacy of struggling survivors, yet many people today are underinsured.
• If you’re sick, ill or hurt and can’t work, is your disability insurance adequate to pay the bills? Will the proceeds be taxed? Are you certain?
• Research shows that households that work with a certified financial planner likely make better financial decisions than those that don’t.
• People who work with financial advisers are more likely to report happiness, confidence and stability in their financial and personal lives, according to a Northwestern Mutual survey posted at bit.ly/3FyP1r6.
• As we discussed in our June/July 2022 article (bit.ly/second-opinion-TVB), having the wrong small business retirement plan is a big mistake.
• Sitting on a big pile of cash? Investors are strongly biased toward the status quo because of loss aversion. Nobel laureate behavioral economists Drs. Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky found that individuals feel less regret from the negative consequences of inaction than they do from bad outcomes after new actions.
• The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, died in 2018 from pancreatic cancer. Early reports stated that she died intestate, meaning without a will covering her estimated $80 million estate. Nearly a year after her death, three handwritten wills were found, but they contained conflicting instructions for how the singer wanted her assets divided and who she wanted as her executor. What should have been an easy and private transfer of wealth became a prolonged court affair played out in public.
• A December 2022 story in The Wall Street Journal noted that Americans miss out on $14 billion in interest a month by failing to switch to banks paying higher rates. Their current banks paid an average of 0.4%, while competitors offered 2.14%. Moreover, the competitors are often online banks unencumbered by the high costs associated with numerous brick-and-mortar branches.
• Surveys by the consulting firm West Monroe Partners show that Americans dramatically underestimate their monthly subscription spending. It’s actually 3.4 times more than they guessed. Another survey showed that 70% of consumers continue paying for unwanted subscriptions because they forgot to cancel the service before the renewal date. In addition, 20% continued subscribing to things they didn’t want because canceling took too much effort.

Breaking the Cycle

This is the year to create positive momentum and clean up your financial life. Don’t let another year slip away. Here are some ideas to get started.

1. JUST DO IT

Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula said, “It’s the start that stops most people.” So, go ahead and take the first step. Get started. Now.

For example:

• If you or your loved ones lack health insurance, visit healthcare.gov immediately.
• Check out the online calculator at bit.ly/3hAB0kP to see whether you have enough life insurance. Do it before nightfall.

2. SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS AND FOLLOW THROUGH

Some commitments take longer to accomplish, but no worries, just break the larger task into manageable steps.

For example:

• By March 15, determine your potential after-tax disability income benefits by contacting your insurance provider or reviewing the policy. Then, by March 31, figure out your monthly household expenses. Also, by March 31, compare those two numbers. If you calculate a shortage, increase the disability coverage or buy a separate disability policy by April 30.
• By March 15, compare the interest rates you receive to those offered at competing FDIC-insured banks. (The websites bankrate.com and nerdwallet.com can help.) Then, consider transferring your money (or at least some of it) to a higher-interest bank account by March 31.
• By March 31, list all your household subscriptions. By April 15, discuss the subscription list with household members. Finally, by April 30, cut the subscriptions you can do without.

3. INVOLVE OTHERS

Does unbreakable self-discipline continuously push you forward? Yeah, we don’t have it, either. Sharing your journey with other people makes for a better ride. Discussing your action items and commitments with an accountability partner will contribute to your success.

4. OUTSOURCE THE WORK

No time or interest in doing it yourself? Are you ready for the professional advice your family needs and deserves? Outsource the heavy lifting to trusted, full-time experts.

For example:

• By March 31, review the fees, performance and design of your veterinary practice’s retirement plan. Trust your gut: Is your plan competitive, and do you understand it? Can you contribute as much as you’d like? If you answered “no” to any of those questions, seek a no-cost, no-obligation second opinion from a financial adviser by April 30.
• By March 31, confirm that your financial adviser is a fiduciary.
• Since we’re talking about life savings, you should obtain a no-cost, no-obligation second opinion about your investment portfolio by June 30. Your adviser might find opportunities for greater diversification, lower risk and reduced investment fees.
• By June 30, meet with a certified financial planner who is also a fiduciary. Work with the professional to obtain a written, comprehensive financial life plan by Aug. 31.
• By June 30, identify and meet with an estate planning attorney. Have in place the basic legal documents by July 31. The documents often include wills and trusts, durable powers of attorney for health and financial matters, and business agreements.

Nothing changes if nothing changes. To disrupt the status quo, you are the external force. Shed your regret for not acting sooner by taking one step today. Now is the time to create positive momentum and gain internal peace about your money.