The New Year is literally days away. Have you even begun thinking about 2009? What will you do? What will the new year bring?

How you respond to those questions may be a good indication of how you will handle the year. Many people take a passive approach to their lives and are in a constant reactionary mode while others prepare for what they want and for the unexpected.

Proactive approach

A passive approach to your financial life can leave you unprepared and, even worse, it can cause you to not even see the opportunities that these challenging times present. It is the person who prepares who will be in a better position to respond to opportunities as they arise.

Your approach to life in general will more often than not mirror your approach to your financial life. Wise counsel from Benjamin Disraeli tells us, "The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes."

Opportunities

In 2009, the smart investor is looking to take advantage of opportunities. The truth is, you never know how or when an opportunity may present itself. So, it is important that you have some basic things taken care of before the year starts.

1. Set aside even 30 minutes before the end of the year to think about your financial life.

2. Write down at least three financial goals and/or objectives for 2009. Keep it simple. Here are some examples of specific goals you could identify: Having $50,000 invested by the end of 2009; having the full or partial down payment for some real estate; halving or entirely eliminating your consumer debt, perhaps as basic as creating a budget and sticking to it.

3. Make sure your goals and/or objectives are measurable. Assign each goal a timeline. Identify specific figures.

4. Share your plans with a goal-oriented family member or friend. Ask them to keep you on track and accountable for the success of your activities.

Look ahead

The year 2009 will either be a very exciting one for you, or a very gloomy one. The fact is, you have a great hand in determining which it will be. It is the opinion of many professionals that when you begin making plans and taking steps in specific directions, the relevant opportunities begin to reveal themselves.

There is still time! Put some mental work and perspective into your financial life. Position yourself to take advantage of the opportunities in 2009. As always, feel free to email me some of your goals and objectives.

Jerrold Johnson is a financial adviser at JN Fund Managers Limited. He may be contacted at jerrold@jnbs.com.