Don’t you often wish you had a crystal ball? Wow, would that be great or what! Look into the future and know what is going to happen so you can prepare and be ready? Stock market crash, who will win the World Series, what’s going to happen to the characters in your favorite TV show? Winning lottery numbers! The possibilities are endless!

But your beliefs in this area of fortune telling makes you…. you.

While someone who can tell the future can be called psychic or clairvoyant, no one can really tell the future. But just because we can’t tell the future doesn’t mean we should not prepare for it. Now, I’m not talking about throwing a quarter into the local “Zoltan The Great” machine, who will then spit out your fortune on a small piece of paper. I’m talking about a real effort in thinking and planning the future.

Many folks in the world prepare for the end of civilization as we know it. They pack away supplies and food items that have a 20- 30-year shelf life in hopes it will give them some peace of mind that they are prepared. Some people become extreme hoarders and squirrel away all kinds of items from batteries to tools, gas, and medical supplies. I know one guy who has cases of toothpaste and toothbrushes; he thinks he’ll make a fortune when those items are no longer available when SHTF. What?

So, did you have a relative or friend who influenced you in this area? Do you have even a little hoarding going on at your house? Home builders are even adding an extra room to new homes, calling it the Sam’s or Costco room, where people can store bulk- purchase items. But I digress.

Looking into the future can be somewhat practical with some things, like saving for a child’s college education. Many grandparents are including a college funding mechanism in their financial retirement planning to help pay for a grandchild’s future education.

Planning for the future by having an emergency fund is also practical and there’s no need of a crystal ball, either. We all know there’s going to be a major car repair, home repair, or something of the sort. That’s why many of us add a small amount of money to that emergency fund every month. I know for me, I’m glad I keep such a fund because I recently had to replace the AC unit on my house. Ouch! While I hated to write that check, I was glad my bride of 37 years and I made plans for such a repair and had the money in our emergency home repair fund.

How is your ability to plan the future? Need some help? We have loads of experience on our team of planners that will ask you all kinds of questions to “make a plan” to ensure you are prepared for your future retirement.

So, while it might be fun to pay a few bucks to a fortune teller and have your palm read or your future told, remember it’s just that…. fun.