An important disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor and none of the below should be construed as financial advice. The below details tactics that have worked for me, but you should not expect to see similar success. Stock market investing is SUPER risky, only choose strategies that work for your personal goals and circumstances, and always seek advice from an accredited financial advisor.

Also, full disclosure: I am a proud affiliate, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are based on deep experience with and knowledge of the products I mention and I recommend products only when they are genuinely helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I may receive. Please don’t spend any money on products I recommend unless you genuinely believe they will help you achieve your goals.

Despite the ongoing market volatility, setting clear investing goals is ever important. But how do you set goals when you have no idea when the market will swing?

After all, just one major change can make all the difference. The market can shift based on the results of that election year, because of a mass contagion or because an entire industry bottomed out, among many other factors.

It’s no easy task to set weather-resistant investing goals, but if you dream of achieving FIRE (financial independence, retire early) / financial freedom, or otherwise, investing will probably remain a priority for you.

In which case, it helps to set investing goals. These should be your “barometric pressure sensors” to determine how your investments are performing.

You’ll want to know whether your investments are on track or if you need to make a change, but without clearly defined goals, it’s hard to tell.

How do you ensure that your investing goals are set for success, regardless of which way the market turns? 

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know so that you can set solid investing goals, regardless of what happens in the market.

Positioning Your Investing Goals with a Strong Foundation

Every great goal needs a compelling vision. What do you dream of achieving with your investments?

Are you working towards financial freedom? Are you more concerned about saving for a big purchase (such as a house)? Or would you like to have a bigger savings safety net?

Regardless of your intent, it helps to understand the why behind your investing goals. Why is investing important to you? What are your dreams for the future? 

What are your primary objectives when it comes to investing?

(BTW, I highly recommend creating a vision board to help you hone in on your goals and to better understand your why).

When you start by defining your objectives, you can make informed decisions and stay focused on your long-term financial goals.  

Understanding Your Current Situation

Once you’ve gotten clarity on your vision, you’ll need an honest assessment of your current financial situation.

If you haven’t already, put together a budget that clearly defines your income and expenses.

Evaluate the current status of existing investments if you have any. 

Determine a realistic savings rate, and from there you can begin to define your investment strategy.

Start with SMART Investing Goals

Set SMART goals and you’ll get laser-focused targets. Read my article on how to create SMART goals to get a comprehensive breakdown, or create your goals with the following tactics in mind:

• Specific: Clearly define your goals, such as saving for retirement, buying a home, or funding your education.
• Measurable: Set quantifiable targets, such as saving a specific amount of money by a certain date.  
• Achievable: Set realistic goals that are challenging but attainable.
• Relevant: Ensure your goals align with your overall financial plan and lifestyle.
• Time-bound: Set deadlines for your goals to create a sense of urgency.

Crafting a Personalized Investment Plan

Once you’ve identified your vision, current situation and investing goals, it’s time to create a personalized investment plan. 

This plan should outline your risk tolerance, time horizon, and asset allocation strategy. Consider consulting with a financial advisor to develop a plan that aligns with your specific needs and goals.

Psst… I highly recommend reading the following sequence of articles to support this stage of your plan:

Investing for FIRE 101: 5 Tips to Help You Start Investing in the Stock Market

Investing for FIRE 102: How to Start Investing in the Stock Market

(you get the idea)… 103: How Your Investments Fire Your Financial Freedom Goals

… 104: Portfolio Diversification: How to Choose Investments

105: Investing for FIRE: Passive Investing

106: Strategic Asset Allocation: Adjusting Your Investments to FIRE

How to Create a FIRE Investment Strategy

7 Considerations for Your Investing Plan

A well-crafted investment strategy is essential for achieving your investing goals. Consider the following strategies:  

1. Diversification:

Spread your investments across various asset classes to reduce risk.  

Diversification is a key strategy for managing risk. By spreading your investments across different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, you can reduce the impact of market volatility. 

Consider investing in index funds, which offer broad market exposure and low fees.  

2. Dollar-Cost Averaging:

Invest a fixed amount regularly, regardless of market conditions.  

Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a fixed amount of money in a particular investment on a regular schedule, regardless of market conditions. This strategy can help reduce the impact of market volatility and smooth out the cost of your investments.

Psst… I highly recommend automating transfers – savings, investments and otherwise so you never miss the money!  

3. Index Fund Investing:

Invest in low-cost index funds to track the performance of a specific market index.  

If you’ve been here a while, you might recall that index fund investing is one of my favorite approaches to stock market investing. Learn why when you read the following article: Why Index Funds Are Such a Powerful Tool.

4. Long-Term Perspective:

Focus on long-term growth rather than short-term market fluctuations.

Investing is a long-term endeavor. Avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations. Stay focused on your long-term goals and maintain a disciplined approach to investing.  

5. Rebalancing:

Periodically adjust your portfolio to maintain your desired asset allocation.  

As the market changes, your portfolio will likely follow suit. Follow your investments closely and rebalance them as needed to match your investing goals and priorities.

6. Continuous Learning and Adaptation:

Investing in your own education will always be worthwhile.

The investment landscape is constantly evolving. Stay informed about market trends, economic indicators, and investment strategies. Consider taking online courses, attending webinars, or reading books to enhance your financial knowledge.

7. Building a Growth Mindset:

Your mindset can position you for long-term growth and success.

As discussed in the previous article, “Tools for Success: Driving Growth with Your 2025 Goals,” cultivating a growth mindset is essential for achieving your goals, financial or otherwise. Embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and growth, and stay persistent in the face of setbacks.

Using Your Investing Goals to Empower Your Financial Journey

The journey to financial success is a long-term venture. Success is achievable, but probably won’t happen overnight.

By setting clear goals, developing a sound investment strategy, and maintaining a positive mindset, you can achieve your financial dreams.

When you invest in your financial future, you invest in your overall well-being. Stay focused, stay disciplined, and watch your wealth grow.

Ready to take control of your future and achieve your goals? 

For more great tips to help you achieve financial independence and take control of your finances, check out my free ebook, “7 Ways to FIRE Your Career.”

The guidebook provides practical strategies and actionable steps to help you overcome obstacles and build a secure financial future. With it, you can design the life you’ve always dreamed of, so what do you have to lose?

Get the free ebook to begin building your dream life.

Have a question or want to learn more? Leave a comment below!

Now that you’ve learned how to make investing goals in an uncertain market, you might be wondering how else you can FIRE Your Career. Check out the posts page for ways you can FIRE Your Career and achieve financial freedom.

FIRE Your Career: Achieve Financial Freedom Through Your Career & Spend MORE Time Doing What You Love.

Resources I Recommend in This Article:

7 Ways to FIRE Your Career (a free ebook to help you build a foundation for financial freedom)

Resources I Frequently Recommend:

ClickUp (my recommended goal-tracking and project-management tool)

Books I Frequently Recommend:

Strengths Finder (a great resource to uncover your innate strengths)

Rich Dad Poor Dad (a great intro to financial freedom book)

You Are a Badass at Making Money (a great money mindset book)

Quit Like a Millionaire (a great FIRE book with a scoring system to help you select a degree or job field)

Others: 16 Books I Recommend to FIRE Your Career

Other Articles Mentioned in This Post:

How to Build a Killer Vision Board

Budget Planner Template: How to Build a Budget to Achieve FIRE

6 Ways SMART Goals Benefit Your Career + 7 Ways to Get Started

5 Tips to Help You Start Investing in the Stock Market

How to Start Investing in the Stock Market

How Your Investments Fire Your Financial Freedom Goals

Portfolio Diversification: How to Choose Investments

Investing for FIRE: Passive Investing

Strategic Asset Allocation: Adjusting Your Investments to FIRE

How to Create a FIRE Investment Strategy

Why Index Funds Are a Powerful Tool

Tools for Success: Driving Growth with Your 2025 Goals