Turn clients’ resolutions into lasting financial wins

So many people greet the new year with a promise to be a better version of themselves, and that often includes improving their finances. But studies show that while we all mean to do better, 70% of people who make New Year’s resolutions give up within a few months. Why is it so hard to stick to making changes to our financial behaviour?

Five reasons:

1. Little to no plan. Intention is great, but turning intention into a plan is key.
2. Unrealistic goals. Some people set goals but don’t verify how much time or money it will take to reach them. They may set their sights on the impossible and end up giving up as it becomes clear that the task is too great.
3. No back-up strategies. Even if a person plans, there is no way life doesn’t throw a few twists and turns their way. If people don’t have back-up strategies, the first obstacle can take it all down.
4. No change in financial environment. Changing behaviour is difficult, and it takes way more energy when there is no environmental change that helps them remember their new commitments. People just slip right back into their old habits.
5. Negative framing. When someone focuses on what they can’t have, they’re less likely to be successful because it triggers feelings of avoidance, discomfort and fear.

Here are six strategies to help clients stick to their new money habits, which can lead to business growth for you.

1. Add resolutions to the plan

Send a message to your clients to let them know how you can help them stick to their New Year’s resolution by adding it to their financial plan. This is a great way to enhance client engagement.

2. Confirm goal reasonableness

Most people get excited about all the ways they could change their money habits. But it’s common for people not to take the time to determine how realistic those goals are.

Help clients avoid the negative impacts of setting unrealistic goals by using a cash-flow plan to show them if they can afford to execute their resolution.

3. Have clients develop back-up strategies

Say your client plans to make lunch rather than buy it at work. They may not be able to do that every day. There could be special events, or unexpectedly busy days that leave them stuck having to buy lunch. This could make them feel defeated, and that could cause them to give up altogether.

Help them think about what they can do if they need to buy lunch. Maybe they can set a limit on how much they spend, or have a go-to, more affordable place. You don’t have to come up with their back-up plans. Just getting them thinking about it could make a difference.

4. Encourage one-time changes with lasting impacts

Spending less, paying down debt or saving more are popular general themes for financial resolutions. But if your client wants to make long-term changes and leaves all their financial environments the same, they’ll default to old habits.

Setting up a savings account and automating regular contributions is a great example of a one-time effort that clients could make to create good results. When it comes to spending less, a cash-flow plan is key. Setting up a spendable account and keeping day-to-day spending separated makes it easier not to overdo it. Whereas, trying to keep track using a budget, or even a budgeting app is exhausting, and most people won’t bother for long.

5. Introduce positive framing

Negatively framing financial changes, like “stop spending too much,” tends to be less effective for lasting change. Budgeting is mostly a negative framing exercise, which is one of the many reasons it’s so exhausting.

Instead, help clients use positive framing when setting and working towards new habits. For instance, rather than focusing on giving something up or spending less on a specific item, get them focused on what they’ll get from those changes.

Helping clients set short-term goals (ones they can reach in six to 18 months) is a game changer when it comes to getting people to change their money habits. Say, “By following your spending recommendation, you’ll have saved enough to take the kids to Hawaii in 11 months.”

6. Be a New Year’s resolution champ year-round

While you should consider taking advantage of the annual spark that gets people to open their minds about what they can change, don’t stop there. Make your own resolution this year to adjust your process and amp up your skills in ways that can help clients stick to their new money habits.

Before long, you’ll see all those changes in behaviour lead to clients saving and investing more, and keeping their plans on track.

Here’s to finding your clients the money to fund their goals in 2026 and beyond.