At LearnVest, we're working to make financial planning both accessible and affordable so that everyone has the opportunity to get on track financially.

Know the difference between your necessary and discretionary expenses.

A good financial plan is a road map that shows us exactly how the choices we make today will affect our future.

My ultimate goal is to create operating systems for myself that allow me to think as little as possible about the silly decisions you can make all day long - like what to eat or where we should meet - so I can focus on making real decisions.

At LearnVest, we're working to make financial planning both accessible and affordable so that everyone has the opportunity to get on track financially.

Without any formal personal finance instruction in our high school or college curricula, many college seniors who graduate in the red will continue to make common financial mistakes that only exacerbate their debt burdens.

The best advice that I can offer is that being proactive and a careful planner is key. Think about the major things that could shake up your financial life, and Ill bet there are some great ways to protect yourself.