Goals or objectives are what separates each planning engagement from another or each of us from one another. Everyone has their own specific financial or life goals and we want to categorize each objective into timeframes: short term (1-3 years), intermediate (3-7 years), and long term (greater than 7 years). So, as you begin to think about your planning for the future, think of those time frames. Also, your goals are your goals, and if you are in a relationship, each individual might have their own specific goals and objectives that need to be addressed for the planning to meet your mutual and individual needs. Therefore, as you begin to prepare for a planning engagement, take some time to think about where you are and where you want to be; then sit down with your significant other and compare your objectives and blend them together into a joint list of life goals that your plan should address.