Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Melissa Houston covers financial issues that affect women in business. Creating a successful business starts with a strong plan.

Building a financial plan is an essential step toward achieving financial stability and reaching your long-term goals. Whether you’re looking to save for retirement, buy a home or simply manage your ...

From budgeting and saving to investing and protecting loved ones, here’s how to build a long-term financial plan for your family Written By Written by Staff Money Writer, WSJ | Buy Side Molly Grace is ...

When writing a business plan, it’s important to put together a financial plan that projects future income, cash flow and changes to the balance sheet. The financial plan section often consists mostly ...

Understand the fundamentals of financial planning, including goal setting, budgeting, investing and risk management to take control of your financial future Written By Written by Staff Senior Editor, ...

Learn more about financial planning to set your life on the right course and to maximize your net worth. The steps here are designed for you to meet your financial goals. It’s hard not to cover your ...

A solid financial plan can provide clarity for both short- and long-term goals, but you may be wondering: How many years should my financial plan cover? There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but ...

Vikki Velasquez is a researcher and writer who has managed, coordinated, and directed various community and nonprofit organizations. She has conducted in-depth research on social and economic issues ...

You don’t need to be a millionaire to start a financial plan. You don’t even have to know where you’re headed — at least at first. October is "Financial Planning Month" nationwide." The Financial ...

The purpose of a business plan is to communicate the vision and operating plan for your business. In this guide, we’ll look at how to write a strong business plan to guide your business decisions, get ...