It is January. After another tumultuous year, we have a fresh start on the calendar and for many a desire to improve their financial security.

People who thought they were doing the right things, investing conservatively and living within their means, found they are paying for the sins of others. The price of gasoline hit all time highs and then plummeted to less than half within six months. If we didn't believe we were tied together economically, last year erased any doubt. We also found that many we trusted with our money were not so concerned with our well-being. It proved a difficult year in which to protect our loved ones.

It's human nature to protect and provide for those in our relationships. This was recognized by Maslow in the 1940s as a normal need no matter what our relationships or stage of life. By recognizing that we can't rely on others to provide for us, we take the first step towards securing our financial future. What can we do to make ourselves and our families more secure in today's economy? Take control!

First - Don't panic. Don't rush to make changes to your finances and investments without having a strategy in place. Rushing to change means you are reacting to the waves of new events every day. You are repeatedly overcome by forces stronger than you, just as waves at the beach can toss you under water. Having a strategy allows you to make proactive decisions based on your life goals.

Second - Make a plan to make your family's future more secure. Your plan should be comprehensive and include your partner and family's needs. Most of us do not have the skills to cover all aspects such as balancing income and expenses, protecting your assets, managing debt, investing, and passing on our wishes. It makes sense to choose a trusted financial guide to help you develop and implement your plan. The guide does not have to be all knowing but they do need to understand your needs and concerns. When necessary they can direct you to other knowledgeable professionals.

It is important to put your plan on paper. This makes it possible to track how you are doing and have a ready guide to help in times of stress. Test the plan using several "what ifs." I recommend checking the result if you lose your income, your partner loses their income, or both. Test what happens if your relationships change and so do your investment assumptions. Are you covered?

Third - Act like a business. Finances provide the means to achieve your goals. Clean up your balance sheet. Increase your net income - increase the income you take home, lower expenses or both. Identify your basic expenses and get these covered. Use your financial guide to help you identify basic needs versus desires. You might consider cutting back now. This will help you to build a thicker safety cushion to break any falls. Pay down your debts. You will find that this lowers your stress level, improves your personal relationships, and makes it easier to borrow in the future for the things that really matter.

Fourth - Batten down the hatches. You should expect the storm to continue for a while. How long? Nobody knows for sure but, being prepared puts you in a more secure position. Bulk up your cash emergency fund. Increase it to cover at least six months of basic living expenses, longer if your income is uncertain. You can use the cash from cutting back expenses to build your cushion. When other investments are not performing well, having a larger portion of your investments in safe cash investments may be wise.

Finally - Remember tomorrow. Continue to look beyond today. The future is where our dreams reside. Keep saving, as much as possible. Your goal could be to make your finances secure so you can buy a comfortable home, help your children get their education, help an ailing friend or charitable effort, or reduce your need to work for income. Focus your important life goals and adjust your investments to fit your long term plan - not market swings. You are in charge!

Now is a difficult time for many. Make your family's future more secure and get started now. Putting together a comprehensive plan puts you in control of your destiny and helps you to handle the bumps along the way.

This column was originally published in West Coast Woman - January 2009. The author, Tom Roberts is the Principal of A New Approach Financial Planning located in Sarasota & Lakewood Ranch, FL.