With 2026 almost here, many people are realising they went through the entire year without building a real financial plan. To help them reset before the new year begins, CA Nitin Kaushik shared a clear four-step checklist on X that breaks down exactly where to start. His advice focuses on setting specific money goals, understanding personal risk levels, building a solid emergency buffer, and choosing investments with intention instead of hype. For anyone hoping to begin 2026 with financial clarity, his guide offers a practical roadmap.

CA Nitin Kaushik recently shared a straightforward money checklist on X for those who want to enter 2026 with more control over their finances. He explained that even if the past year passed without structure or planning, there is still time to prepare for a stronger start.

Real goals

He began with the idea of setting real financial goals. According to him, people often dream of milestones like a home down payment, children’s education, passive income, or early retirement, but these dreams remain vague without a specific amount and timeline. Assigning numbers to these goals turns them into actionable targets instead of long-term wishes.

Risk capacity

Next, he pointed out the importance of understanding one’s risk capacity. He broke it down into three levels: low risk for stability and slow growth, medium risk for balanced wealth building, and high risk for better returns but larger fluctuations. He added that risk capacity should be guided by income stability and age, not by what people see on social media.

Emergency fund

He then highlighted the emergency fund as a non-negotiable part of financial planning. He recommended saving three to six months of essential expenses and keeping this money in a savings account or liquid fund rather than in volatile assets. Using a simple example, he said that someone with monthly needs of Rs 30,000 should aim for an emergency fund of Rs 90,000 to Rs 1.8 lakh.

Research

His final point focused on research. Instead of chasing tips or reacting to hype, he encouraged people to understand the fundamentals of a business, its valuation, and how it fits their personal goals before investing. He ended with a reminder that wealth is built through consistent action, not perfect timing. While the best time to organise finances may have been long ago, the next best opportunity is to begin right now.