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The first Saturday episode of each month this year, we will focus on a key component of a financial plan – including spending, investing, insurance, retirement planning, estate planning, and taxes. If you follow along with us throughout 2026, you will end this year in the best financial shape possible — perhaps in the best shape you’ve ever been.First up is a healthy helping of “financial truth serum.”

Robert Brokamp speaks with Foolish colleague and Certified Financial Planner Amanda Kish about the five steps to documenting all you own, all you owe, and where your money is going:

1. Choose a when and how
2. Complete your full financial inventory
3. Track your spending for 30 days
4. Calculate your personal net worth
5. Establish your “Financial Baseline Summary”Have your own tips, tricks, tools, and recommendations for tracking your net worth, spending, and progress? Email them to podcasts@fool.com by Tues., Jan. 6, and we may read your suggestions the following episode.

Host: Robert Brokamp
Guest: Amanda Kish
Engineer: Bart Shannon

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We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode

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