Each January brings with it the usual resolutions: more exercise, spending more time with family, etc. However, January is also a good time to look back at your finances and re-evaluate your financial strategy.

Re-evaluate your health and life insurance coverage. If you have successfully quit smoking/ and or lost a significant amount of weight, you may be eligible for cheaper rates. You  may want to apply for disability insurance so you’re protected in the event of illness or injury.

Review all your insurance policies. For instance, if you belong to AAA Auto Club, which includes a towing service, remove the towing service on your auto insurance. For those who have health insurance as well, you may not need the medical insurance that's included in the your auto insurance plan. By removing these unnecessary items, you can reduce your premiums. Know exactly what is covered in your health, life, and auto insurances so that you have the coverage you need, and aren't paying for unnecessary items. Consult with your insurance broker about any new insurance products that have become available and may be beneficial for you.

Review your spending and saving habits. Set a fixed amount that goes directly into a savings account every payday. If you need a debit card for this account, get one that allows you only deposit, not withdraw, to avoid impulse buying.

Pay your bills online. You save money on postage and checking costs, and have immediate access to your records and payment history. It's also more environmentally friendly!

Review your credit report annually and try to raise your credit score. Cancel any unused credit cards as well as limit the amount of credit lines that are in your name. Set up loans with automatic payments so you will not be penalized for late payments.

When interest rates are low, add to your mortgage payment to pay down your balance. See if your bank or credit union will allow you to convert your mortgage to biweekly payments that match your pay periods. This method gives you the opportunity to make one extra monthly payment each year, and pays down the principal and saves on interest. Be advised that some institutions may charge a fee to set this payment method up.

Start the new year off with a financial plan in place that realistically reflects your goals. Discuss your goals and other financial concerns with your insurance broker in to make sure that you have the correct coverage.

As the year 2007 nears the end, it's a good time to evaluate your business. Begin the new year with a detailed business plan in place, as well as defining your goals. Go beyond the profit and loss figures; maybe it's time to research using new suppliers, a new marketing strategy, etc.

Use the arrival of the new year as a time to step back and re-focus. By financially planning for your business, you give yourself an advantage. Being proactive rather than reactive can have positive results. You need to have a budget in place to ensure a positive cash flow. This needs to cover not only expenses such as payroll, but contingencies as well. Money will need to be set aside for taxes, capital expenditures, overhead, etc.

Look ahead to what you wish to accomplish in the coming year. You may wish to buy new computers, or upgrade your technology. This is also a good time to consider whether you need to hire more people to accomplish your new projections. If you don't already have it, group insurance can be a useful tool in attracting and retaining qualified personnel. It's also a wise decision to decide on changing your corporate identity. Changing your corporate identity may mean different liability and tax considerations; many of which are required to be done in the first few months of the year.

If you are partners in a small business, it can be beneficial that all partners have a term life insurance policy. These can be taken out, with the other partner named as beneficiary in order to insure the business. Agree on the amount and the length of term you wish to purchase; this will safeguard your business should something happen to one of the partners.

Chances are, if you have employee benefits, you have some type of life insurance coverage included. While great attention is paid to the details of the health insurance component, many people don't pay attention to the life coverage. It's important to know exactly what your group insurance covers, and to be sufficiently insured.

Group life insurance has it's own advantages and disadvantages. It can be cheaper because the costs are pooled. This means that everyone enrolled in the plan, regardless of gender and/or health habits will pay the same amount. As well, marketing and sales costs may be absorbed by the insurer.

However group life insurance usually has a maximum coverage amount. Most plans will offer coverage around $25,000 and may not go any higher than three times your salary. Depending on your needs, you may require additional insurance coverage. Use the insurance calculator to figure out how much you really need, and purchase additional coverage if needed.

Another important factor is whether or not your group insurance is renewable. Most group life insurance is issued as renewable term, which means the premiums can increase at a steady rate. There is usually no guarantee of renewability and/or the cost of premiums. The master policy may also be revised without consulting the employees, which means you may not consistently have the same coverage and/or rates.

Your group life insurance will usually only cover you for as long as you remain with the same employer. This means that you may find yourself without coverage when changing employers but not having the same optimal health status as when you first started. This could be reflected in higher premiums if you apply for individual life insurance coverage. This is also applicable if your employer changes their insurance carrier. If you retire, you may not be covered anymore, and at a time when life insurance is important.

It is important while you are still in good health, are planning on getting married, buying a home, etc. to know how much coverage you need. If your group benefits does not sufficiently cover you, then you may want to consider buying an additional policy to make sure all your needs are met. This can be done with either a term life or a whole life policy; talk to your broker about which is best for you. If you are planning on retiring and do not have any other life insurance, you can apply for Guaranteed Issue coverage. If you were not sick and/or injured when your group life was terminated, you will eligible to apply for the same amount of FollowMe Life coverage as you originally had. Your spouse can also apply with this program.

No one likes to think about the possibility of divorce. Unfortunately, however, it does occur, leaving emotional and financial uncertainty in it's wake. As with any major life change, attention needs to be paid to your financial plans and goals.

Due to the emotional nature of divorce, it can be hard for some people to concentrate on the financial aspects of their life. However, as hard as it may seem, some decisions need to be made regarding savings, housing, etc.

If you have children, you will need to work out a financial plan with your ex regarding support. You will also need to factor in such expenses as post-secondary education, and arrange some sort of savings plan in order to provide for future expenditures. Also consider such items as vacations, car insurance for teenagers, etc. Both parents should have life insurance in order to protect the children's financial interests should something happen to one of you.

If you are just recently separated, do not rush out and purchase a new home. Rent for a few months, and house hunt, but avoid the impulse purchase. Buying a home that you later decide you don't like, or have decided to move to another area, etc. can seriously affect your finances. Allow yourself some time to get acclimated to your new situation, and avoid making any big purchases. Wait until you are more certain of what's in store for yourself, and then make a decision on home buying. If you are planning on selling the marital home that already has a mortgage, you may find it hard to acquire a new mortgage until the first has been settled.

Obviously, you will need to make a new financial plan, based on your earnings, not the combined earnings you had. Re-evaluate your spending habits as well, they should reflect only your income. Many people find themselves deeply in debt when they keep spending the same amount, but with only half the income coming in. As well, consider your long term financial goals, with a view towards retirement. It's advisable to consult with a financial planner at this point in order to ensure a secure financial future for yourself.

Both parents can purchase term life insurance policies that are specifically designated for the care of their children in case of death. Both parents can buy term life in an amount that takes care of the children until they are adults. Disability insurance is a good idea as well, as there is only one income in the house. Should you become ill or get injured, you will need to still have money coming in to take care of the household responsiblities.

Many Canadian homes have both parents working; either by choice or financial necessity. If you are planning on having one parent stay home full time, it's important to plan for it financially and emotionally. Although reducing your family income can be a rough transition, being prepared can help you adjust to the new changes.

Don't just quit your job. It's a good idea to actually try living on one income before actually quitting your job. Do a "dry run" for 3 months living solely on the one paycheck, and bank the other. This gives you the option of changing your plans if necessary without having to look for another job, as well as some savings!

Review your financial plan. You will need to re-work your financial plan, as your yearly income will be decreased. This change in income will affect not only your short-term finances, but your long term goals as well. Expensive items, such as cars, vacations, etc. will need to be discussed and planned for. As well, long term financial goals such as retirement may need to be reworked.

Make a new budget that reflects the change in income. Your new budget should cover all the household expenses as well as savings based on the one salary. It is recommended that 60% of your gross income goes to committed expenses, i.e. taxes, mortgage, utilities, credit cards, etc. 10% should be saved as an emergency fund (ideally this fund covers 3-6 months of living expenses). 20% should be committed to your long term plans and retirement fund. The remaining 10% of your income should be spending money to cover expenses that are not considered a necessity. Each spouse should have their own bank account, in which they each receive 5% of the "fun" money each month to spend as they please. This gives both partners some financial independence.

Review your insurance before quitting your job. The stay-at-home parent needs to maintain adequate insurance. Life insurance not only covers lost income in case of death, but the costs required to maintain the family. Should the stay-at-home parent die, expenses such as daycare, home maintenance, etc will need to be covered. Disability insurance at this stage is also recommended in case the working parent suffers an accident or illness. It is also important to review health insurance policies to ensure that the working parent has sufficient coverage that covers the whole family. If the parent who is quitting their job has been the sole provider of health coverage through their employer, other insurance is available. HealthQuotes.ca offers FollowMe, which does not require a medical questionnaire if applied for within 60 days of discontinuation of group insurance. This policy provides health and dental insurance at an affordable rate.

As family finances change, it is important that all financial goals are reconsidered. Your insurance coverage needs to reflect these changes in order to best provide for your family. Before making any major decisions, consult with your insurance broker in order to ensure you have the correct coverage, and to make the necessary changes.