April Brings Showers, Flowers and Your Financial Fitness Plan From a Financial Planner

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April is Financial Literacy Month, a perfect time to examine what you might not know about your own finances.According to a Global Financial Literacy Survey, only 33% of adults worldwide demonstrate basic financial literacy, highlighting how common these knowledge gaps are.Even seasoned wealth managers and finance professionals can uncover gaps in their understanding if they look deeper.Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special IssuesProfit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.Personal finance is how you and your family manage money to achieve your goals. This includes management of your income, spending, investments, tax strategies, estate and legacy planning, family planning, gifting to loved ones, covering long-term care costs, special needs planning, insurance protection and more.Financial literacy matters at every stage. In your high-earning years, it helps you build wealth with confidence. As you approach retirement and generational planning, it helps you preserve it with intention.Below are three key areas of personal finance with actionable steps for both the accumulation and preservation stages.This stage often includes those in their 30s to 50s, professionals with rising incomes, employee stock and growing families. Many people in this group are balancing careers, childcare, mortgages and early wealth building.About Adviser IntelThe author of this article is a participant in Kiplinger's Adviser Intel program, a curated network of trusted financial professionals who share expert insights on wealth building and preservation. Contributors, including fiduciary financial planners, wealth managers, CEOs and attorneys, provide actionable advice about retirement planning, estate planning, tax strategies and more. Experts are invited to contribute and do not pay to be included, so you can trust their advice is honest and valuable.Your goal might be to create a strong foundation that protects your growing wealth and provides clarity for your loved ones.This stage is about structure. The earlier you build it, the easier it becomes to expand and refine over time.This stage commonly includes retirees, empty nesters, business owners and families and individuals with higher net worth.Individuals in this category are often thinking about how to reduce taxes, transfer assets efficiently and prepare heirs for future responsibility.A coordinated plan helps create continuity and equips future generations with clear guidance.This stage includes those who are high earners in their peak career years, saving aggressively and working toward building a higher net worth.This stage is about transforming income into long term wealth through discipline, consistency and thoughtful planning.Investment literacy protects you from emotional decision-making and fully harnesses the power of compounding during your highest earning years.In this stage, individuals or couples might have multilayered portfolios, real estate holdings, private investments or business interests.When your focus shifts to preserving wealth, investing becomes more complex. It's no longer only about growth but also about sustainability and long-term risk control.An intentional investment strategy can provide growth today while preserving opportunities for tomorrow.This stage often includes those who manage busy households, growing careers, aging parents and increasing financial complexity. Wealth is rising, but time is limited, making communication essential.Healthy communication builds strong financial habits and reduces stress during the years when life is busiest and financial decisions multiply.These habits create clarity and confidence as your financial life becomes more complex.Families with adult children, blended families, retirees and multigenerational households managing shared assets, inheritances or business interests are typically in this stage.Looking for expert tips to grow and preserve your wealth? Sign up for Adviser Intel, our free, twice-weekly newsletter.As wealth grows and multiple generations become involved, intentional communication becomes essential for smoother decision-making and healthier family dynamics over time.Strong communication strengthens relationships and supports long-term stewardship of wealth.Financial literacy is not something you check off a list. It's something you build over time as your life, goals and financial responsibilities evolve.Whether you're in the wealth-accumulation stage and focused on building a strong foundation or in the wealth preservation stage and preparing for multigenerational success, the choices you make today shape your long-term financial confidence.Personal finance can involve complexities, but with the right knowledge and the right partners, you can create a life and legacy that reflects your values and supports the people you care about most.Modera Wealth Management, LLC (Modera) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. 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Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.Mindy Neira, CFP®, ChSNC®, is a Wealth Manager and Principal at Modera Wealth Management, providing financial planning and wealth management services to clients looking to grow and safeguard their wealth for the future. As an LGBTQ+ financial planner, Mindy understands the special considerations involved in planning for the queer community and their families. She also advises clients who need help navigating decisions related to special needs, disabilities, chronic illness or other medical conditions.