Speaking of a physical stress test, the Mayo Clinic says “A stress test, also called an exercise stress test, shows how your heart works during physical activity. Because exercise makes your heart pump harder and faster, an exercise stress test can reveal problems with blood flow within your heart.”

We may not always be pleased with the results of our physical stress tests. We may discover issues we didn’t know we had and be forced to make hard choices and changes.

Nonetheless, it’s helpful to know what hidden problems and issues exist, so they can be treated and adjustments can be made to our lifestyles to prevent, or at least mitigate, future crises.

A Financial Stress Test is similar.

It lets us know how well our current arrangement of finances would handle different types and amounts of stress. If one of the potential financial stressors shows it would cause our finances to ‘break down’ or fail (like a financial heart attack), adjustments can be made to reduce or eliminate the risk of that happening.

According to the American Psychological Association, when dealing with financial stress, we should

“Write down specific ways you and your family can reduce expenses or manage your finances more efficiently. Then commit to a specific plan and review it regularly.”

They may not be ‘fun’ changes to make, but taking proper actions now can save us from a catastrophe down the road.

Texas Financial & Retirement offers Financial Stress Tests. Call James Holloway, Sr. today at (903)534-5477, or email him at bestclients@texasfinancialandretirement.com, to find out if you qualify for a free Financial Stress Test.

If the results are good, it may grant you more peace of mind regarding your current or future retirement. Many people worry about their financial future (and perhaps their financial “present”), and that can lead to severe health issues.

If the results aren’t so good for you, it may reveal some changes you need to make. The financial professionals at Texas Financial & Retirement can guide and advise you through making those adjustments now to avoid a catastrophe later.