As we reach the halfway point of the year, many business owners have their heads down busy navigating cash flow, meeting payroll, or preparing for Q3 growth. But June and July offer more than just a checkpoint for operations. They’re a prime opportunity to pause and ask a deeper question: Are your finances aligned with what matters most to you?
Financial alignment isn’t just about staying within budget. It’s about making intentional decisions that reflect your values, goals, and the kind of business you’re building.
In this mid-year check-in, we’ll walk through five key areas to evaluate whether your financial habits and strategies are still pointing you in the right direction.
- Revisit your business and personal goals
Take a moment to reflect on the targets you’ve set for 2025, both business and personal. Are you trying to grow revenue? Build more margin into your time? Give more to causes you care about?
If you haven’t reviewed these goals since January, now is the time to ask:
- Have your priorities shifted?
- Are your current financial habits helping or hindering progress?
- Are your actions matching your intentions?
Your financial plan should be a mirror of your goals; not a distraction from them.
- Look at where your money is actually going
Now let’s move from strategy to reality. Analyze your financial statements (or personal bank records) from the past six months. Are your spending patterns consistent with your goals?
What do we mean?
- You said this was the year you’d invest in a new hire – has that happened?
- You planned to cut unnecessary subscriptions – have you followed through on this?
- You wanted to save more for future growth – is that visible in your balance sheet?
A few smart changes now can set you up for a stronger year-end.
- Evaluate your financial systems and tools
Alignment doesn’t only show up in strategy, it lives in your systems.
So ask yourself:
- Are your bookkeeping tools still serving your needs?
- Are you reviewing financial reports monthly or quarterly?
- Do you have a dashboard that helps you make quick, informed decisions?
If your systems aren’t giving you clarity, you’re operating with one hand tied behind your back.
- Check in on tax strategy and compliance
Tax strategy is one of the most overlooked areas when it comes to financial alignment, particularly for small business owners.
This mid-year mark is a smart time to:
- Run a tax projection (based on actual vs expected income)
- Adjust estimated payments if necessary
- Evaluate potential year-end deductions, charitable contributions, or investments
Staying ahead now can save time and money in Q4, as well as reduce unnecessary stress come tax season.
- Plan for the second half of the year
Once you’ve reviewed where you are and where you want to go, it’s time to plan for the next six months. Your mid-year roadmap might include:
- Cutting or reallocating budgets
- Updating payroll or contractor strategies
- Re-aligning team resources
- Revisiting your pricing or product offerings
- Booking a Q3 check-in with your CPA or advisor
The second half of the year often moves faster than the first. Getting clear now can make all the difference.
Final thought: Financial clarity Is a leadership practice
Taking time for this kind of mid-year check-in isn’t a luxury — it’s a smart leadership move.
Whether you’re running a business, managing a household, or leading a nonprofit, aligning your finances with your values helps you lead with clarity, make better decisions, and feel more in control of what’s ahead.
Need help reviewing your financial alignment? Our team at SJG works with business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders to build smart, forward-thinking strategies that reflect their goals.
Let’s set up a mid-year review — before the year runs away from you.
