How far ahead should I plan my financial goals — short, medium, or long term?

Plan across all three horizons at once, because they compete for the same paycheck. Short-term goals (under two years), like an emergency fund or a vacation, belong in cash or a high-yield savings account since you can't risk losing the money. Medium-term goals (two to seven years), like a down payment, can hold a conservative mix but stay mostly safe. Long-term goals (seven-plus years), like retirement, should be invested for growth so inflation doesn't erode them. Writing goals on a timeline also reveals conflicts early, such as buying a house and retiring aggressively in the same window. Revisit the timeline yearly, since life events reshuffle priorities. Use the Lifetime Wealth tool at wealthserene.com/tools/lifetime-wealth to see how today's goals compound over decades.