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15 Dec Build Your 2026 Money Map: A Practical Guide to Using 2025 for Smarter Planning

Posted at 17:57h in Blog by

As the end of 2025 approaches, most business owners are thinking about closing books, preparing tax documents, or tying up loose ends before the holidays. But there is a powerful opportunity that many business leaders overlook: using your 2025 financial data to plan strategically for 2026.

At Siegel Solutions, we call this process your Money Map. This comprehensive, step-by-step guide transforms your historical numbers into a forward-looking plan tailored to your goals, whether that means growth, stability, investment, or improved financial clarity.

Your financials do not just tell you what happened. They tell you why it happened, where you have been strongest, where risk has crept in, and what you are positioned to do next. A Money Map helps you translate those insights into action — giving you confidence and clarity as you enter a new year.

This newsletter article walks you through the full Money Map process, explains why each step matters, and shows how Siegel Solutions can support you along the way. Continue reading to learn more or reach out to our team for support!

 

Why a Money Map Matters More Than Ever

For many businesses, year-end financial statements are filed away once tax season is over. While compliance is essential, treating financials as merely a “tax deliverable” misses strategic insight.

Your Profit & Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement — along with supporting details like payroll and expense reports — are a rich source of intelligence. They can reveal patterns about profitability, expense pressures, seasonal trends, cash flow volatility, and operational strengths/weaknesses.

A Money Map helps you turn historical data into a living roadmap for the future. Instead of reacting to surprises or hoping things improve, you can proactively set goals, anticipate challenges, allocate resources intentionally, and monitor progress throughout the year.

A strong Money Map helps you:

  • Set realistic growth targets based on what your business has actually achieved.
  • Improve profit margins by identifying where costs are misaligned with revenue.
  • Manage cash flow with foresight, avoiding last-minute liquidity pressures.
  • Plan for hiring, capital purchases, or expansion with budget clarity.
  • Reduce risk and financial stress through scenario planning.
  • Make confident decisions rather than hope for the best.


In a business climate marked by uncertainty — rising labor costs, supply chain pressures, tax changes, and shifting customer behavior — this kind of intentional planning is not just helpful. It is essential.

 

The Step-by-Step Money Map Process

Below is the complete process we recommend for developing a Money Map that reflects your business reality, supports your objectives, and positions you for success in 2026.

Step 1 — Collect & Review Your 2025 Financials

Before you can plan for the future, you need a clear and accurate picture of the past year.

Start with the three core financial statements:

  1. Profit & Loss (P&L) Statement
    This shows your revenue, cost of goods sold, operating expenses, and net income. It reveals how money flowed through your business, where you spent resources, and where revenue was strongest or weakest.
  2. Balance Sheet
    This snapshot of assets, liabilities, and equity tells you what you own and what you owe. It highlights liquidity positions, outstanding debt, and reserves — all important for investment and risk planning.
  3. Cash Flow Statement
    This report shows how cash actually moved in and out of your business during the year. It is a critical complement to the P&L because profitability doesn’t always equal healthy cash flow.


In addition to these, gather:

  • Payroll reports
  • Contractor and vendor payment data
  • W-9 records (for 1099 reporting)
  • Overhead expense details
  • One-time costs (e.g., equipment, software, repairs)
  • Seasonal fluctuations (e.g., high/low revenue months)
  • Benefit deductions and retirement contributions.


Why this step matters:
Your financial statements are more than numbers. They tell a story about how your business runs. When you compile these reports before planning, you build your Money Map on real, defensible data — not guesses.

💡 Aimee’s Tip: We frequently see businesses overlook hidden expenses or miscategorized costs. A thorough review ensures your foundation is accurate, so your plan doesn’t rest on flawed assumptions.

 

Step 2 — Analyze Key Metrics & Ratios

Looking at totals only scratches the surface. To understand performance, you need to calculate and interpret key financial ratios:

  • Gross Profit Margin
    Measures how much you retain after direct costs (materials, labor tied directly to revenue). Low margins can signal pricing issues or rising direct costs.
  • Net Profit Margin
    Shows how much income remains after all operating expenses, taxes, and interest — a broad indicator of profitability.
  • Current Ratio
    (Current Assets ÷ Current Liabilities)
    This liquidity ratio shows your ability to meet shortterm obligations — a key risk indicator.
  • Quick Ratio
    ((Cash + Accounts Receivable) ÷ Current Liabilities)
    This stricter liquidity measure excludes inventory and provides a clear view of cash-ready assets.
  • Cash Flow Trends
    Look at month-to-month or quarter-to-quarter cash movement. Did cash pile up at certain times? Did you run tight near payroll or bills?


Why this step matters:
Ratios turn raw numbers into insights. They help you compare performance year over year and against industry benchmarks. They also flag areas where strategy adjustments might be needed — like pricing, cost control, or working capital management.

💡 Aimee’s Tip: We help you interpret these ratios in context — not just calculate them. For example, a low current ratio might make sense if it coincides with a planned investment or seasonal inventory buildup.

 

Step 3 — Compare 2025 to Prior Years

One year of data is helpful, but trends emerge when you compare multiple years:

  • Are expenses rising faster than revenue?
  • Are profit margins improving or shrinking over time?
  • Is cash flow more stable than last year or less?
  • Are certain products, services, or customer segments becoming stronger or weaker?


This year over year comparison highlights patterns that indicate long-term shifts rather than one-off events.

Why this step matters:
Trends are predictive in nature. If a pattern repeats, you can plan with confidence for its continuation or adjust if desired. Without trend analysis, you risk mistaking random fluctuations for meaningful change.

💡 Aimee’s Tip: We support clients in building multi-year comparison reports that highlight trends visually and numerically, making strategy discussions easier and more data driven.

 

Step 4 — Set Realistic Goals & Targets for 2026

Once you understand the baseline, it’s time to set goals:

  • Revenue Goals — grounded in historical performance, market conditions, and sales pipeline reality.
  • Expense Budgets — allocate dollars to fixed and variable costs with justified targets.
  • Cash Flow Targets — set minimum cash reserves and projected cash availability throughout the year.
  • Investment Plans for hiring, equipment purchases, marketing initiatives, or software investments.
  • Profitability Improvements — define specific goals for margin improvement, cost reduction, or efficiency gains.


The key is to balance ambition with realism. A high growth goal with no supporting investment plan can be demotivating; a conservative plan can leave growth on the table.

Why this step matters:
Goals give purpose to the quantitative plan. They align financial strategy with business vision — whether your priority is growth, stability, or transformation.

💡 Aimee’s Tip: We help clients structure goals, so they are measurable, time-bound, and tied to financial forecasts — preventing the “wish list” syndrome that often plagues business plans

 

Step 5 — Build Your 2026 Budget & Forecast

A budget translates goals into numbers you can act on. A forecast projects expected performance based on assumptions and scenarios.

In your budget and forecast:

  • Assign revenue projections to months or quarters.
  • Project expenses by category
  • Estimate cash inflows and outflows.
  • Set spending thresholds and reserves.
  • Include assumptions for pricing changes, hiring timing, or new initiatives.


The forecast is not static. It should be reviewed and updated as actual results come in.

Why this step matters:
A budget gives you a financial framework for decision making. A forecast helps you see potential outcomes and adjust proactively.

💡 Aimee’s Tip: Our forecasts include multiple scenarios — optimistic, likely, and conservative — so you are equipped for whatever reality unfolds

 

Step 6 — Add Scenario & Contingency Planning

What happens if:

  • You lose a major client?
  • Economic conditions shift?
  • Expenses rise faster than expected?
  • A key employee leaves.
  • You win a large new contract?


Scenario and contingency planning help you model “what if” situations so you’re prepared — not reactive.

Consider scenarios such as:

  • Revenue down 10%.
  • Expenses up 5%.
  • Delayed customer payments.
  • Onetime capital needs.


Build a contingency reserve — a planned cash buffer — to address unexpected events without derailing your plan.

Why this step matters:
Uncertainty is constant. A scenario lens helps you plan for possibilities — not just probabilities — and build resilience.

💡 Aimee’s Tip: We help you stress test your plan, so you understand the monetary impact of risks before they occur.

 

Step 7 — Set a Review Cadence: Monitor, Review & Adjust

Planning doesn’t end when the calendar flies to January. Your Money Map should be revisited regularly:

📅 Monthly or quarterly.
📌 Compare actual performance vs budget vs forecast.
📌 Identify variances (positive or negative).
📌 Adjust assumptions and plans accordingly.

A plan that sits on a shelf is not a plan — it is a relic. Regular review keeps your strategy alive and responsive.

Why this step matters:
Regular check-ins help you catch issues early, celebrate wins, and adapt to changes — whether internal or market driven.

💡 Aimee’s Tip: We partner with clients to run regular variance analyses and help interpret gaps between plan and reality.

 

Step 8 — Do Not Go It Alone: The Value of an Expert Partner

Many small and mid-size businesses do not have an internal CFO, FP&A team, or dedicated financial strategist. That is where a firm like Siegel Solutions adds real value.

When you collaborate with us:

✔ Your financials are accurate and timely — the foundation of any plan.
✔ We help you interpret trends, not just report numbers.
✔ We support forecasting, scenario modeling, and budgeting.
✔ We assist with ongoing plan reviews and adjustments.
✔ We bring context — industry, practical, and strategy oriented.

Why this step matters:
Even the best owners benefit from a second set of experienced eyes — especially when financial decisions affect cash flow, investment, and risk.

💡 Aimee’s Insight: Our role is not to make decisions for you, but to ensure you make informed decisions — backed by reliable data and thoughtful analysis.

 

How Siegel Solutions Can Help You Build Your Money Map

When you partner with us, you get more than a checklist — you get a financial partner who helps you:

1. Prepare Clean & Accurate Financials

We ensure your books are up to date, organized, and ready for planning.

2. Analyze Performance in Context

We identify trends and insights that matter for strategy.

3. Set Realistic Yet Ambitious Goals

We help you balance aspiration with financial reality.

4. Build Multi Scenario Forecasts

We model risks and opportunities, so you are prepared.

5. Review & Adjust Your Plan Quarterly

We help you revisit your plan based on actual results.

6. Provide Strategic Guidance Year -Round.

We stay aligned with your goals, priorities, and challenges.

Your success is our purpose — not just on paper, but in practical, real world outcomes.

The best business decisions are rooted in clarity — and clarity comes from understanding your numbers. By building a 2026 Money Map, you are not just planning — you are taking control of your growth, your cash flow, and your peace of mind.

Whether you are looking to stabilize, scale, or simply be more intentional with your resources, the time to start is now — while your 2025 data is fresh and actionable.

Let us talk about what is possible for your business.
We are here to guide you through every step of the Money Map process — from reviewing your 2025 financials to building a flexible, forward-focused plan for 2026.

You do not have to do it alone — and with Siegel Solutions, you will not!
Let us build a stronger financial future together – reach out anytime!

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Manager of Accounting Services

Aimee joined Siegel in 2022 as the Accounting Manager overseeing the accounting and bookkeeping team. Aimee brings 18 years of experience with increased responsibility with privately and publicly held companies. Her experience lies with SaaS-based companies as well as in healthcare, consulting, education and nonprofits. Prior to joining Siegel, she held accounting leadership positions with Waban Projects, Elastic Path, Moltin, and Ned Davis Research. Aimee loves partnering with business owners to establish financial reporting and results that promote growth and expansion. When Aimee is not working, she loves spending time with her family and friends and exploring all New England has to offer. She is also an avid Red Sox fan and enjoys going to Fenway Park when she can.

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Jeffrey Siegel
CPA, CEO

Jeff has spent the last twenty years working providing solutions to emerging growth businesses. After graduating from Northeastern University, he spent five years working with two multinational CPA firms in an auditor capacity building a foundation for understanding how business work. He later went on to work in various controller and CFO roles before starting Siegel & Associates (previously Siegel Financial Group) in 2000. In those roles, he sold a company to ADP, raised funds for a major expansion of a large regional IVF clinic, and helped set up accounting and financial structures for dozens of companies. Since starting Siegel & Associates, Jeff has worked with hundreds of clients providing accounting system solutions. Those solutions include setting up QuickBooks in a single-user environment putting in QuickBooks Enterprise in a 30-user environment and integrating various add-ons including inventory, CRM, and e-commerce. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a QuickBooks Pro Advisor, a QuickBooks Advanced Pro Advisor, and an Intuit Solution Provider certified in Enterprise Solutions, Point of Sale & QuickBase. Jeff is also a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer

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Lori Swartz
Client Solutions Advisor & Professional Services

After graduating from Boston University, Lori spent eight years working in various managerial positions for two national companies. In those positions, Lori developed the skills necessary to manage multiple projects, clients, and resources. She later went on to work for a management company that handled over 25 real estate properties with multiple tenants. Lori joined Siegel Solutions in 2003 as a client services manager where she utilized her skills developed to manage multiple clients and multiple staff. She recently moved into the client support manager role where she is responsible for meeting with and onboarding new clients, managing and maintaining our technology stack along with QuickBooks setups, conversions, training, and consulting.

In her free time, Lori enjoys spending time with her family. She loves to travel, music, and theater.

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Janet Jodoin
Bookkeeping Associate

Janet joined Siegel Solutions in May of 2022 as an Associate Bookkeeper. In her younger years, while raising her family, she completed her degree in Business and she spent 20 years in the trades as a custom designer. Janet also has 16 years in corporate management. Her strong team support, training, and development led her to support and manage Human Resources. Janet's desire to change careers has led her to return back to bookkeeping at Siegel Solutions. In Janet's free time she enjoys spending time with her growing family. Her personal favorite is creative landscaping in her yard. She also enjoys working alongside her partner in construction and remodeling.

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Tricia Gullage
Associate

Tricia Joined Siegel Solutions in 2022 as a bookkeeper and works with our clients to keep their day-to-day bookkeeping in order. Tricia has 12 years of bookkeeping experience working for a large construction company for 10 of those years handling all their accounting and Payroll. She met Jeff our CEO while working there and decided she wanted to join our team.

When not working Tricia enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She recently moved up to the lakes region in NH and loves going to concerts, enjoying her time boating and snowmobiling.

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Ed Jaworski
Professional Services

With over 21 years of corporate experience at PeopleSoft Consulting, Sun Life Financial, and KPMG, Ed brings a big business approach to small business solutions. Prior to joining Siegel Solutions in 2022, Ed helped small businesses get the most out of QuickBooks for 21 years as a co-founder of SMB Partners and the founder of Solutions for Office Software.

Ed is an Advanced Certified QuickBooks® ProAdvisor, a Certified QuickBooks® Point of Sale ProAdvisor, a Certified QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions ProAdvisor, and a Certified SOS Inventory Consultant. Ed holds an MS in Computer Information Systems from Bentley University and a BS in Business Administration from Northeastern University.

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Debby Mono
Firm Administrator

Prior to joining Siegel Solutions in March 2023, Debby had been working in administrative and executive assistant roles for many years in various fields. Her extensive background in these positions has provided her with a range of skills and knowledge that are valuable in her new role as a Firm Administrator. She graduated from Suffolk University with a Bachelor's Degree.

Outside of work, Debby can be found at football fields or dojos cheering for her sons. She also enjoys hikes with her dog, Sawyer, reading, sports, and live music. She and her husband also love to entertain family and friends.

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Letitia Cote
Senior Associate

Letitia has an accounting degree and has been working in the Accounting/Bookkeeping industry for over 25 years. Tish is also an Acumatica Business Consultant. Outside of work, Tish has 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren, she loves to ski, hike, bike, and be outdoors. Tish has worked with Jeff for over 10 years.

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Andrea Alencar
Associate

Andrea graduated from Bridgewater State with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. Andrea joined Siegel Solutions in 2022. Andrea has gained accounting experience working in various industries including a CPA firm, legal, hospitality, and telecommunications. Before coming to Siegel Solutions Andrea previously worked as a bookkeeper and staff accountant.

Andrea has 4 kids which keep her busy. Outside of work, Andrea enjoys spending time with her kids, being outside, cooking, and going to softball/baseball games.

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Mike Derrico
IT

I started my career in 1983 when I designed and built a device to share a computer program, written by the president of a local bank and his son, running on an Apple Lisa computer. The device allowed the large and expensive Lisa's computer to be shared with bank employees. With this program, and with my device, we started a company to market this unique solution to banks. At this point, computer networks were just starting to be used in businesses. I transitioned my efforts to providing support for migrating banking terminal/mainframe functions to the emerging Personal Computer networking platform. For the next decade, I worked with, and beta tested, numerous technologies to integrate the banking functions from dumb terminals into the now smart desktop computers. After working with a few small consulting firms, I started my own company focusing on providing I.T. support to SMBs. More recently I am now doing the exact opposite by helping customers migrate their PC applications and data from their local computers to The Cloud. A few years ago, I joined Siegel Solutions to add my years of I.T. experience to their firm.

In my spare time, I like to travel, fly my drone and, most importantly, spend time with my family. I also still enjoy tinkering with technology.

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Pat Jaworski
Associate

After spending most of her corporate career in the insurance industry, Pat joined a QuickBooks consulting firm providing bookkeeping services to several small companies. Late in 2022, that firm merged with Siegel Solutions, Inc., bringing Pat and her clients to the group. She provides services to clients in a variety of industries: fitness, construction, beauty, equine care, and medical billing, to name a few. She enjoys supporting her clients by keeping their financial records in good shape and allowing them to focus on growing their respective businesses.

Pat resides in the 495/MetroWest area with her husband Ed, daughter Abby and Duffy, their lovable, energetic golden retriever.

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John Brakey Campos

Senior Account
Payroll Manager

John has been with Intuit for over 18 years, serving in a variety of roles across the organization. For the past 8+ years, he has focused on payroll and workforce management solutions, helping clients streamline operations and make informed decisions. John is passionate about working directly with customers to understand their unique needs and recommend the best solutions to support their teams.

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DeeAnna Keyes

Sales and Marketing Associate

DeeAnna Keyes, has been our Sales and Marketing Associate since December 2023. She brings a wealth of experience, having worked at Intuit with a focus on Quickbooks Online and Quickbooks Desktop. With a robust sales history and a license as a real estate agent in Virginia, DeeAnna is a versatile professional. Outside of work, she cherishes family moments, indulges in camping with friends, and finds joy in entertaining at home with her husband and four children.

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Janice Kats

Associate

Janice Kats graduated from Carl Sandburg College with an Associate Degree in Accounting in 1992 and has been working in the accounting field ever since in various jobs doing AR, AP, payroll, office management, and bookkeeping before joining Siegel Solutions in late 2023.

In 2022, she made the decision to branch out on her own and started her own bookkeeping business, working from home.

She is a mom to 3 grown children and a grandmother to 5 grandchildren and enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs and following her grandchildren in all of their sports.

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Alyssa Bradford
Firm Manager

Alyssa Bradford joined Siegel Solutions as Firm Manager in March 2025, bringing with her a strong background in operations management and a hands-on, "boots on the ground" leadership style. Known for her excellent communication skills and practical approach to problem-solving, Alyssa plays a key role in driving efficiency and fostering team collaboration at the firm.

She is a graduate of the University of Hartford and lives in Franklin with her husband and son, where they enjoy making the most of nice weather together as a family. In her downtime, Alyssa enjoys HGTV and Food Network shows.

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Cynthia Moncayo-Mena
Associate

Cynthia joined Siegel Solutions in March 2025 as an Associate. She has a Bachelor's in Accounting from New Jersey City University and over 10 years of experience in accounting.
She is married with two children and enjoys reading and exploring new places to visit!

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Jermaine Sanders
Associate

Jermaine began his accounting career in 2017 after earning his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Emory & Henry College. With seven years of industry experience, he brings a solid background in financial analysis, business taxation, and small business accounting. Jermaine is a QuickBooks Online Certified ProAdvisor and is currently pursuing his CPA designation. He joined Siegel Solutions in the summer of 2025.

Outside of work, Jermaine leads an active lifestyle. He enjoys attending football and basketball games, hiking, biking, and spending quality time with family and friends. A fan of great music, he also enjoys relaxing to the sounds of jazz and practicing the trombone.

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Miya "Yiting" Guan
Coop - Fall 2025

Miya joined Siegel Solutions this summer as a six-month Co-op. She is entering her senior year at Northeastern University and brings prior experience from a previous Co-op. In a short time, Miya has already proven to be a valuable asset to the team, thanks to her strong technical and financial skill set.

Originally from Shanghai, China, Miya has an older sister and a younger brother. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and going to the movies.

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