In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr. Stephen Covey identifies key habits successful people share to achieve their goals.  Here is my attempt to drill these habits down for investors.

Habit 1: Be Proactive (Be Ready for Financial Emergencies)
About 47 percent of respondents in the Federal Reserve’s 2014 household survey said they wouldn’t be able to cover an emergency $400 expense without selling something or borrowing money.  So start by setting aside money for an emergency fund before saving for retirement.  In a financial emergency, too many people tap into their retirement fund early and pay a penalty.  (And your credit card is not your emergency savings fund!)