As this year comes to a close, you may want to know what you can do to take more responsibility for your money in the coming year. A good first step is to stay committed to the financial goals and strategies you may have mapped out with your financial professional.

But, if you want to do more, you may benefit from following a few tried-and-true tactics. These are not necessarily “resolutions,” as that implies major behavioral changes that can be hard to stick with. They are easy actions to take at any time of year—though, obviously, the sooner you follow through on them, the sooner you’ll see the benefits.

• Be organized. Some quick tips: pay your bills on time to avoid fees and to maintain a healthy credit record. Get crucial paperwork in order (e.g., wills, mortgage documents, health proxies, and deeds). Set up automatic payments to your 401(k) plan, savings account, or rainy-day fund.
  
  
• Track where your money goes. Know the value of your assets and the extent of your debts; pay down bad or unsecured debt, and save credit cards for emergencies. Record spending using computer software or a notebook; you might discover that you can make do with what you have already. Ask yourself if you really need that impulse purchase before you buy it. Don’t live on what you don’t have: set up a budget—it may take several attempts to perfect, but it’s the fastest way to get your finances on track.
  
  
• Understand your investments. Depending on your financial picture, having more investments in your portfolio doesn’t mean you have a better portfolio. Know what you have and why you have it. Adjust holdings if they don’t suit your circumstances or long-term goals. If your current financial advisor can’t explain to you in less than two minutes what an investment is and why you should have it, find someone who can.
  
  
• Stay focused on your ultimate goals, not on what everyone else is doing. Ignore the hot stock tips and where the talking heads on cable say to put your money. You deserve guidance tailored specifically to you, not the widest possible audience. Increase your contribution to your retirement plan if you can (e.g., use the amount of your annual raise at work).