(ARA) – Making New Year’s resolutions can be tricky. On one hand, they’re a great motivator to make a positive change in your life. On the other, making a resolution without a plan for accomplishing it is a recipe for disappointment.

A plan is particularly important when it comes to finance-oriented resolutions. For example, you can pledge to save more money or pay down debt, but it’s all wishful thinking unless you develop an actionable plan.

Recent studies show you’re not alone if you’ve had trouble meeting your goals in the past. According to TD Ameritrade’s annual New Year’s resolution survey, the top New Year’s resolution for 2011 among those ages 18 to 34 is to save more money. However, of the 18- to 34-year-olds who made similar resolutions last year, only 19 percent actually stuck to them. Older generations were much more successful in keeping their financial resolutions. In fact, 40 percent of those ages 55 to 64 and 33 percent of those ages 45 to 54 who made a personal finance-oriented New Year’s resolution last year said they are still going strong.

“Meeting your financial goals requires hard work and planning – it’s not enough to simply want to make a change or improve your financial situation. You must act, and older generations seem to have grasped this concept,” says Nicole Sherrod, managing director, TD Ameritrade. “In order to make progress, set actionable goals that will help you get to where you want to be and make sure you follow through.”

Follow these three steps to help you stick to your financial resolutions in 2011:

1. Assess your financial situation. As you prepare to make your financial resolutions for 2011 a reality, start by assessing your current financial situation. A great place to start is by using free online tools to your advantage such as TD Ameritrade’s WealthRuler, which can help you determine your overall level of preparedness for long-term expenses such as education and retirement.

2. Educate yourself. Doing your homework and gathering the right information will help you make informed investing decisions. By going online, you can create and implement an investing strategy that best suits your needs.

3. Take action. Once you’ve determined what strategies are right for you, it’s time to put your plan into action. Using long-term savings vehicles such as IRAs is one way to get started. Once you have begun, you could be on your way to a successful New Year’s resolution.

By putting in the necessary work, research and action, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your financial resolutions. For more information, please visit www.tdameritrade.com.