Last week, we asked you about what you’re chasing in your own financial lives. For some people, it was a new job, or a promotion. Others are looking for better ways to save, or faster ways to retire.

Lauren Lyons Cole, a certified Financial Planner and the Host of new show The Financial Fix at The Street, says that when it comes to pursuing financial goals, there are a few ground rules. You should start with an emergency fund  — at least two paychecks worth in savings — and build from there. Lyons Cole says that retirement is important, but once you’ve started saving for the future, you should feel free to focus on the present: travel, kids, a new business, a big purchase. 

As far as flexible accounts for your evolving goals, Lyons Cole recommends a Roth IRA, which allows for withdrawals for a down payment on a home or for education, though she recommends you keep your money in there until you retire.

To hear the full interview and more tips about how to chase your own financial goals, tune in using the player above.