4 things you can do in 2018 to achieve financial independence earlier

Given that financial independence is such a common goal among investors, it's only natural that some of us are determined to get there in the shortest time possible.

Sound familiar? Here are four things you can do to speed your progress.

1. Pay off debt

Choosing to invest while simultaneously weighed down by debt isn't an optimum strategy. With the exception of a mortgage, it's usually a better to pay off anything you owe (credit cards or personal loans) before putting money to good use in the stock market. The interest you're already paying is likely to be greater than any returns you can expect from the latter.

This is particularly important for those on a mission to achieve financial freedom early. Not only is it easier to recover (financially and psychologically) from mistakes and bad fortune when investing with money you can afford to lose, a lack of debt also puts you in an ideal position to take advantage of general market wobbles as and when they occur.

2. Make investing a priority

Becoming debt-free is just the start, of course. Having got your finances in order, it's vital to continue cutting back on needless spending and channelling what you've saved into a tax-efficient stocks and shares account (i.e. ISA) at regular intervals.

The most convenient way of doing this is to set up a direct debit that transfers an amount of cash from your current account every month. Importantly, doing this at the start rather than the end of the month also reduces the temptation to spend this money on non-essentials later on.

If you want to grow your wealth quickly, learn to pay yourself first.

3. Invest increasing amounts

Getting into the habit of investing on a monthly basis is arguably preferable to throwing a lump sum at the market. With the latter, there's always a possibility that a correction or crash might be around the corner.

Pound cost averaging -- drip-feeding your capital into the market regularly -- is a great idea. In addition to buying fewer shares when prices are rising and more when they are falling (thus smoothing out volatility), taking advantage of regular investing plans from brokers helps keep commission fees as low as possible -- an easily-forgotten aspect of growing your wealth quickly.

Since investing is now a priority (see above), those wanting to speed up their pursuit of financial freedom may want to set themselves the challenge of continually increasing their contributions by a small amount each month. Just as those who lift progressively heavier weights see better results than those who lift the same weight every time, those who increase their contributions see their wealth grow faster.

4. Be willing to embrace risk

The fourth and final step is arguably that hardest and one that many -- perhaps rightly -- won't feel comfortable doing.

Put simply, it's hard to obtain financial security without serious outperformance. A pre-requisite for this is usually a willingness to take on greater capital risk by investing in companies lower down the market spectrum or buying what others hate. As US entrepreneur Robert Arnott puts it: "What's comfortable is rarely profitable".

Those interested in taking this step are therefore urged to consider not only their own risk-tolerance beforehand but also the importance of building a thoroughly diversified portfolio.

Ready to learn more?

If you're determined to make 2018 the year you begin your journey to financial freedom, don't leave before downloading a special report from the Motley Fool's analysts. Their "Foolish Guide to Financial Independence" is completely FREE to read and comes with no obligation.

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Paul Summers has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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