You filed your taxes, now comes the real planning

Many taxpayers were just too happy to press the button and submit their tax returns so they can be free of worry for another year. But not so fast: there are other things to do now, an expert says.

- 

The end of tax season brings a collective sigh of relief, says Thinus Marais, financial advisor at Momentum Financial Planning.

"You completed all the necessary forms, hit 'submit' and either cheered a refund or grumbled at a payment," says Marais.

"Although this marks the finish line of your annual financial duties in most people's opinion, in reality it should be the starting point for the most important financial exercise of the year."

Marais says taxes force us to assess our money situation, but they only provide a retrospective view.