After much drama, lawmakers may have finally settled on a deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. But for everyone from the retirees figuring out their future to students paying off their debt loads, the work and the headaches have just begun.

Financial advisers and other experts say the full impact of the headline-grabbing bill may not be known for weeks or months, especially with so many more details of the legislation passed yesterday still being worked out and interpreted. But many think it’s going to force many folks to rethink everything from their portfolio allocations to their tax movements. Two areas of concern already have emerged: Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries have been spared so far, for example, but experts say seniors could still be hit in phase two of the deficit-reduction plan. Investors, meanwhile, worry that the deal will further drag down the sputtering economy — and take the stock and bond markets with it. From the standpoint of economic growth, the cuts are “one more thing going in the wrong direction,” says Chad Stone, the chief economist for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

In general, most pros recommend against any knee-jerk moves. Still, there are certain areas that are more likely to be impacted than others. Below are seven — from retirement planning to the fate of the dollar — that could require new strategies in the months ahead. These are by no means definitive, but think of them as a starting point for how to adjust your portfolio and finances.

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