Our Financial Planning Process

1) Gather Data – At this stage, most importantly, we make sure your goals have been identified, because this is at the heart of a solid financial plan. During this process, we listen to your concerns as well as your goals. We even help you prioritize your goals, if help is needed there.  Because your present financial circumstances will have a big impact on the plan that would be best for you, there will be in depth data gathering to get detailed information on your current financial situation.  This may include, but not limited to, tax returns, bank statements, investment statements, trust documents/estate planning documents, and budgets/cash flow statements.

2) Set Goals – This is the opportunity for you to meet with your planner and find out more about that planners background, what they can do for you, and at the same time, this is the planner’s opportunity to get to know you.  What are your hopes and dreams? What are your expectations? How can the planner help you?  These meetings are usually face to face, but these days, with technology, this is not a steadfast rule.  We meet with clients via phone or web conferencing, as well.  In this initial meeting, there will be some amount of information exchanged, so both you and the planner can determine if working together would be a good match.  If so, you then move forward with the planning.

3) Analyze the Data – This is when we utilize the information collected in step 2 and analyze the information, assess your current situation, then determine recommendations that would make sense for you to meet your goals identified in step 1.

4) Create the Plan – We take this information and design a customized roadmap for you, show you how to best achieve your specific goals. This will be an opportunity for you to meet with us again and ask questions. There can be many different options available to you.  It's important that you advocate for yourself at this stage and make sure that the finalized “roadmap” is one that everyone is happy with.  It may take a bit of tweaking to get it there, but ask lots of questions. This step will help shape what your retirement could look like.

6) Implement the Plan – This is the most important step, the implementation. We help you put the plan in motion. Some clients prefer a slow implementation plan while others like to jump in with both feet.  We like to accommodate all individual needs. We are here to help you every step of the way.  We pride ourselves on delivering white glove customer service to our clients and going the extra step to make sure the process is as easy for you as possible.

7) Monitor the Plan – Your financial plan will need to be monitored and tracked for changes. You and your family will go through many life changes, your goals will evolve, your spending may change, your income may change. Your plan will need to be revisited and updated and we make ourselves available to our clients to do this as often as needed.  We offer many ways for you to meet with us, via web conferencing, phone calls, and in office meetings.  We like to think that we are there for you as you progress over time.  Our clients become part of our family.