What is a financial plan?
A financial plan is a strategy to help you reach your goals. Through data gathering, analysis and guidance, an advisor creates a road map that leads you to financial comfort during your life while allowing for the efficient transfer of assets to your heirs. Financial planning is an ongoing process driven by changing needs and objectives.
A financial plan includes macro considerations, such as:
Asset allocation planning
A series of asset classes and allocation strategies that seek to meet your needs based on your risk tolerance and investment objectives.
Business planning
A focus on issues specific to business owners; coordinates the management of your business throughout its life cycle.
Education planning
College savings and education planning topics such as student loans and financial aid.
Retirement income planning
The development and refinement of a distribution plan for your nonworking years, including social security strategies.
Advanced insurance planning
What safety nets will your investments require as your assets and responsibilities grow?
Estate planning
Help with examining a range of strategies to meet asset protection and wealth transfer goals.
Tax planning
Coordination with you and your tax professional to minimize your tax liability.
Charitable giving
How philanthropic goals affect your investments, especially when considering topics like taxation.
Financial planning is the umbrella under which investment management functions.
What is investment management?
Due to its distinct and complex nature, investment management is typically carved out as a separate service. How we ultimately shape your investment portfolio is based on a collaborative effort, and the result is something we monitor regularly. The investment recommendations and services we provide are designed to support the personal needs and goals outlined in your financial plan.
Considerations for these activities may include, but will not be limited to:
Investment objective
What is your goal for this portfolio?
Risk tolerance
With what level of risk are you comfortable?
Investment selections
Where would you like to invest (e.g., stocks, bonds, CDs)?
Contributions/distributions
Will you contribute to your plan over time or make one up-front investment? Will you withdraw from the portfolio or take income payments?
Ongoing monitoring
What level of ongoing monitoring is needed for your account(s) or investments?
With financial planning as the foundation and investment management providing the building blocks, ew can work together to help you pursue your short and long-term goals.
Asset allocation programs do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets. No program can guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved.
