The Financial Planning Process

Financial Planning is a process-not a product or a one-time event. The Financial Planning Process provides a long-term strategy for your financial future. There are 8 Key Wealth Management issues that clients are likely to face at some point. When these issues will become priorities is not the same for every client, so it is incumbent upon a Wealth Management Advisor to take a disciplined and structured approach to helping a client to manage these issues.

The Financial Planning Process includes the following phases:

Discovery & Data Gathering

At the beginning of the process, it is important to sit down and discuss each client’s unique values, priorities and goals. Joe works with clients to complete a questionnaire and helps them to define their personal and financial goals, understand their timeframe for results, and their comfort with risk.

Analysis

Once the Discovery and Data Gathering is complete, the results are reviewed and a

Plan is designed to meet the client’s goals and objectives. This step of the process includes such areas as analyzing assets, liabilities, cash flow, risk management, current investments and strategies related to tax issues.

Presentation

The analysis and recommendations are presented to the client for review, modification and approval. These recommendations address each client’s individual goals and objectives. Extra care is taken to be sure that each client thoroughly understands the recommendations and alternatives so that they can make informed decisions.

Implementation

Implementation is key to what makes the Wealth Management Process work. At this point, a pro-active approach is taken to help clients meet their financial and life goals. During this part of the process, the implementation of the plan finalized during the Presentation is thoroughly discussed, and a schedule of steps would be created.

Ongoing Communication

The results of the implemented Wealth Management Plan are continually assessed to ensure each client’s objectives are being met and Joe is always available to update a Wealth Management Plan to suit a client’s changing personal needs. The plan is updated every year. A personal communication plan is tailored for each client that includes a schedule of review meetings, ongoing education and client events. A high level of access and communication is an important element of the advisor/client relationship with Joe and his staff.