Financial Planning

Financial planning is at the very core of the services we provide to individuals and families seeking to build, preserve and manage wealth over time. We recognize that money is simply a means to achieving your life goals, and if you can quantify and measure your progress towards the achievement of those goals, financial decisions will be made easier.

Retirement income planning, education planning, tax and estate planning, and risk management services are components of a larger, more comprehensive financial plan designed to help pursue multiple financial and lifestyle goals. The financial planning process includes the following six steps:

1) Establishing and defining the client-planner relationship. We clearly document and explain the services we will provide you and define our responsibilities as well as yours. We fully explain how we will be paid. We establish how long our professional relationship should last and how decisions will be made.

2) Gathering client data, including goals. We develop a sound factual information base so that our recommendations are based on reality. Since most of our clients are busy people, we minimize your time required in completing questionnaires. We do this by using original source documents such as your wills and tax returns, thus we can locate the information we actually need and save you time.

3) Analyzing and evaluating your financial status. We analyze your information to assess your current situation and determine what you will need to do to meet your goals. This generally includes analyzing your assets, liabilities and cash flow, current insurance coverages, investments and tax strategies.

4) Developing and presenting financial planning recommendations and/or alternatives. We provide financial planning recommendations that address your goals, based on the information you have provided. We go over the recommendations with you to help you understand them so that you can make informed decisions. We also listen to your concerns and revise the recommendations as appropriate.

5) Implementing the financial planning recommendations. We develop a time table and task list that covers how the recommendations will be carried out. Depending on the circumstances, we may carry out the recommendations or serve as your "coach," coordinating the whole process with you and other professionals such as attorneys or bankers.

6) Monitoring the financial planning recommendations. Finally, we monitor your progress towards your goals and report to you periodically to review your situation and adjust the recommendations, if needed, as your life changes. Where your investments are concerned, we provide you with ongoing reports through the mail, email, this website and at in-person meetings. We keep an extensive database of all investment activities in order to devise year-end tax strategies, periodic rebalancing, and other necessary portfolio activities.

Preparing financially for the future is an ongoing process. We recognize that over the years your needs and lifestyle will change. That is why we think it is important to provide you with planning to help pursue your goals today ... and in the future.