Comprehensive Planning

The role of the personal financial planner is to facilitate comprehensive financial planning through prudent, thoughtful, client- oriented recommendations. In making the recommendations, the financial planner does not replace the accountant, attorney, trust officer, or other professional advisors. Rather the financial planner coordinates their efforts, solicits their advice, and utilizes their services, when appropriate.

Comprehensive financial planning is an integrated, continuous process. In preparing our plans, we take the six-stage approach outlined by the College for Financial Planning. While the six-stages overlap, they can generally be described as follows:

Each plan should be different and personalized based on the client's objectives. For example, the plan may center around specific areas such as:

• Gather and clarify both quantitative and qualitative data,
• Establish financial goals and quantify them in terms of measurable objectives,
• Process and analyze the data, evaluating alternative strategies,
• Recommend appropriate strategies to help toward meeting the objectives in the most efficient manner,
• Implement the strategies, using other professionals where necessary, and
• Regularly review the progress of the plan to determine if adjustments are necessary.

The key in toward accomplishing the client's goals is to assure that all areas are coordinated to provide the appropriate result.

• Preparing for retirement,
• Asset allocation,
• Estate taxation and distribution,
• Business succession planning,
• Cash flow analysis,
• Insurance,
• and/or other areas of concern.