The Six Steps to Financial Planning

Many people put off planning for their financial future because they’re overwhelmed with all the decisions they have to make. The good news is that there’s help at hand – in the form of a certified personalized planner. A certified personalized planner is trained to focus on all aspects of your finances – everything from your taxes to retirement savings.

A certified personalized planner will develop a plan that works for you both today and in the future.

Meeting your personalized planner

When you first meet with your personalized planner, they will tell you about their obligations and responsibilities. They should:

• Give you a general overview of the personalized planning process

• Tell you what services they provide and how they are compensated for them

• Let you know what they will expect from you as a client

You should let your personalized planner know how involved you want to be in creating and executing your personalized plan. You should also ask any questions about the process or how compensation works.

Determining your goals and expectations

Now you’re ready to make your plan. But first, you and your personalized planner should discuss your personal and financial goals and your current and future needs and priorities.

Your personalized planner will make sure they have all the details they need. They may ask you to fill in questionnaires or provide documentation on your current financial state.

Reviewing your current financial state

Before your personalized planner can get started on your personalized plan, they need to know about your current situation – including cash flow, net worth and any taxes you may owe in the future.

To customize your personalized plan, so it works for you, your personalized planner must know about anything that could impact it – for example, a dependent adult child.

Developing the personalized plan

Once they have all the information they need, your personalized planner will create a customized plan that aligns with your goals, objectives, and risk tolerance. They will also provide you with information on projected returns and recommended actions.

Implementing the plan

Once you approve it, your personalized planner should implement your plan. They should also help you contact other professionals they’ve recommended to assist with your personalized plan – such as a lawyer or an insurance agent.

Monitoring the plan

Your certified personalized planner should periodically contact you to adjust your personalized plan. In addition, a life change – such as the birth of a child or retirement – may require adjustments to your personalized plan.

It can be hard to plan for the future – but you don’t have to do it alone. Contact a certified personalized planner or us today!