Financial Planning
Whether planning for retirement or a child's college education, financial planning is the cornerstone for meeting your goals. A comprehensive financial plan will not only clearly state your unique goals, it will reflect your aspirations and values about money and life. The financial planning process can help you:
- ensure your goals are realistic and aligned with your values and priorities
- identify and evaluate various scenarios for achieving your goals within your timeline
- identify risks you had not previously considered
- measure progress toward accomplishing your goals
In addition, the planning process ensures your plan evolves as your life changes. Ultimately, the goal of the planning process is to help you develop a healthy relationship with your money, and the confidence that you’re going to be okay today and tomorrow.
A Good Place to Begin:
If you have a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, a great first step in the planning process is to determine if your plan is allocated correctly. How your plan assets are invested is ultimately your responsibility. This important decision should be based on your risk tolerance, time horizon and a number of other factors. Many employees make the mistake of not reviewing their portfolio regularly, as their lives and investment markets change. Working with an advisor to determine if you plan is allocated correctly can be a low risk, low cost way to evaluate an advisor and test run a long-term relationship.
How do you know if the Financial Advisor you are considering is right for you?
Critical to the development of a sound financial plan and achievement of your goals is working with an advisor you can trust and is always focused on doing what is best for you. Key topics for consideration when evaluating financial advisors include:
- Licenses, credentials, and certifications (including whether or not the firm you are considering is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and fiduciary)
- Independence (is the firm you are considering independent of any particular investment products or fund families)
- Fee Structure (simple and transparent – not tied to investment securities commissions, trailers or transaction fees)
- Services Offered (financial planning, retirement planning, investment management, etc.)
- Service Model
In addition, you should determine if the values of the advisor you are considering are aligned to your values. A key component to achieving your goals is building a long-term relationship with an advisor you can trust to help you live your best life today and tomorrow.
Many of my clients work with Financial Independence in Warwick, RI. The firm is an Independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) offering a full suite of planning and investment services. Please feel free to discuss with me any questions you may have regarding financial planning, the scope of my services, those of Financial Independence, and how I work with them to provide mutual clients a comprehensive plan inclusive of tax planning services. Otherwise, you can reach Financial Independence directly at (401) 681-4825 or find additional information in the links below:
Financial Independence Website