HOLISTIC FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES

Our process starts with a discovery phase whereby we learn where you are, then help you gain clarity around what matters to you. Some financial advisors may stop once they uncover what is important to you. We believe it’s more valuable to understand “Why?” We explore this in three interconnected areas:

1. The need for financial independence
2. The desire to leave a family legacy
3. The desire to make a difference in the world (social legacy)

Some people come to us focused on building financial independence (often thought of as retirement planning). However, when asked, they often also hope to share their wealth with people and causes dear to them but don’t have any idea what’s possible or when. It’s critical that we understand what you want to accomplish in each area and why it’s important to you. So we ask a lot of questions and then listen closely to make sure we understand your underlying motivations. While we don’t have a crystal ball, our process and tools help you envision future scenarios so you can see what’s possible, understand the tradeoffs and make smarter, more rewarding decisions.

Financial planning decisions are usually made in a single area. Yet, wealth optimization can only be achieved by evaluating the impact of each decision across all three areas. We believe optimizing your wealth requires developing a clear definition of financial independence, family legacy and social capital legacy. Our financial planning experts guide you through this important step because it lays an essential foundation for the entire planning process.

Once we have clarity around your vision, values and goals, we begin the actual planning process. Our design phase consists of crafting creative strategies and determining the solutions needed to achieve your goals and close any planning gaps. This is our opportunity to combine our deep expertise with our robust platform of planning and investment capabilities to tailor solutions to your goals, rather than the other way around. Because we do not take a cookie-cutter approach, this is a dynamic, iterative process where you are actively engaged through every step.

A plan only works when it’s executed. In phase 3, we assist you in implementing the solution to help achieve your desired results. This often involves consulting with experts in the areas of our Wealth By Design process that are most relevant to you – investment, tax, estate, education, insurance – to ensure the recommendations are carried out and good ideas turn into tangible results. Each person’s path is unique, but what remains constant is that we will be with you every step of the way.

An essential part of our planning process is the ongoing management of your total wealth picture. We view each client’s financial plan not as a static numerical snapshot but as a dynamic component of a life plan, with success being measured and sustained over many years, even decades. Life and financial circumstances don’t follow a straight line. This is why we have an entire phase and set of processes devoted to continually monitoring, adjusting and optimizing your plan and helping you make smart, thoughtful decisions along the way.

Your life and wealth plan impact more than just you. You will leave a legacy of some sort whether you plan it or not. We understand this and have created our Wealth & Beyond Program® to give extra attention and special care to the things that are required to help implement your plan as you intended.