Financial Planning

Preparing an Initial Plan

We provide comprehensive financial planning services to a select group of families and individuals. It is our desire to develop long-term relationships with our clients and serve as their "personal financial counselor."

Initially, we prepare a documented financial plan for each new client for review. The value is not in the written document, but in the thorough process that is followed in preparation of the plan and in the communication of ideas during the plan review. The financial plan consists of the following parts:

Risk Management Plan

We will assess the risks you face in the areas of life, health, disability, long-term care, auto, home and personal liability. Although we do not sell insurance, we do make recommendations regarding appropriate coverage, carriers, limits and deductibles.

Income Tax Plan

We will review your tax returns, analyze your current and projected income tax exposure, and make recommendations on how to reduce your future income tax liability.

Retirement Plan

We will project your future cash flows in seven different areas (income, expenses, savings, withdrawals, cash flow, portfolio value and net worth) from now until the end of your life. We will determine the most tax efficient way to take income during your retirement. We will provide recommendations with respect to contributions, distributions, rollovers, conversions, and payout options of various retirement plans including IRAs, Roth IRAs, pensions, and Social Security benefits.

Investment Plan

We will thoroughly analyze your current portfolio, help you develop investment objectives, and develop an investment plan with a view of your "big picture" and long term goals.

Your investment plan will include a disciplined strategy for managing the downside risk of your portfolio so that you will have a high probability of achieving your financial objectives. See our Investment Approach section for more details regarding our investment management process.

Estate Plan

We will design a plan to achieve your estate planning objectives, such as minimizing estate taxes while ensuring that your estate will be distributed according to your wishes. With the assistance of an estate planning attorney, we will ensure that all the necessary estate planning documents (wills, beneficiary designations, trusts, powers of attorney, etc.) are present and in order.

Implementation and Monitoring the Plan

Upon completion of the plan to your satisfaction, we will assist in the proper implementation and monitoring of the financial plan. As changes warrant, we will update the financial plan accordingly.

Portfolio Management

Portfolio management is the process of managing your investment portfolio on an on-going basis in accordance with the investment plan.

As a Registered Investment Advisory Firm, we will assume a fiduciary role in the day to day management and monitoring of your portfolio. We follow a strict disciplined approach to:

	Rebalancing our clients' investment allocations
	Buying and selling stocks within managed accounts.
	Switching among stock or bond funds in our market-timed accounts.
	Monitoring investment performance and manager changes for mutual funds that our clients own.

Why Have a Plan?

Having a comprehensive plan is the only way to ensure that all the aspects of your financial life are working together to achieve your goals.

In this day and age you cannot evaluate your investments or income needs without considering the impact of taxes and inflation. You must consider cash-flow and monitor expenses, both current and anticipated.

All aspects of your financial picture are interrelated and you must consider how each individual decision both fits into and affects your overall financial picture.

Getting Started

The first step is to meet with us in a no-cost initial interview. We will discuss your financial situation and goals and you can ask us any questions you wish. We will explain our approach to financial planning, our investment philosophy, and our fees.

If at the end our first meeting there is a mutual interest in talking further, we will provide a list of references for you to call.

We may then schedule a second no-cost, no-obligation meeting to establish specific investment objectives and discuss our investment approach in more detail.

During the second meeting we will discuss your specific financial planning and investment goals. Together, we'll determine if the professional and personal "chemistry" is right for us to proceed with the preparation of a financial plan.

Portfolio Mgmt

We manage individual portfolios for our clients. We may recommend one of our Diversified Model Portolios or prepare a customized portfolio tailored just for you.