Our Approach

A detailed discussion of financial and non-financial goals.

Develop a clear understanding of your goals for engaging a financial advisor.

Address key areas such as:

• Current financial status
• Life milestones and personal goals
• Ideal vision of your present and future life
• Generational needs
• Near and long-term anticipated needs

And review the “What if?” concerns that could impact your or your family’s results:

• Premature death or disability
• Market volatility
• Higher expenses than anticipated
• Unexpected opportunity
• Long term care needs

Here, we gather and evaluate detailed information and documents around important areas that include the following:

• Cash flow – income, expenses, and anticipated changes
• Income taxes
• Investments: liquid and illiquid
• Asset allocation and diversification
• Protection needs and safety nets
• Your risk capacity and risk tolerance
• Legacy plan

Comprehensive Analysis

This is where we sit down and review together:

• Where you would like to go and what you want.  What you would like to experience with regards to your money, present and future.
• How your current situation aligns with present and future interests and needs.
• If adjustments are recommended to get to your goal, which ones are possible – and acceptable to you.
• The potential impact on your taxes, portfolio and estate plan of adjustments
• What conversations or reviews would be helpful to clarify any ambiguous areas.

Personalized Plan Recommendations 

Develop a plan with specific recommendations to achieve your financial goals.

• An agreement on the path that most effectively gets you to your destination
• An implementation plan with agreed upon prioritization and timeline of tasks and steps.

Personal Investment Policy

We develop a written personal investment policy to reflect your specific investment strategy. This will incorporate:

• Expectations, objectives and guidelines in the investment of the portfolio assets
• The investment structure including permitted asset classes and permissible ranges of exposure
• Asset allocation parameters designed to meet objectives of long term returns in alignment with risk tolerance and risk capacity
• Manager selection – investment managers for implementation of the agreed upon asset allocation plan
• Ongoing and open communication

Coordinate

• Coordinate with your other advisors in the areas of cash flow, tax, insurance and estate planning.

Allocate

• Allocate to carefully selected investment managers for each asset class.
• Incorporates both passive and active styles of investing as appropriate.

We keep your planning current and address any personal changes that would affect your implemented strategy.

Monitor and Assess Market Conditions

Regularly monitor market conditions and the performance of your portfolio. When appropriate, we make changes to the investment strategy after taking into consideration your cash flow needs, tax consequences and goals and objectives.

Plan Review Meetings

A key part of our role as Personal Financial Guides is to make ourselves as accessible to you as possible. We’d much rather have you reach out to us than worry at home, waiting for us to contact you for our next meeting. Bottom line – our time together is whatever serves you best to be able to effectively address next steps, whether that be self-care or focus on task completion tied to a deadline.

• Monthly – We typically meet monthly when going through the financial planning process and then quarterly thereafter.
• Quarterly – to validate plan assumptions vs real life and address the current market and economic environment and portfolio implementation. In addition to meeting personally, you will receive timely and informative Quarterly Performance Reports.
• Weekly – Sometimes, during a particularly trying transition we meet to touch base weekly.