Independent Financial Planning

Building Ahead for Retirement

• Focus on the fundamentals to get you on track, your saving goals, and an investment plan to plan forward for your financial independence. This service helps address two questions – Am I on the right path? What should I be doing to plan ahead for retirement? Typically for ages 20’s to 40’s.

Comprehensive Retirement Planning

• Focused Retirement Planning
• Retirement is generally a ‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ decision. Our in depth retirement planning service prepares you for a successful launch into your next exciting phase of financial independence. We factor in your current financial standing, your goals and dreams, your debt plan, your optimal retirement lifestyle, utilizing Monte Carlo simulation, and multiple scenarios so you receive a professional and independent viewpoint of what you need to do to get across the finish line in style. A strong emphasis is placed on pursuing tax efficiency, maximizing your Social Security, and how to position your portfolio to support you in your retirement living years.

Retirement Income Planning

• A master blueprint for what your first 10 years of retirement living looks like. We show you how to work towards maximizing your Social Security, defined benefit plans, and how to position your portfolio to support you for your retirement living years. Strong emphasis is placed on pursuing tax efficiency. The primary questions answered are – How do I retire? Where do I draw money from? This service is most useful if you are retiring within two years or you are currently retired.

Other Retirement Planning Capabilities

• Healthcare Insurance – Before and after age 65.
• RMD Requirements – What happens at age 70 ½ and later.
• Tax Analysis – What am I paying and what should I expect to pay in retirement?
• 401k Recommendations – Are you invested in alignment with your goals and risk tolerance?
• Social Security Analysis – What is the best choice for your situation?
• Pension and Survivorship Analysis – Considering your financial position and personal goals, what option should you choose.
• Roth Conversion – Is it beneficial to me for the long term?
• Type of Retirement Account – Am I taking advantage of the best plan? Are there other accounts I should use?
• Monte Carlo Simulation* – This analysis looks at the probability of your money lasting through different environments (varying levels of returns & inflation)
• Retirement Income – Do you have a funding gap and how best to fill the gap?
• The RV life or maybe it is traveling abroad – Let’s design your retirement
• Long-Term Care – Do you have a plan?

*About Monte Carlo: Monte Carlo Simulation is a risk and decision analysis technique used to evaluate the outcome of portfolios over time using a large number of simulated variables to generate possible future returns.

There are many variables that can affect a financial plan. Two of the most volatile variables are inflation and investment returns, both of which, historically, vary on a daily basis. Even with this knowledge, most financial projections use constant inflation and investment rates over the period of the analysis. The use of these averages is used as a start for the planning process, since the actual values are unknown. Unfortunately, however, this type of analysis illustrates only one outcome, thereby requiring that simulation be used to imitate real-life situations. In order to produce meaningful results, these simulations are processed many times. By varying the rates of return and inflation to simulate the fluctuations that can be experienced in the marketplace, a more realistic reflection of the anticipated ups and downs of the investment

Investment Planning

Portfolio Analysis

• Know how you’re invested, assess strengths & weaknesses, and discover what is missing. Including a personal risk assessment and Morningstar in-depth portfolio reporting. No specific investment recommendations given in analysis. Investment proposal provided complimentary.

Other Investment Planning Capabilities

• Stock Option Analysis – Is it a good deal? Understand how leverage affects your returns. Concentration risk.
• Concentrated Stock Analysis – Opportunities to diversify your holdings with or without realizing capital gains.
• Annuity Analysis – Are they right for your situation? What is the cost and benefit?
• Defined Contribution Plan – Evaluate potential options. Important for small business owners.

Net Worth Analysis

• What is your net worth? Do you have enough liquidity? Are your assets balanced?

Accumulation Goals

• Plan ahead for a major purchase, such as home, boat, car, or vacation home. It’s the best way to meet your goal.

Other Goal Planning Capabilities

• Ratio Analysis – Take a look at your personal ratios and find out if you are financially fit.
• Liquidity Analysis – Given your debt, do you have sufficient liquidity to protect yourselves?
• Action item Checklist – Part of a comprehensive plan. This tells you what to work on immediately, what should be accomplished within this year and what can be set aside to work on in the future.

Tax Planning Strategies

Tax Opportunities

• Find out if you are maximizing your tax benefits.

Tax Analysis

• Would knowing your future estimated taxes (looking out years ahead) affect what you do this year? This information can open multiple planning opportunities.

Other Tax Planning Strategies

• Tax Obligation – Do you know what to expect for your taxes for the current year?
• Tax Minimization – How can I reduce my tax cost?

Estate Planning Strategies  Trust and Estate Review

• Find out if you are subject to estate taxes. Understand the process of asset flow in the event of your death. Review necessary documents.

Retirement Community Analysis

• Compare living options as it relates to your financial plan. Assess buy-ins, monthly dues, and ancillary costs.

Other Estate Planning Strategies

• Generational Planning – Plan a legacy for your heirs and future heirs.
• Beneficiary Planning – Ensure designations are correct. Review and alter as needed.
• Estate Settlement – Assistance with asset retitling, annuity claims, and money movements.
• Gift planning – Reduce your taxable estate and build a legacy.
• Receiving an Inheritance – Assess your plan and priorities upon receiving inherited money or windfall.
• Charitable Planning – Structure your estate to accomplish your charitable wishes and receive tax benefits.

College Planning College Planning Analysis

• Find out what pace you are on to meet your college savings goal. How much additional is needed to save? *for up to two children, $100/child thereafter.

Other College Planning Capabilities

• What are the pros and cons of different college saving vehicles?
• Find out the cost for your child(ren) to attend any specific college or university.
• How to factor in if you are paying private tuition now for your college planning goal(s).

Insurance Planning

Life

• Provide for the ones you love after your passing.

Disability

• Guard against financial insecurity during difficult health times. Health crisis can happen strike at any time.

Long Term Care

• Protect your family and finances through a challenging life stage. Long term care takes the worry away.

Business (key person)

• Know that all you’ve worked for, will be protected should a key partner pass.

Debt Analysis

• Debt Planning – Are you on a effective path to pay off your debt? Should you accelerate debt payoff? How much to keep in savings vs. paying off debt?
• Mortgage Analysis – Find out if you should invest extra cash flow or pay down your debt.