Client Access

Financial Planning

We design customized comprehensive financial plans that help you set priorities and realize your financial goals. Our financial plans are billed based on the tiers listed below. Our planning tiers are determined using our best estimates using decades of collective planning experience.

After completion of our meeting form, a financial advisor will be able to provide you with a specific quote to complete your financial plan. Your advisor will communicate if additional charges are expected based on your situation.

View Our Fees

Typically, your financial plan will answer questions such as:

  • When can I retire?
  • How much can I spend?
  • How much life insurance do I need?
  • How much and in what accounts should I be saving for my child’s college?
  • What retirement account(s) should I use?
  • When should I claim social security or which pension option should I select?
  • How much should I invest in stocks, bonds and cash?
  • How can I improve my tax situation?
  • Can I afford that new or second home?
  • What debt(s) should I pay off first?
  • Do I need to make changes to my estate situation?
  • What scenarios will impact my retirement date, spending levels, investment returns, etc.?
  • And more questions relevant to your specific situation.

We walk through the following six steps when developing your financial plan:

1. Agree on how we’ll be working together

We start most of our client relationships with a financial plan and may recommend our Wealth Management Service to you based on your personal situation. We will discuss each of our responsibilities and expectations for the service you choose.

3. Analyze and evaluate your financial status

We will analyze your current financial status and the likelihood of achieving your goals. During our analysis, we will look for improvements and efficiencies such as:

  • Use of tax-advantaged accounts
  • Better ways to manage debt
  • Possible tax savings
  • Risk management techniques

4. Develop and present recommendations

This is one of the most powerful steps in the planning process. After we develop preliminary recommendations, we will have a collaborative review session. We start by reviewing our findings, and then make adjustments based on your feedback so that we develop the best strategies for achieving your goals.

Your customized financial plan will provide:

  • Action items
  • Monitoring schedule
  • Targets

5. Put your financial plan into motion

Now that we have determined the best strategies for achieving your goals, you can choose to complete the action items on your own or with our assistance through our Wealth Management Service.

Some areas of your plan that may require action include:

  • Investment strategy
  • Tax strategy
  • Debt repayment priorities
  • Insurance coverage
  • Estate documents
  • Retirement account contributions/distributions

6. Monitor progress and stay on track

As you work toward your goals, it is important to monitor your progress. Your advisor will discuss areas for you to monitor such as:

  • Savings
  • Investment allocations
  • Investment performance
  • Income
  • Expenses
  • Debts

Depending on the complexity of your situation, you can typically expect to receive your financial plan 3-6 weeks after all the information is received.

You might fit in this category if:

  • You started working in the past 10 years
  • You want answers to questions like how much and in what types of accounts to save
  • You are balancing debt payoff and retirement savings
  • You are interested in purchasing a home
  • You need spending strategies and goals
  • You are interested in basic tax savings opportunities
  • You want guidance on basic life insurance coverage needs and estate planning
  • You want to build a foundation for making future financial decisions

What you receive:

An in-depth review of your financial situation with advice tailored to your questions and concerns. We review your situation with you and provide specific financial planning recommendations. After our meeting we provide a detailed report that typically includes: (i) cash flow/net worth projection, (ii) recommended allocation ranges of stocks, bonds and cash (iii) a comparison of different financial planning scenarios (i.e. different retirement ages, spending levels or investment returns), and (iv) any other specific analysis requested. Financial plan is billed based on the time taken to create it.

You might fit in this category if:

  • You have the characteristics of Tier I to a more complex degree
  • You have started accumulated savings in 401(k)s/403bs
  • You want guidance on life insurance coverage needs and estate planning or have existing policies and documents
  • You seek advice on pre-retirement decisions and strategies
  • You want to be more proactive with tax planning
  • You may have received or expect an inheritance or other windfall
  • You are interested in exploring the timing of retirement or financial independence
  • You seek advice on the future timing of social security
  • You are a single individual, pre-retirement with a simple situation that is not Tier III
  • You are starting a family and want guidance with planning for college

What you receive:

An in-depth review of your financial situation with advice tailored to your questions and concerns. We review your situation together and provide specific financial planning recommendations. After our meeting we provide a detailed report that typically includes: (i) cash flow/net worth projection, (ii) recommended allocation of ranges of stocks, bonds and cash. (iii) different financial plan scenarios (i.e. different retirement ages, spending levels or investment returns), and (iv) any other specific analysis requested. Financial plan is billed at actual time to complete.

Characteristics of this Category include:

  • You have the characteristics of Tier II to a more complex degree
  • You are established in your career, approaching retirement or recently retired
  • You seek advice on the timing of retirement
  • You need help with stock options, restricted stock, employee stock purchase plan and/or deferred comp plan
  • You are a small business owner with no employees
  • You seek advice on evaluating pension options
  • You need help with how to pay for college for older children
  • You have existing insurance policies or estate documents
  • You have received an inheritance or other windfall
  • You need advice on whether you can afford a second home
  • You have multiple investment accounts

What you receive:

An in-depth review of your financial situation with advice tailored to your questions and concerns. We review your situation together and provide specific financial planning recommendations. After our meeting we provide a detailed report that typically includes: (i) cash flow/net worth projection, (ii) recommended allocation of ranges of stocks, bonds and cash. (iii) different financial plan scenarios (i.e. different retirement ages, spending levels or investment returns), and (iv) any other specific analysis requested. Financial plan is billed at actual time to complete.

Characteristics of this Category include:

  • You have a highly complex overall financial situation or have complex financial questions
  • You have characteristics of Tier III but to a more complex degree
  • You are primary owner of a business that has employees
  • You have complicated stock options or restricted stock terms
  • You have participated in deferred compensation for several years and have multiple elections
  • You have a significant number of investment accounts
  • You own complicated insurance polices
  • You have a large, complex estate plan

What you receive:

An in-depth review of your financial situation with advice tailored to your questions and concerns. We review your situation together and provide specific financial planning recommendations. After our meeting we provide a detailed report that typically includes: (i) cash flow/net worth projection, (ii) recommended allocation of ranges of stocks, bonds and cash. (iii) different financial plan scenarios (i.e. different retirement ages, spending levels or investment returns), and (iv) any other specific analysis requested. Financial plan is billed at actual time to complete.

Do you know the right questions to ask when you sit down with a financial planner?

Download our 5 Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor eBook

We break down some of the most important questions we’re asked on a regular basis.

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