How I Assist People in Effectively Managing Their Finances
Retirement Planning: Comprehensive retirement planning examines a diverse range of very personal lifestyle requirements during retirement. In general, people are living longer in retirement and thus, solutions to questions about desired levels of health care, housing, income, risk tolerance and estate planning are needed in order to allow for peace-of-mind during retirement. Financial independence during retirement rarely happens by luck…it happens as a result of sound, thoughtful planning.
Investment Planning: There is an ever-increasing number of financial products available in the financial marketplace today and with that, an increasing level of uncertainty about “what to do” among those near or at retirement. A sound investment plan will assist in navigating this ever-increasing number of investment vehicles and narrow the choices to those that will be the most effective. The initial step in this process is an analysis of one’s risk tolerance. Once the desired risk profile is established, an investment program is developed taking into account liquidity needs, income needs, inflation concerns and legacy needs. With a portfolio in place, regular reviews are scheduled to accommodate personal objective changes with changes in the economic and political environments.
Estate Planning: Estate planning involves more than just tax planning. Estate planning addresses questions necessitating detailed solutions within an ever changing tax code. Do you wish to leave a financial legacy to family? To charity? Do you need to replace a decedant’s income? Maintain current living standards for surviving family members? Would you prefer to have your assets pass to beneficiaries free of probate court? Free of court and attorney fees? Solutions to these issues are the basis of estate planning. In addition, estate planning can provide for the care of minor children, disabled children and elderly parents. It is also important to be certain there are enough life insurance proceeds, liquid assets, and other sources of income to maintain the family’s current living standard.
Stock Option Exercise Planning: Company Stock Options can be both risky and complex. Careful examination of the various choices available will maximize what you keep and minimize tax liabilities to the government.
Insurance and Risk Transfer Planning: Only death is certain. Everything else in life is a matter of choice. One may choose to self-insure and risk liquidating large amounts personal assets to pay estate taxes owed the government…or one may choose to use a relatively small amount of income to transfer the tax liability to an insurance company to settle tax liabilities. Insurance is an underpinning of financial security for you and your family. It protects your financial resources against the uncertainties of life so you may effectively plan for your family’s (or your business’) future. It is also important to periodically reassess your insurance coverage as over time, your insurance needs are likely to change. Competition between insurance companies in recent years has led to lower premiums with coverage better suited to your present situation.
Portfolio Review: A comprehensive review of your risk tolerance, your portfolio, your asset allocation plan and your financial goals and objectives is at the core of a comprehensive financial plan. My function as a financial planner is to provide an objective view of your current portfolio and point out areas that may benefit from repositioning. The portfolio review may raise important questions concerning: yield enhancement, international diversification, sector allocation, concentrated positions, income allocation & maturities, etc.
Employer Sponsored Plan Review: If the company you own sponsors an employee retirement plan, the owner(s), officers and directors need to understand the responsibilities for managing this employee benefit acting as fiduciaries under ERISA, the federal law that governs the management of retirement plans. Fiduciaries failing to follow ERISA’s fiduciary guidelines are personally responsible for violations of those rules, known as fiduciary breaches. A fiduciary breach risks the personal assets, home, and the business itself. An employer sponsored plan review will assist you in:
· Understanding the fiduciary rules and regulations
· Identifying possible weaknesses concerning the operation of your plan
· Meeting all of your fiduciary obligations