Financial Planning Perspectives

Typical Engagement

We take a disciplined approach when working with our clients to help them achieve their goals.  A typical planning engagement may be structured as follows:

• Meet with clients and discuss
  their goals
• Gather detailed information about their current situation and determine a suitable approach for moving forward
• Provide clients with Disclosure Form containing information about the firm, its principal, the underlying philosophy in working with clients, as well as any conflicts of interest and sources of compensation
• Provide clients with a formal Letter of Engagement which details the financial planning services to be provided and the cost of those services
• Complete a thorough analysis of clients' current situation and begin to input data into a financial planning model to address clients' needs
• Construct a planning model to include a base case scenario as well as several alternate case scenarios to stress test the overall plan against various assumptions
• Prepare a detailed financial plan with:
  • An overview of current financial situation as well as a listing of the clients' objectives to be addressed
  • An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in current situation
  • A discussion of the various scenarios using Monte Carlo simulation to determine a probability of success in reaching the goals
  • A detailed discussion of specific recommendations with supporting rationale to help clients achieve their goals
• Meet and present written plan to clients
• Agree on next steps required to proceed
• Provide clients with an Agreement for Investment Advisory Services
• Provide clients with an Investment Policy Statement which will govern the design and development of the overall investment portfolio
• Implement recommendations contained in the plan
• Prepare asset transfer forms and submit forms to new custodian
• Meet with clients at least semi-annually (more frequently at client request) to review plan and monitor results of portfolio
• Provide written report to clients at each semi-annual meeting comparing investment portfolio results vs. benchmarks
• Continually monitor and revise plan as needed when clients' goals and/or financial situation change