Below is our typical consultative process. This process may vary somewhat depending on a client’s location and situation.
Discovery Meeting – No Cost
The Discovery Meeting, which typically lasts approximately 90 minutes, allows us to get to know each other and determine if there is a basis for working together. During this meeting, we ask you a series of questions designed to help us gain a deep understanding of your values, your financial situation and your goals and dreams for the future. During this meeting we gather information on all of your assets, liabilities, insurance coverage, wills and any estate planning documents, and review your tax returns. This allows us to develop a Wealth Management Plan and initiate the Wealth Management process.
Wealth Planning Meeting – No Cost
Using the information we gather at the Discovery Meeting, we will develop a Wealth plan including an investment plan tailored to fit your unique needs, goals, time-frame, and risk tolerance. We believe it is important for you to have a good understanding of the investment strategies we use and why we use them and we strive to educate you with clear, easy-to-understand presentation material.
Using the information we obtained during our Discovery Meeting, we will use our award-winning MoneyGuidePro financial planning software to help you plan for your financial goals. It will demonstrate the effectiveness of your saving and investment strategy and allow us to model and test the impact of various financial events, seeing such impact immediately. This helpful software will show the probability of you achieving your goals based on a variety of assumptions and serves as a useful guide in helping you make financial decisions.
Mutual Commitment Meeting – No Cost
At the Mutual Commitment Meeting, we will answer any questions you have regarding our initial investment recommendations and philosophy. We present our Investment Advisory Agreement and complete the necessary applications and transfer forms with you to initiate the transfer of your investments to our recommended approach.
Regular Progress Meetings – No Cost
Setting a course of action and implementing a strategy is only the beginning. Any plan may fail if it is not monitored regularly. Our process includes regular follow-up meetings to review your current situation, and monitor your progress, and address any questions or concerns you may have. If there have been any changes to your personal or financial life that need to be addressed, we will make changes as necessary. We will also review your financial planning with our MoneyGuidePro software to make sure you are on course for achieving your goals.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that investors are their own worst enemy when it comes to investing. It is difficult to not let our emotions, particularly fear and greed, begin to drive our decisions. It is important, even critical, that a sound investment policy is developed and maintained that will work in both good markets and bad. Such a policy will allow you, the investor, to remain disciplined and stay true to your strategy for a successful investing experience. During our regular progress meetings, we will review your investment strategy and help you avoid making emotional decisions that may cause you to stray off course.