FINANCIAL PLANNING

Financial planning is a life-long process that assists you and your family in taking control of your financial future

Income & Tax Planning

Estate Planning

Retirement Planning

Liability Management

Risk Management

Education Planning

Financial

Planning

By setting financial goals, developing and implementing financial strategies, and monitoring progress on a regular basis, the likelihood of achieving your results is greatly increased.

 

By developing a financial plan, you and your family:

 

Will have a better understanding of your current financial situation.

Determine attainable retirement, education, insurance, and other financial goals.

Review goals, funding strategies, and alternatives where goals have to be compromised.

Have the necessary financial resources set aside to fund your goals as they occur.

Reduce the effect of unexpected events, such as disability, premature death, etc.

 

We seek to help our clients achieve and maintain their financial and life goals through a holistic, all encompassing

financial planning process. We traditionally start the relationship with our clients by building a comprehensive

financial plan. The planning process enables us to develop a deeper sense of our client’s lifetime goals. Recognizing

that every client’s situation is unique, we customize each plan to meet specific circumstances, while addressing the

full financial issues clients and beneficiaries are likely to face.

"Put not your trust in money,

but your money in trust"

 

Oliver Wendell Homes

INCOME & TAX PLANNING

A key factor in achieving your long-term financial goals is to successfully manage your cash flow and minimize your tax burden

We provide our clients with an integrated suite of products to manage their day-to-day cash management needs.

Also, tax considerations affect virtually every financial decision you and your family make. We assist you in designing and implementing tax-sensitive strategies to minimize your overall tax burden, align your income tax strategy with your personal estate and philanthropic plans and provide alternative structures to deliver tax advantages.

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What strategies should I implement to reduce my tax liability?

What investment vehicles can I use for tax-deferred growth?

Is the interest on my mortgage loan tax deductible?

LIABILITY MANAGEMENT

We assist our clients in developing credit strategies that seek to strike a balance between cash needs and long term investments

You may have different financing needs over time depending were you are in your life cycle. For example, you might want to move to a bigger house or purchase a second home. You may need capital to start a new business or finance a short term goal.

 

Using debt to your advantage can help you achieve certain financial goals sooner than by using your cash. It’s important though to differentiate between good and bad debt. Good debt can be helpful in increasing your net worth (i.e. mortgage, business loan). Bad debt is often linked to things that you don’t need (i.e. high rate credit cards).

 

Through our strategic alliances, we can provide our clients with a variety of financing solutions that include personal loans, mortgages, home equity loans, securities based  and margin lending and business loans.

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Should I pay off my credit cards?

Should I refinance my existing mortgage?

Is an equity loan more advantageous than a personal loan?

"Successful investing is anticipating

the anticipation of others "

 

John Maynard Keynes

RISK MANAGEMENT

Protecting your wealth and family

against unforeseen events is of utmost importance

The loss of your home, an unexpected illness of a family member, a loss of a loved one or a frivolous lawsuit can have a dramatic effect on your family’s long term well being.

 

A well structured risk management plan can provide:

 

    • Peace of mind in the midst of unexpected events

    • Security for your loves one in the event of death, disability or need for long-term care

    • Proper protection for your assets, income and business

 

We place a high priority in designing and executing a comprehensive risk management plan. A plan usually includes:

 

    • An assessment of your existing insurance strategies and policies

    • Evaluation of your life insurance needs

    • Property and casualty analysis for home, cars and valuables.

    • Medical coverage for the family

    • Other needs (disability, long term care)

    • Asset protection strategies (asset protection trusts, family partnerships, LLCs)

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How do I protect my

assets?

How much life insurance I need to provide for my family?

Do I have enough coverage if I become incapacitated?

What would it happen if all my legal records are lost?

EDUCATION PLANNING

Protecting your wealth and family

against unforeseen events is of utmost importance

With all the demands and decisions that parents face, one important aspect is often unintentionally overlooked – planning for college expenses.

 

A college education builds an essential foundation for your child’s success.  With college cost rising much faster than inflation in recent decades, a solid financial plan for education expense is a crucial resource for parents.

 

It is important to take college planning just as serious as you do retirement planning.  In fact, it is never too early to begin saving for these significant events.

We will work with you to design a plan tailored to your family‘s educational funding needs. Our recommendations take into consideration your future financial aspirations, timeline, cost projections and tax implications.  We will provide you expert guidance on a variety of educational plans available.

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How can I prepare for my child's education expense?

What investment vehicles are available to fund education expense?

How much does a private school cost per year?

How could saving for education affect financial aid?

"Wisdom is the power to put our time

and knowledge to proper use "

 

Thomas J. Watson

RETIREMENT PLANNING

We design strategies to suit your goals and life style needs while you are saving for, transitioning to and living in retirement

Retirement is much more complex that it has been in the past. We're living longer-meaning we have more retirement years for which to save and invest. Social Security is less certain than in the past. Even if you decide to work beyond normal retirement age, a bad economy or health issue could force you from your job. And corporate retirement plans are changing in ways that leave us more responsible for saving and investing for retirement. In addition, retirement planning doesn’t end once you retire. It’s an ongoing process.

 

The cost of your retirement will depend on several factors:

 

    • Your anticipated cost of living

    • Your current retirement assets

    • Your current retirement savings and investment programs and

    • Expected rates of inflation

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How much do I need to save to reach my retirement goals?

Will I have enough to live the retirement life that I want?

Which type of retirement plan should I fund?

Do I have the right asset mix in my investments to provide a comfortable income statement?

Should I contribute the maximum in my retirement plan at work?

ESTATE PLANNING

Developing an effective estate plan is one of the most important things you can do for your family and beneficiaries

An estate plan allows you to decide how your assets are distributed, both during your lifetime and at your death.

Your estate plan should be structured to achieve your personal objectives and maximize wealth passed on to heirs

and charities, while minimizing taxes and other expenses.

 

Estate planning often involves complex planning issues that required specialized expertise. Through our alliances

with tax and estate planning attorneys, we have assembled specialists that can address your specific situation.

We can also collaborate with your tax, legal and other advisors in developing your plan.

ESTATE PLANNING CHECKLIST

Do you have an attorney that specializes in estate planning?

Who do you want to take care minor children if you die prematurely?

How are your major assets titled?

Do you have the needed estate planning documents established and are they structured properly to minimize taxes and expenses?

Do your assets automatically transfer to the survivor upon your death or do they pass through your will?

Do you have appropriate beneficiary designations on your life insurance policies and retirement plans?

Are you willing to transfer your assets during your lifetime as well as at death?

Who should receive your assets: children, grandchildren, friends, or charity?

What are the needs of your survivors?

Income & Tax Planning

Liability Management

Risk Management

Education Planning

Retirement Planning

Estate Planning

FINANCIAL PLANNING