Why Choose a CFP® Professional?

You deserve a holistic financial roadmap. Only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals are rigorously trained in 72 areas of financial expertise andmust accrue thousands of hours of experience prior to earning their certification. With a CFP® professional, you get a financial planner partner committed to working in your best interest and the confidence that comes with building a comprehensive plan.

The Financial Planning Process
​
To develop a solid financial plan, it’s important to cover all your bases. Here’s how:
​
Examine your current situation
Set financial goals
Measure your progress

From start to finish, I will take you through the financial planning process to help you achieve your financial goals.

SIX STEPS TO HELP YOU CREATE A FINANCIAL PLAN (from CFP.net “Let’s Make a Plan”)

ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH A CFP® PROFESSIONAL. Your financial planner will explain his or her financial planning services and define each of your responsibilities. Along with compensation, you’ll discuss how long the professional relationship will last and how to make decisions.

GATHER YOUR DATA AND DEVELOP YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS. You and your CFP® professional will talk about your current financial situation and gather any necessary documents. Together, you’ll define your personal and financial goals, including timeframes. You may also want to discuss your comfort level when it comes to taking financial risks.

ANALYZE AND EVALUATE YOUR FINANCIAL STATUS. Your CFP® professional will consider all aspects of your situation to determine what you need to do to meet your goals. Depending on what services you’ve asked for, your planner may analyze your assets, liabilities and cash flow, current insurance coverage, investments or tax strategies.

REVIEW YOUR CFP® PROFESSIONAL’S RECOMMENDATIONS. Your CFP® professional will go over his or her financial recommendations, explaining the rationale so you can make informed decisions. At this stage, your planner will also listen to any concerns you may have and revise his or her recommendations if necessary.

SET YOUR COURSE. You and your CFP® professional will need to agree on how the recommendations will be carried out. Your planner may carry out the recommendations or serve as your coach, coordinating the process with you and other professionals, like attorneys or stockbrokers.

BENCHMARK YOUR PROGRESS AGAINST THE FINANCIAL GOALS YOU ESTABLISHED. As you work toward your goals, you and your CFP® professional will need to decide who will monitor your progress to make sure you’re staying on track. If the planner is in charge, he or she will check in from time to time, reviewing your situation and making any necessary adjustments to his or her recommendations.