5 Essential Steps to the Financial Planning Process
There are five basic steps to the financial planning process. Your financial planner will typically want to have an initial meeting to determine the suitability of any engagement. Afterwards, there are generally five steps to the planning process: data gathering, plan preparation, plan presentation, plan implementation, and on-going monitoring.
1. Financial Planning Process: Data gathering.
The data gathering session is one of the most important meetings you will have. This session is typical done in the home, and can takes anywhere from several hours to all day. The planner will want to inspect tax returns, bank statements, account information, retirement plans, insurance policies, trusts, wills, pensions, IRAs, investments, brokerage accounts, and other tangible bits of information.
But there's also subjective information, such as: What are your lifestyle goals? How do you want to distribute your estate? At what age do you want to retire? How much income do you want during retirement? Then there are the assumptions that need to be figured into the whole process. What's going to happen to interest rates? Where is the economy headed? How much inflation will occur? Your planner will want your feelings on these things to see if expectations are realistic.
Lastly, your planner will look at your personal attitudes towards risk, taxes, and the importance of simplicity in your financial affairs. The goal of the data gather is for your planner to have a good understanding of where you are now and where you want to be in the future.
2. Financial Planning Process: Plan preparation.
Preparing your plan typically takes three to four weeks, as the planner does an analysis -- the diagnostic work. The planner knows where you are, and where you want to be. Now they need to figure out the most efficient way to get you there.
Their recommendation may come in the form of a family partnership, family corporation, family trust, etc... The planner will examine the pros and cons of each scenario, and then prepare written recommendations. Some of the recommendations will be major, while others may be simple day to day things. Properly done, all of the pieces will fit together into a strategic and complete financial plan.
3. Financial Planning Process: Plan presentation.
After all of the recommendations have been compiled into writing, the planner will sit down with your to present the plan, review any major areas. That day you'll take the plan home and study it. Read and pick it apart. As you review the plan, jot down any questions that arise.
When you meet with your planner again, you'll review the plan in greater detail. They'll answer any questions that you have and clarify the details. As you review and subsequently agree to each recommendation, the planner will prioritize them into your "Implementation Checklist." This becomes a simple "to do" list for you and the planner.
4. Financial Planning Process: Plan implementation.
The first three steps move quite quickly. In fact, you will probably get through them in about a month.
The next step, step four, generally takes much longer - typically around five or six months. During this period, your planner will discuss topics such as tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and insurance issues. Other experts, such as attorneys, may be brought in to work on specific aspects of your plan.
Ultimately, you may have as many as 25 - 30 different recommendations in your plan. Some will be major, broad, strategic recommendations, likely worth many multiples of the fee the planner charged. The rest of the recommendations will assist in fine-tuning your financial affairs -- crossing the T's, dotting the I's, and ensuring your finances are really in order.
5. Financial Planning Process: On-going monitoring and maintenance.
The final step of the planning process is on-going monitoring and maintenance. Your planner should be retained to assist with periodic updates and on-going advice. Having closely examined your financial situation, the planner is in a unique position to alert you to changing conditions that affect your plan. A couple of time a year, the planner should be consulted on tax planning issues, portfolio review, and other related maintenance topics.
1. Financial Planning Process: Data gathering.
The data gathering session is one of the most important meetings you will have. This session is typical done in the home, and can takes anywhere from several hours to all day. The planner will want to inspect tax returns, bank statements, account information, retirement plans, insurance policies, trusts, wills, pensions, IRAs, investments, brokerage accounts, and other tangible bits of information.
But there's also subjective information, such as: What are your lifestyle goals? How do you want to distribute your estate? At what age do you want to retire? How much income do you want during retirement? Then there are the assumptions that need to be figured into the whole process. What's going to happen to interest rates? Where is the economy headed? How much inflation will occur? Your planner will want your feelings on these things to see if expectations are realistic.
Lastly, your planner will look at your personal attitudes towards risk, taxes, and the importance of simplicity in your financial affairs. The goal of the data gather is for your planner to have a good understanding of where you are now and where you want to be in the future.
2. Financial Planning Process: Plan preparation.
Preparing your plan typically takes three to four weeks, as the planner does an analysis -- the diagnostic work. The planner knows where you are, and where you want to be. Now they need to figure out the most efficient way to get you there.
Their recommendation may come in the form of a family partnership, family corporation, family trust, etc... The planner will examine the pros and cons of each scenario, and then prepare written recommendations. Some of the recommendations will be major, while others may be simple day to day things. Properly done, all of the pieces will fit together into a strategic and complete financial plan.
3. Financial Planning Process: Plan presentation.
After all of the recommendations have been compiled into writing, the planner will sit down with your to present the plan, review any major areas. That day you'll take the plan home and study it. Read and pick it apart. As you review the plan, jot down any questions that arise.
When you meet with your planner again, you'll review the plan in greater detail. They'll answer any questions that you have and clarify the details. As you review and subsequently agree to each recommendation, the planner will prioritize them into your "Implementation Checklist." This becomes a simple "to do" list for you and the planner.
4. Financial Planning Process: Plan implementation.
The first three steps move quite quickly. In fact, you will probably get through them in about a month.
The next step, step four, generally takes much longer - typically around five or six months. During this period, your planner will discuss topics such as tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and insurance issues. Other experts, such as attorneys, may be brought in to work on specific aspects of your plan.
Ultimately, you may have as many as 25 - 30 different recommendations in your plan. Some will be major, broad, strategic recommendations, likely worth many multiples of the fee the planner charged. The rest of the recommendations will assist in fine-tuning your financial affairs -- crossing the T's, dotting the I's, and ensuring your finances are really in order.
5. Financial Planning Process: On-going monitoring and maintenance.
The final step of the planning process is on-going monitoring and maintenance. Your planner should be retained to assist with periodic updates and on-going advice. Having closely examined your financial situation, the planner is in a unique position to alert you to changing conditions that affect your plan. A couple of time a year, the planner should be consulted on tax planning issues, portfolio review, and other related maintenance topics.
About the Author:
Hank Brock is president of Brock and Associates, LLC, a financial and business planning firm. Visit us for more information on the Financial Planning Process and other planning topics.
posted by Credit Counseling at
5:11 AM
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