PROCESS
Discovery Meeting
The discovery meeting is offered in order for us to mutually determine whether there is a good fit between your needs and my expertise and services. It is designed to help me understand your values, objectives, key relationships, financial situation, and service preferences. I will share a bit about myself and processes, as well. While I am happy to share, I won’t drone on and on about my experience and expertise. Chances are you have come across me by the introduction from a trusted friend. I can’t compete with that! After our meeting, I will follow up to share my thoughts and, if determined, propose a framework for our engagement moving forward.
Initial Planning
After we have determined the scope of our initial engagement and the services included, we will begin our initial planning. In order for us to comprehensively cover all the areas necessary, most of our initial engagements last 6 to 18 months. During this timeframe, we will address your most important financial objectives while also pointing out opportunities or concerns you may have missed. On average, we will meet once each quarter to progressively cover all areas of the planning process while helping you implement any action steps we develop along the way. You should have greater comfort and clarity regarding your financial situation at the end of this initial engagement.
OnGoing Planning
My favorite quote regarding ongoing planning is attributed to “philosopher,” Mike Tyson. In conversations prior to Tyson’s fight with Michael Spinks, people noted that Spinks had a plan for how to fight Tyson. Tyson responded, “Everybody has a plan until they get hit!” This quote has applications far beyond the boxing ring. In the context of financial planning, we know that life and financial markets deliver outcomes we don’t expect. Whether opportunities or challenges, my goal for ongoing planning is to help you make adjustments to your strategy. Depending on the situation, this may mean making small, mid-course adjustments or reassessing your entire plan. This may sound disheartening and you may be thinking, “Isn’t my financial advisor supposed to prevent us from having to make adjustments?” There are certainly strategies I can use to minimize the likelihood of having to make changes. However, to be clear: I will never claim that I can systematically predict the future. I have no “crystal ball” and am highly suspicious of those who claim certainty regarding the future. I believe it is wise to recognize there is uncertainty in this world and therefore prudent to make flexible plans. We normally meet once or twice a year when providing ongoing financial planning.