Retirement Planning - The Process

A process for Financial Progress and Peace of Mind

The CFA Retirement Planning Process is an approach that evolves over time into a comprehensive retirement plan.  Our approach is to guide you through a process that assists you and your family in understanding and realizing your financial goals.  A goal-oriented approach keeps you focused on the short-term steps required, while keeping the end goal in mind. We work to encompass the key areas of your financial life, simplifying the often complex aspects of wealth accumulations and preservation, over a lifetime. 

 

Complimentary Initial Meetings:  Understanding your Financial Concerns and Goals

At this first complimentary 1-hour meeting, we will sit with you to understand your current situation by reviewing and discussing your financial concerns.  We’ll gain an understanding of the financial results you desire, and educate you on our process.  The purpose of the meeting is to understand you from the “30,000 foot level” so we can make sure we are a good fit for each other. 

 

Step 1: Data Gathering

At the next meeting, we will gather all of your information.  This will result in a comprehensive source of information including your assets, liabilities, goals and objectives.  Also included in this meeting is a risk analysis which will help us to better understand your tolerance for investment risk and other risks to which you may knowingly or unknowingly be exposed.  This document is key in the development of your CFA Retirement Plan. 

Step 2: What is your Net Worth?

In this meeting, we will present our findings about your current status, and what retirement would look like with the current trajectory. 

Items addressed includes:

  • Net Worth Statement
  • Insurance Analysis
  • Monte Carlo Analysis
  • Risk Analysis

The second half of the meeting will be focused on questions, financial goals, investment interests, retirement dreams, etc to determine your short-term needs and long-term goals and dreams.

This is your plan and will reflect those areas that will help you and your family be successful.  Steps Three and Four are customized based on what is needed, the outline below is just an example of topics typically covered.

Step 3: Short-term Needs and Goals

This meeting will address the most urgent needs and goals as the title of the step suggests.  Too often, we get ahead of ourselves by looking beyond those things that can either threaten or inhibit our dreams and goals in later years.  Having a clear picture of the obstacles right in front of us will provide the foundation for future success. 

Some topics may include:

  • Debt reductions
  • Buying a home/mortgage review
  • Paying for education
  • Money Management principles
  • Getting started with investing

 

Step 4: Long-term Goals and Dreams

Long-term goals are the focus here and this is where the plan gets fun!  We will show you how your goals and dreams can be achieved within the constraints of what is possible.  We like to get creative by providing unique solutions to meet your goals.  Because of our independence, we do not limit ourselves to just the common solutions the industry typically provides.  

Topics may include:

  • Investment plan
  • Asset protection
  • Real Estate as an investment
  • Insurance needs
  • Tax optimization
  • Buying a vacation home
  • Reverse mortgages
  • Early retirement

 

Step 5: Regular Review

The power of the program lies in the consistent review of your financial picture, tweaking and changing to suit your needs as life throws you curveballs or gives you greater opportunities.  We believe that a “one and done” planning mentality is not a recipe for success.  We subscribe to the belief that the only constant, is change thus requiring regular adjustments.