Planning Process
In working with clients, we believe there are four pillars of a sound financial plan. These pillars will overlap at various points; therefore, addressing one aspect of your financial plan can have a bearing, and sometimes a significant impact, on another pillar.
Click here to watch a video on our Planning Process.
| Asset Management |
||
|
Risk |
|
|
| Tax Management Strategies |
Asset Management
The key to any asset management plan is to align your goals with an asset allocation strategy that takes into consideration your risk tolerance and your investment time frame. For example, if you are looking to purchase a home, you will need a fund that is highly liquid to be able to remove the funds when needed, but will also remain at a fairly safe, constant value. On the other hand, individuals who are looking to save for college or retirement need to take into consideration their tolerance for investment and market risk and the timeframe that their funds will have to be able to accumulate. As part of the Asset Management process we help you answer the following questions:
- How can you grow your assets?
- Which strategies should you utilize?
- What is your risk tolerance and investment time horizon?
Risk Management
In the Risk Management pillar, we help our clients analyze how to help protect their families, their business, as well as their retirement, or other investment assets. Many families do not have the proper amount of insurance or for that matter an up-to-date estate plan. We believe it is not because they do not care, but instead, for the reason that they do not think they will get hurt, sick or pass away tomorrow. This can leave assets at risk, and potentially the future goals for your family or your business. This pillar focuses on:
- If you were to become sick or hurt or pass away prematurely, would your asset management goals for your family or business still be able to be accomplished?
- Which risks do you absorb with your own funds?
- Which risks do you transfer to someone else (by purchasing insurance such as Long Term Care, Life or Disability Income Insurance)?
Estate Management Strategies
As part of your Estate Management process, you want to make sure that your estate planning documents, your assets, and your insurance plans are aligned appropriately. It is extremely important for families or businesses to have certain documents in place to help ensure their affairs are taken care of.
Consider the following example:
You have an old life insurance policy with your ex-spouse as the beneficiary. You have remarried and have children with your current spouse. You have also established an updated will as part of your estate plan that names your new family as your beneficiaries. In the event of your passing, which would take precedent on determining who would receive the proceeds from your life insurance policy? Is it your life insurance beneficiary designation or your estate planning documents? It is actually your life insurance policy. This is a great example of the importance of linking your overall plan together with your key financial documents.
This Estate Management pillar serves to help you answer the following questions:
- If you were to be incapacitated tomorrow, who would take care of your affairs?
- Who would be the guardian for your children?
- Will there be taxes owed at yours or your spouse's death?
Tax Management Strategies*
Your REAL rate of return on your investments is calculated by taking the rate of return, then reducing by taxes paid and the effects of inflation. The ways to get a higher real rate of return is to either design a strategy to help attain a higher investment return or to take advantage of tax benefits. And remember, you cannot manipulate inflation. The Tax Management pillar serves to help you analyze the following scenarios:
- What is the real rate of return on your investment portfolio?
- Do you have all your investments taxed the same way?
- What impact would tax rates going up have on your retirement income?
- To what level are you concerned with getting all the tax benefits that you are legally entitled to and that are suitable for your situation?
Our financial analysis and recommendations are not intended to replace the need for independent tax, accounting or legal review. Individuals are advised to seek the counsel of such licensed professionals. Centinel Financial Group, LLC, RAA, nor any of its affiliated companies provide specific tax or legal advice.