HOW A FINANCIAL PLANNER CAN HELP YOU...
and How to Choose the Right One

Like most people, you have hopes, dreams and life goals for yourself and your family.  These might include buying a home or business, saving for college education for your children, taking a dream vacation, reducing taxes and retiring comfortably.  Financial planning is the process of wisely managing your finances so that you can achieve your dreams and goals—while at the same time helping you negotiate the financial barriers that inevitably arise in every stage of life.

Financial planning can help you:

• Set realistic financial and personal goals
• Assess your current financial health by examining your assets, liabilities, income, insurance, taxes, investments and estate plan
• Develop a realistic, comprehensive plan to meet your financial goals by addressing financial weaknesses and building on financial strengths
• Put your plan into action and monitor its progress
• Stay on track to meet changing goals, changing personal circumstances, changing stages of your life, changing products, markets, and tax laws

Do you need the services of a financial planner?
How do you know if you could benefit from the services of a financial planner? You may not have the expertise, the time or the desire to actively plan and manage certain financial aspects of your life. You may want help getting started. You may benefit from an objective, third-party perspective on what are often emotional, difficult decisions. And in today’s hectic world, it can be beneficial just to have a financial planning expert help to make sure you stay focused and follow through with your financial plans.

Events that might prompt you to seek the services of a planner
Often a specific event or need will trigger the desire for professional financial planning guidance. These might include:

• Making sure your money will last during retirement of rolling over a retirement plan
• Handling the inheritance of a large sum of money or other unexpected financial windfall
• Preparing for a marriage or divorce
• Planning for the birth or adoption of a child
• Facing a financial crisis such as a serious illness, layoff or natural disaster
• Caring for aging parents or a disabled child
• Coping financially with the death of a spouse or close family member
• Funding education
• Buying, selling or passing on a family business

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