Click on any of the following topics for more information:
Our starting point is you. Our job is to listen and understand you as person and what you wish to accomplish.
Our mission is to provide unbiased financial planning and wealth management that is tailored to your unique circumstances and goals. The goal of a comprehensive financial plan is to guide you to financial success and wealth.
Financial planning is a journey and not just a destination. The trip has to be meaningful. It is not just a one-time assessment. It is a multi-step process involving several or all of the following:
The benefit of setting goals and objectives is that you define where you want to go and what you want to do. Goals provide clarity and focus.
Some goals are simple and clear such as “I want to contribute one-half of my children’s higher education.” Some goals are more complex: “I want to enjoy a comfortable retirement and leave a sizeable estate to my children.” Or it could be that you flunked out of retirement and need a new mental challenge. We all need goals and objectives no matter our stage in life. Goals keep us active, engaged and alive.
Cash flow analysis is based entirely on money coming in and money going out. Please see my article “Too Much Month.” We all wonder where the money goes. The cash flow analysis provides insight into what you need to do in the accumulation stage and also what you can do in the withdrawal stage.
The benefit is that you learn where the money goes and can then make a personal decision as to the value of your expenditures. They could be worth every penny or you can find yourself shaking your head and changing your spending habits.
This simple statement shows all of your assets and liabilities and provides a snapshot of your wealth. The difference between your assets and liabilities is your net worth.
The benefit is that we look at each asset to determine if it can produce current income and how your assets can be repositioned to your greatest advantage. We also look at debt management, how much is too much and when debt can be used to your advantage. You get the most out of what you have!
Using the information from the cash flow analysis and your net
worth, we can project your retirement income based on your current
savings and consumption patterns. We then come up with recommendations
needed for a comfortable retirement.
If you are already retired we can determine how to manage your assets to maintain your independence. In all cases, retirement planning is a balancing act, you do not want to outlive your money but you cannot take it with you. If leaving a legacy is important to you, we can help you design that as well.
The benefit is that you gain an understanding of what you have for retirement and what you can safely enjoy today while finding a balance for tomorrow.
We review your wills, trusts and other estate planning documents to make sure they maximize the estate exemptions allowed under current legislation. We project your net worth to see if additional estate planning is required. We will work with your attorney, or recommend one, to implement any changes or to prepare new documents.
The benefit is that you get to decide how your assets will be distributed while protecting your heirs from unnecessary expenses.
We will review you current situation and determine if there are ways to reduce you Federal and state tax obligations. There are many deductions available to the self-employed that are often overlooked.
The benefit is that you get to legally keep more of your money.
We will review and identify any weaknesses in the protection of you and your family. This includes personal and business liability, disability, life, long-term care and in some cases, the ownership structure of your assets.
The benefit is a higher level of protection of the work you put into accumulating your wealth.
Based on your goals and risk tolerance, we will work together to put develop an Investment Policy Statement and recommend an investment portfolio specific to your needs. The Investment Policy Statement provides guidance as to the types of investments, asset allocation ranges and rebalancing necessary to meet your goals. For those who are retired, we develop a withdrawal strategy that allows you to enjoy the wealth you have accumulated.
We use both passive (index funds) and active managers in our investment advisory services. For active management, we focus on Socially Responsible Investing that is tailored to your goals and values. We believe that you can earn competitive returns while investing in a manner that creates a better future for our children and our grandchildren.
The benefit is that you have access to low cost funds and are less apt to act upon emotion.
How you help pay for college will have a significant effect upon how and when you will be able to retire. Most people don’t pay sticker price for an automobile but will pay the sticker price for higher education. Many top ranked colleges will offer tuition discounts if your child falls within the top 25% of their applicants. We can help you understand the process.
Remember, children can borrow for college; however, you cannot readily borrow for retirement. You can benefit by understanding the process and by starting early. Do you know the amount the college regards as the family contribution?
An excellent source of information is Octameron Associates.
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is based on how we invest can bring about positive change. Socially Responsible Investing is now well beyond just excluding companies based on their products. There is increasing concern across the political landscape on issues such as climate change, ethics in business and executive compensation. Longer term concerns include a company's track record on a variety of social issues such as maintaining and encouraging a diverse workforce, a record of civic commitment, their environmental footprint, the business’s ability to operate using sustainable resources and ethical business practices.
As a Fee-Only NAPFA-Registered Advisor we strive to provide low-cost portfolios based on sound investment theory. For SRI investors we recommend the consolidation of assets within a low-cost brokerage firm where you have access to multiple fund families. We utilize no-load Socially Responsible mutual funds to diversify your portfolio, keep costs low and adhere to your values.
For additional information on Socially Responsible investing please visit The Social Investment Forum. While Socially Responsible Investing incurs additional expenses versus non-socially screened index funds, we regard the returns as still being competitive.
To learn more about Socially Responsible Investing and the ability to earn competitive returns we recommend the book "Compelling Returns, A Practical Guide to Socially Responsible Investing" by Scott J. Buddle, CFA
LeBlanc Financial Associates, LLC •
info@LeBlancFinancial.net
• 520-393-3248
|
