VIP Client Planning Process

VIP CLIENT PLANNING PROCESS

Understanding Financial Markets........

The first step of a Qualified Financial Planner is to acquire knowledge that has value to you the client. We must have specialized knowledge to be a truly competent retirement  advisor. As a 1991 graduate of the College for Financial Planning's Certified Financial Planner™ Professional Education  Program, Sam has completed a comprehensive financial planning curriculum through a fully accredited institution and is a Qualified Ffinancial Planner designee (QFP) . As a Chartered Retirement Planning Councelor,  designee, Sam has aquired a specialized knowledge in the field of Retiment Planning We help you determine how to select stocks, allocate assets to different classes, and minimize taxes and costs. A Certified Fund Specialist, designee, Sam has aquired the body of knowledge of professional investment management most commonly referred to as “modern portfolio theory.” Without this critical knowledge, you may simply buy high and sell low.

Clarify Your Goals......

Our focus is to help you design a retirement strategy that matches each investor’s individual hopes, dreams, goals, and fears of the securities markets. Investors must have an effective and consistent process for discovering and clarifying the “soft data” that really drives the investment process. We assist you to develop a strategy to help maintain your sense of confidence in your financial future.

Document Your Current Situation.....

Once we know what you value and where you want to go, you need to document where you are now. We gather the hard data so that it can be entered into one or more software programs to document and analyze your current situation. We also use this information to analyze past performance, plot where the portfolio falls in relation to your risk tolerence, evaluate past taxes and costs, and determine any overlap in the diversification of existing assets. We also analyze potential tax liabilities, investment costs and other costs for further consideration.

Prepare a Written Retirement Plan AS Your Guide.....

A written retirement plan is the primary thing that distinguishes a professional advisor. We use a software program to help you determine the ideal asset allocation for you. The plan should also document your financial goals as well as permitted and prohibited securities or strategies. When markets turn rocky, it is this written plan that empowers you to stay on track toward achieving your long-term goals. You should expect the markets to be volatile and factor these ups and downs into your investment strategy. We show you what to do to help reduce risk. We will also review your plan periodically to see if there has been a change in your personal situation that may make you want to deviate from your plan. Without a written plan, you run the risk of letting your emotions drive your investment decisions.

Determine Appropriate Forms of Ownership.......

You need to ensure you are holding title to your various assets in the most advantageous manner possible. You may need to set up a living trust, an irrevocable life insurance trust, or make sure you have the correct ownership structure for your business entities or privately held investments. This non-investment area can be critical in minimizing taxes, liabilities, and risks from non-investment-related activities. 

Select Appropriate Asset Classes.....

As advisors, we spend a significant amount of time evaluating different managed assets, styles and asset classes. Once you have We help you select the specific investments and asset classes appropriate for you and your level of risk with a eye toward your need for income. We guide you through this process. Today you can select from a wide universe of individual securities, mutual funds, wrap accounts, separately managed accounts, and other alternative investments. We help keep your focus small so that it is managable and easy for you.

Position Assets......

Once you have selected the investment managers, and chosen specific asset classes or securities, its time to actually implement the plan and position your assets. During this process we help you keep an eye on your tax issues and strive to minimize taxes and other costs.

Monitor For Performance......

We help you understand and monitor the relative performance of your investments. You can expect frequent contact from us as well a reviews on a regular basis. As little or as frequent as you like.

Rebalance As Needed.....

Because you will have specific written income goals, you can make informed decisions about when to make changes and what changes to make. Usually you should not need to rebalance your portfolio unless there is a significant deviation from your desired asset allocations. Periodically you need to re-evaluate each portfolio and determine if it makes sense, on an after-tax basis, to rebalance, or to make no changes. Often the best decision is not to do anything. Our ongoing assistance here is most valuable.

Educate Our Clients.....

We can’t educate you to become a professional retirement advisor. This would be like your doctor teaching you to perform surgery on yourself. But you should have a basic understanding about how the process works. Your investment management process can be changed from time to time, but what’s important is that you have a systematic, definable way of managing money during retirement and that you stick with it.

Investing may involve risk including loss of principal. Investment returns, particularly over shorter time periods are highly dependent on trends in the various investment markets. The investor may receive less than the original invested amount and is advised to consider their investment objective and risks tolerance before investing.Investors need to remember that even rebalancing, allocation and diversification will not guarantee them a profit or protect them from a loss in a declining market. The Securities America companies and their representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for tax and legal advice specific to your situation.