Almost every financial plan I have reviewed in the last five years has been riddled with mistakes, contradictions and inefficiencies that would add 5 to 10 years to the time my client would have to work OR greatly reduce the lifestyle my client would be able to enjoy. We exist to fix this problem and make getting it right financially easy.
The fact of the matter is that Americans, and American Financial Planners for the most part, do not approach finances with the same process as they approach all other important projects. Let’s look at building a home for example. When one sets out to build a custom home they start with an Architect and most of the conversation is about “Desired Outcome:” “How many stories would you like it to be?” “Will this be a Spanish style home or a Cape Cod….” Over time, the Architect creates an “Artist’s Rendering” of the future home and adjustments are made to the design.
Once the design is just right the client says “Wow, if you can make that come true I want it!” The Architect agrees and then creates very detailed “Blueprints” that tell “Multiple Professions” how to “Work Together” to make the client’s dream come true.
In most cases there is a “General Contractor” who runs the job and keeps all the “Sub-Contractors” accountable to do what the plans call for NOT what they think is best.
Now compare that to how we address the five areas of financial planning which are Mortgage Planning, Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Investment Planning and Tax Planning (MERIT). Who’s your “Financial Architect?” Where are the “Blueprints” that tell all five of these experts how to “Work Together” to create the “Desired Outcome” you want for your life? What Americans do when they need mortgage advice is go to a Loan Officer. When they need tax advice they go to a Tax Preparer or a CPA. When they have some money to invest they go to a Financial or Investment Advisor. Americans settle for letting the “Sub-Contractors” (experts at a certain specialty) do whatever they think is best, without talking to the other experts about the effects it will have on the four other areas of the plan, without having any plans or “Blueprints” in hand before talking with them.
Picture going to see the home you hired someone to build three months ago. When you get to the job you see a mangled structure that’s crooked and leaky. There are no plans telling anyone what they need to do to make your dreams come true, no “General Contractor” to keep everyone accountable to do the right work AND all the “Sub-Contractors” are deaf and mute which prohibits them from talking to each other while they work.
THAT’S YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A FINANCIAL ARCHITECT, A FINANCIAL GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND EXPERT SUBCONTRACTORS IN ALL FIVE AREAS OF “MERIT” WHO WORK TOGETHER.
The truth of the matter is that Financial Planning, like heart surgery, cannot be done properly unless you have: 1) All the people 2) all the tools 3) the patient (you) and 4) the time.
What I will do for you, is:
- Discover your “Desired Outcome” in all five areas of your financial plan (MERIT)
- Design the plans/blueprints to get you there
- Introduce you to our team of experts in all five areas of financial planning
- Hold everyone accountable to making your dreams come true by working together
