Comprehensive Financial Planning
As your life changes, your personal financial plan has to be flexible enough to evolve with it.
We Plan for Your Life, While it Happens
Throughout life you may start a new job, have kids or grandkids, launch a business, buy a house, get married, or receive an inheritance. You may sell your business, move to Oregon to garden, get audited by the IRS, consider retiring or going part-time, sell your rental property, get divorced, or maybe even have a year or two when very little changes. Almost all life events bring new financial risks and opportunities, so you need a financial plan that evolves.
Our financial planning process explores six core areas, prioritizing your most important questions and concerns first.
Your goals are the central focus of your Abacus financial plan. Goals can include a state of being (e.g. “the security that I’ll never run out of money”) or a material object (e.g. an electric car).
Your financial advisor will get to know you deeply and learn what matters most to you and your family. When your goals inevitably change, your advisor will help to make your new dream a reality.
Money is the fuel that allows you to achieve your goals. Whether we’re talking about income, property, spending, borrowing, giving, or investing, we believe we can make any financial plan work. For some, this means focusing on improving the investment portfolio; for others, it means trimming spending. Either way, we make money simple by setting up automatic savings programs, spending plans, time-tested investment strategies, and tax-smart charitable giving.
Common questions about money include:
- Do I have enough to retire?
- How much do I need to save?
- What’s the best investment portfolio for my situation?
- When should I exercise my stock options?
- Should I rent or buy my home?
- Can I rely on Social Security?
- Should I pay down my debt or invest?
We’ve all heard stories about the family that earned well, didn’t spend much, but still suffered an unexpected financial calamity. We make sure you’re protected from life’s most common risks.
Because we don’t sell products or earn commissions, our recommendations for life, disability, and other types of insurance will be sized according to your needs, not your broker’s lifestyle.
Many people pay more taxes than they need to. You may be able to pay less tax by setting up a different kind of retirement plan, refinancing your mortgage, setting-up a charitable fund, adjusting your investment portfolio, or carefully selling/giving away a highly appreciated asset.
We’ll work with your CPA (or find you one, if needed) to minimize your taxes and ensure your tax preparation is as organized, effective, and simple as possible.
You probably don’t like thinking about it, but your death will create major financial changes in the lives of those left behind. If well-planned out, those changes can be positive; if not, they can be disastrous.
We’ll work with your estate planning attorney to create a plan built around your values and goals, one that not only minimizes taxes, but is convenient and comforting for your family in their time of need.
If you wish, we can also help you define your legacy, then record it and your final wishes for your heirs. This may include a family foundation, your funeral wishes, or a video to pass on to future generations.
Your spending, giving, and investment decisions have a significant impact on your community and the world. This impact may be misaligned with your values. If you are intentional with your giving and investing, you can create alignment with your values and measure the positive environmental and social impact you desire.
Your goals are unique and are the central focus of your Abacus financial plan. Goals can include a state of being (e.g. “the security that I’ll never run out of money”) or a material object (e.g. an electric car).
Your financial advisor will get to know you deeply and learn what matters most to you and your family. When your goals inevitably change, your advisor will help to make your new dream a reality.
Money is the fuel that allows you to achieve your goals. Whether we’re talking about income, property, spending, borrowing, giving, or investing, we believe we can make any financial plan work. For some, this means focusing on improving the investment portfolio; for others, it means trimming spending. Either way, we make money simple by setting up automatic savings programs, spending plans, time-tested investment strategies, and tax-smart charitable giving.
Common questions about money include:
- Do I have enough to retire?
- How much do I need to save?
- What’s the best investment portfolio for my situation?
- When should I exercise my stock options?
- Should I rent or buy my home?
- Can I rely on Social Security?
- Should I pay down my debt or invest?
We’ve all heard stories about the family that earned well, didn’t spend much, but still suffered an unexpected financial calamity. Safety is where we make sure you’re protected from life’s most common risks.
Because we don’t sell products or earn commissions, our recommendations for life, disability, and other types of insurance will be sized according to your needs, not your broker’s lifestyle.
Many people pay more taxes than they need to. You may be able to pay less tax by setting up a different kind of retirement plan, refinancing your mortgage, setting-up a charitable fund, adjusting your investment portfolio, or carefully selling/giving away a highly appreciated asset.
We’ll work with your CPA (or find you one, if needed) to minimize your taxes and ensure your tax preparation is as organized, effective, and simple as possible.
You probably don’t like thinking about it, but your death will create major financial changes in the lives of those left behind. If well-planned out, those changes can be positive; if not, they can be disastrous.
We’ll work with your estate planning attorney to create a plan built around your values and goals, one that not only minimizes taxes, but is convenient and comforting for your family in their time of need.
If you wish, we can also help you define your legacy, then record it and your final wishes for your heirs. This may include a family foundation, your funeral wishes, or a video to pass on to future generations.
Your spending, giving, and investment decisions have significant impact on your community and the world. This impact may be misaligned with your values. If you are intentional with your giving and investing, you can create alignment with your values and measure the positive environmental and social impact you desire.
Building a Road Map Together
Once we understand your goals and values (always the first step), we develop your personalized road map. We always strive to take manageable steps to improve your financial life. If we go too fast, you may burn out and stop improving. If we go too slow, you may miss important opportunities to save money, protect yourself from life’s biggest risks, or achieve your goals. We’ll help you make sure the most critical tasks are prioritized quickly, while carefully scheduling secondary tasks in the future so they’re not forgotten.
We’ll then meet two to four times a year by phone, video, or in person (frequency and location are up to you) to ensure all critical actions are being taken by you or us. Your financial advisor will be a non-judgmental listener, a wealth of actionable advice, your personal database of financial knowledge, and sometimes your biggest cheerleader.
