Bridge The Gap - Our Process
Financial planning is about more than numbers - it’s about helping you create a life that aligns with your values, aspirations and long term goals. Have you ever wondered how having a clear financial plan might help you become the person you aspire to be? To help you find out, we’ve built this process around finding the answer to that question. We call it our Bridge the Gap Process and use it to help you go from where you are today to where you want to be in the future.
1. Initial Conversation
The goal here is to learn a bit about you and share a bit about us. We'll discuss what you’re looking for in a planner and share how we work with our clients. This is a great opportunity for us to see if we are a good fit for one another.
2. Take Stock
Using our "Bridge the Gap" document list we'll collect the necessary information needed to build the foundation for your financial plan. Knowing where you are today is the first step to understanding what is possible tomorrow and prepares us for the next step in the process.
3. Understand & Uncover
Next, we’ll take to learn more about you and your unique vision for the future. Who are your most important people? What does an ideal retirement look like for you? If money wasn’t a concern, what would you want to experience in life? What would it mean for you to feel financially secure? We use interactive exercises and creative brainstorming to help uncover what matters most.
4. Craft Proposal
Armed with the information you’ve provided us with and our firm’s access to a large number of well-vetted financial strategies, industry leading research, and the latest software planning tools, a CFP® Professional will craft a personalized financial plan for you. We’ll present the plan and explore it with you in detail to see if it fits, and where necessary, make changes to meet your needs.
5. Plan Implementation
Building your plan isn’t the last step. We’ll work with you to help you put your plan into action, and we’ll monitor it with you to help ensure your goals stay in focus. We’ll even share information with your CPA or Estate Attorney to make sure everybody is in the loop.
Beginning Our Relationship
Day 1
Signing of new account paperwork and forms needed for transferring your accounts, followed by a series of communications introducing you to our office and Raymond James.
Within 30 Days
Investment Process & Policy Review Meeting: Discuss and set expectations, review our investment process discussed earlier and reaffirm commitment to your investment policy.
Why we do it: Everyone listens differently when receiving new information. This meeting pro-vides an opportunity to follow up, calibrate and reaffirm our commitment to the plan we developed together.
Within 45 Days
Service Commitment Meeting: Walk through services, including online access and cash management tools; set up statement and communications preferences.
Why we do it: Ensure the service we deliver is in line with your expectations and serves your needs as best possible.
Within 90 Days
Wealth Management Plan Meeting: Review your personalized, comprehensive financial plan; reassess and reprioritize your goals if necessary.
Why we do it: Set a schedule for the coming months to make sure all open items are addressed in a timely manner.
Annual Tax Planning
After April 15th, we will reach out to collect your most recent tax return and begin to incorporate that information into your financial plan. We utilize a 12 Step Tax Review Checklist and use it to facilitate discussions around tax planning strategies throughout the remainder of the year.
Regular Progress Meetings and Year-Round Access
Annual Reviews: Annual progress review of investments and actions related to your financial plan.
Year End Planning: Timely planning to evaluate the application of tax strategies.
Additionally, you are able to reach out to us anytime with any financial questions you may have throughout the year - we’re here to help!
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC