Are you aware of the difference between a Financial Plan and an Investment Plan?  They sound very similar, but are very different.

WHAT IS A FINANCIAL PLAN?

A financial plan is the full length feature film of your financial life. It starts with a picture of your current financial situation, a list of your goals and a script seeking to help you get from the present to the financial future you desire. A  financial plan can address your current savings, your budgeting, your insurance, investments, taxes, estate planning and retirement picture.

When drafting  a financial plan, you may need to consider how much money you can need in the future: vacations, future purchases, and basically anything else that will impact your financial life.  We need to make sure that your current income and expenses will keep you on track to managing your goals.

A comprehensive financial plan could include some or all of the following:

• Summary of your assets and debt
• Budget based on income and expenses
• Evaluation of your insurance coverage and needs
• An Investment plan aiming to grow the money you put aside
• Estate planning
• The impact of income taxes and changes in the law.

An effective financial plan is not a one time review but a living breathing document that changes as life changes.  It needs to be edited and reflect any changes that will affect your financial future to keep you on track to managing your goals.

Financial planning is a dynamic process. Your financial goals may evolve over the years due to shifts in your lifestyle or circumstances such as an inheritance, career change, marriage, house purchase or building a family.

WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT PLAN?

An investment plan is part of a financial plan.   It shows how you may invest to help you manage your long and short term goals. Some goals are retirement or buying a house.

Investment plans take into account your risk tolerance, the need for diversification and asset allocation, and the mixture of different investments.  Investment plans are  designed to help you decide how much you need to invest in stocks, bonds, cash and real estate in an effort to get better returns. We  also help you choose amongst all of the flexible investments available, including those inside a company sponsored retirement plan.

A  Flexible investment plan provides you with a long and short term strategy to follow, even when you see your investments fluctuate during  times of market volatility.

When working with us, we develop an investment plan that is for you and your needs, and it's important to address the following questions:

• What are your goals?
• When do you need to reach those goals?
• How much do you have to invest or plan to invest as time goes by?
• Do you have concerns about taxes, or assets you already own?
• How much risk are you comfortable with?
• How often do you want to adjust your plan?

When you consider how best to manage your financial future, you should feel confident knowing that you're working with someone committed to providing the highest standard of financial planning.

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