“Finances” doesn’t mean just one thing for most Americans and “Financial Planning” means much more than just investing. Bringing all the pieces of your financial journey together is a challenging task. With many moving parts in each individual’s/family’s financial life, there can be different recommendations a financial professional may give. Implementing sound recommendations can add significant value to your situation, so choosing the right advisor is essential.
The reason to choose a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ is because they have completed extensive training and experience requirements and are held to rigorous ethical standards. They understand the complexities of an ever-changing financial climate and will make recommendations that are in the client’s best interest over their own.
I began my journey to the certification in 2011 and received my marks in December 2016. I started by completing the rigorous CFP® Board certified course curriculum, which includes classes such as Estate Planning, Tax Planning, Risk Management and Investments. After the courses, I completed a two-year mandatory mentorship where I assisted in delivering and implementing financial plans alongside a CFP®. While nearing the end of my two-year mentorship, I began to study for the exam. Getting ready for the exam was like preparing for a triathlon! After I submitted my last answer, I waited in suspense for the longest six weeks of my life; I passed!
After successfully completing my trek to earning my CFP®, I look at financial planning in a new light. In many ways, I feel like a detective. I take many different facts and clues from a client’s quantitative and qualitative financial characteristics. From there, I draw a picture of where the client wants to be long-term and then work backwards, establishing various outcome based goals for the short term, intermediate and long term coupled with recommendations. In turn, the clients have a financial roadmap to implement with our team’s help along the way.
At our firm, creating the initial plan is just the beginning! We know one’s financial situation is ever-changing and fluid. We continue to monitor, update and help with life’s trade-off decisions on an on-going basis.
As the saying goes, “A dollar today, is worth more than a dollar tomorrow.” So make your choice today to work with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™!
