Here’s what to expect when you work with us.
Meeting 1: Introduction
The first step is an introductory meeting, a no-cost, no-obligation conversation where we learn about each other. We discuss your financial planning goals, details of your equity compensation, our process and fees, and the next steps. If you have a partner or spouse, they should also join us. If we agree we’re a good fit, I will send a contract, instructions for sharing documents, and a link to schedule our next meetings.
This meeting generally takes about 30 minutes and can be held via phone or video conference.
Meeting 2: Get Organized
The next step is to understand the details of your financial life. Equity award statements, retirement account statements, Tax Returns, insurance policies, etc. can be uploaded to our secure client portal. Together, we will create an inventory of anything else we need. By the end of the meeting, you'll have a system to keep your financial information organized.
Meeting 3: Explore Possibilities & Set Goals
Now that we're organized and understand your current financial situation, we start planning. Whether you already have goals or need help setting them, we'll use our expertise and financial planning software to explore different possibilities and prioritize realistic goals. By the end of this meeting, we'll have a tangible, working plan that we can interact with in real-time.
Meeting 4: Recommendations & Implementation
In this final onboarding meeting, I present your financial plan and recommendations—specific tactics and action items for each goal. You'll see a comprehensive view of your entire financial plan, opportunities, and obstacles. I'll show you how each recommendation improves our chances of achieving your goals and, if appropriate, provide options. Once the plan is finalized and agreed upon, we'll begin implementing the recommended strategies. This may involve setting up investment accounts, establishing insurance policies, updating estate documents, and making other necessary changes. I'll send a summary and list of to-do’s—some for me, some for you, and some we'll work on together.
Meetings 5 and Beyond: Ongoing Implementation & Monitoring
Financial planning is a journey, not a destination. After the onboarding phase, we transition to regular monitoring and review with our Annual Client Service Calendar. Here's what a typical year looks like:
Quarterly Reviews: Regular quarterly reviews to touch base on the status of your, financial progress, goals, and any life changes. We will discuss actions that need to be taken on your equity compensation.
Annual Planning Meeting: Once a year, we conduct a comprehensive planning meeting to revisit your financial goals, evaluate your overall health, and optimize your plan for the year ahead.
Proactive Tax Planning: We schedule meetings to discuss tax-saving strategies and ensure you're maximizing opportunities to minimize tax liabilities.
Investment Reviews: Periodic meetings to assess your portfolio's performance, rebalance asset allocation, and make informed decisions.
Estate Planning Updates: Meetings to review your estate documents and ensure your wishes are accurately reflected in your plan.
Insurance Review: Periodic meetings to review your insurance coverage and make necessary adjustments for adequate protection.
Special Life Events: Meetings to address significant life events like marriage, divorce, birth of a child, career changes, or inheritance, allowing us to adapt your financial plan.
The onboarding process typically takes 60-90 days. In the beginning, we'll meet more frequently until we establish a natural rhythm based on your life. Our doors are always open, and we encourage you to call or schedule a meeting at any time to ask questions.