Personal Planning can be complicated. There is a constant conflict between the enjoyment of wealth and the creation of it; between the taxation of wealth and the access to it; between the distribution of wealth and the control of it. It is important that decisions made for one aspect do not preclude another. Flexibility and the ability to change direction when we alter our goals and objectives is the balance we must maintain between these choices. Realizing that financial decisions are interdependent is the start of the Strategic Master Plan we tailor for each specific client. As in Business Planning, there is no "one size fits all" answer for everyone.

Tax Preparation and Strategic Planning

We offer a complete range of tax preparation services for our clients. This allows us to bring a unique perspective to the total planning process. It also allows us to verify and modify on a timely basis, many tax strategies that might be incorporated into your plan. Additionally, many client's use "tax preparation time" to coincide with an annual strategic review and evaluation of their current financial decisions - an efficiency in and of itself."

Estate Planning

Wealth creation, conservation, and distribution are ongoing and interdependent stages of your personal financial life. We believe your plan should be dynamic and flexible enough to be changed as often as warranted because of business or tax law changes without losing control in the process. A successful strategy in this area is one that allows you to control and fully enjoy the fruits of your labor first, while living, with the knowledge that your ultimate wishes and desires will be carried out with a minimum of stress or shrinkage.

Retirement Planning

Having the ability to retire comfortably and free from financial pressures remains the main issue for our clients - be they a business owner or an employee. At the time of retirement, it is important that the plan be properly assigned, implemented, communicated and administered. Resource flexibility is a must for an enjoyable retirement. This can be accomplished to some degree at anytime in life. It could also be coordinated and integrated into all of the financial decisions made during a lifetime. But the implementation of retirement plan strategies is easiest when not started the day you retire. It could even start when you first begin saving. That is how we view retirement planning. We can do it now, we can do it later; now is easier.

College Funding

College funding is not a decision that stands by itself whether you are a parent, grandparent or the student. It needs to be strategically coordinated and integrated with all areas of the financial decision making process. Why? Because whether the funding time frame is short or long, the strategies applied here affect all future available resources. We can help you evaluate different funding options and their relationship to your current situation and all of your future goals.

Will/Trust Analysis

Wills and Trusts are just tools in the larger process of "estate planning." There is an unfortunate, widespread misconception that this topic is a subject of interest only to those wealthy with "hard" assets. It is more than just trying to minimize taxation, reduce probate, and the final distribution of heirlooms. We have our children. We have charitable intentions. We may even have unfulfilled hopes and dreams for our family. Will Rogers once said "Everyone should die without a will just once." We disagree.

Asset Management *

Asset management is just a methodology to maintain or accumulate wealth with a reasonable level of risk. To accomplish this objective, we integrate active portfolio management with a commitment to after-tax strategies across all appropriate asset classes. We work closely with you to design and manage an interdependent strategy that compliments financial decisions in all areas within your specific investment objectives. We feel that the ultimate objective of asset management is both the quality and ability to use wealth, not just the accumulation of wealth in and of itself.

Life Insurance Ownership Management

Insurance is an important part of a complete financial plan. It protects your heirs in the event of premature death. It could protect you in the event of a disability. More importantly, if coordinated and integrated into a complete financial plan, it could benefit the insured as much if not more than the beneficiaries. But no financial decision is independent. The decisions for amount, type of, ownership, and beneficiary designation must fit within the strategic framework of all your financial decisions to enhance what you wish to accomplish over your lifetime. As you build a relationship and share financial and personal information with us, we are in a unique position to provide guidance in all aspects of this area.

Long Term Care

First and foremost, we cannot assume that Uncle Sam, our relatives, or even our spouses will be able to help us with some of the most intimate aspects of our lives during the autumn of our years. Most people assume Long Term Care planning is for those who are not "asset independent" or wealthy. We disagree. We feel the purpose of planning in this area is to first establish the best level of care possible without reduction of lifestyle for any family member. Then, because a level of care has been established that is not dependent on a specific asset or asset level, strategic decisions can be made with existing assets to enhance Charitable Gifting, help family members, or enhance educational opportunities for someone. The options are only limited by your desires.