Our advisory process

Principles in Financial Planning

Consider saving money in three different time horizons

1. Short (12 months or less and emergencies, using cash)
2. Medium (1-to-20-year expenses – house, trips, cars)
3. Long-term buckets (for post-age 60 in a 401(k), Roth IRA, 403b)

Automate your savings monthly

We recommend you do this with every check, as soon as possible as compounding time and money is powerful. Adding 10 years to your accumulation time can significantly increase your values.

Don’t spend more money than you earn

Lack of spending control is probably the biggest problem we see toward financial independence. Be clear about a want and a need.

In using debt, use it wisely

Such as for education, a house or short-term goals that need to be paid for now versus later but can be serviced quickly. Your credit score matters. Take care of it.

When investing in stocks and bonds, be balanced

Don’t “time” your investing based on your outlook and sentiment for the future. Missing the best 20 days over 20 years in stocks reduces your returns substantially from 9% to 5.5% annually.^[1] TThe worst-case scenario almost never happens. Since 1928, US stocks have been positive 76% of the time annually. This is nothing like gambling.

Get and hire a positive, enthusiastic financial coach who will hold you accountable to your goals

Just like a workout, you probably won’t be objective and honest on your own.

Your financial future is in your hands

You must own it 100%.

Don’t get divorced, and don’t be unforgiving

Unreconciled issues are hard to recover from emotionally, spiritually and financially.

Take care of your health

Healthcare costs are going up much faster than inflation. Bad health has many ramifications.

^[1] Source: JP Morgan Asset Management, 2024

Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation.