Life Planning Info

Your future through a financial lens.
 
What is Financial Life Planning?
Financial life planning is a holistic approach to financial planning that leads with the client first and the money second.  It may sound obvious that a financial planner should first understand a client's fundamental goals and values before talking about their investments or retirement plans.  But the fact is most people have dreams for their lives that may be closely guarded, and beliefs about money and their own talents that are unexamined.  Those beliefs often frustrate and sabotage the most well-intentioned traditional financial planning process.   Utilizing a world renowned process developed by George Kinder of the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, we believe that placing the client's goals and deepest wishes at the core of the financial plan is the most effective route to success in the financial plan. 
 
How is a life plan is different than a traditional financial plan?
Traditional financial planners are generally more comfortable talking about rates of return, estate planning and the like, and have little exposure to the human side of money.  Life planners receive advanced training in how to open up a person’s deeper aspirations, so a financial plan is intimately connected to the life a client most desires.  We consider the life plan as a financial plan 'done right'.  Through the life planning process, you receive everything that you would in a traditional financial plan and more.  Using a mix of professional and relationship skills, we resolve the obstacles to those goals, create a plan, and guide the client to the accomplishment of their goals in the fastest way possible.
 
Why should I opt for a financial life plan as opposed to a traditional plan?
Unfortunately, a large percentage traditional financial plan recommendations end up on a 'to-do' list that, despite clients' best intentions, are never implemented.  Through the life planning process, the planner and client create a comprehensive, meaningful road-map that the client is committed to on a deep level.  The rate of success and follow-through is much higher for our life planning clients.
 
How is your training different than a traditional financial planner? 
A life planner has all the training of a traditional financial planner and more.  For example, in our firm, Eli Newsom has passed the esteemed CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) Examination, and is also a graduate of the advanced Life Planning Training course through the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, the leading organization for financial life planning training in the world.  Not only are we trained in sound financial planning principles, we are trained in the artistic/human side of financial planning, as well.    
 
What is your philosophy in regards to financial planning as a career?
We consider our careers as financial life planners to be one of the most rewarding professions.   Not only do we get to assist clients tap into deeply important goals, we guide them through a process of attainable steps towards achieving those goals.  Through the planning process we are able to create a much deeper bond with our clients than we usually find in the financial planning world, which leads to a much more positive experience for both us and the client.
 

 
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Portions of the descriptions above were developed by George Kinder and the Kinder Institute of Life Planning.  It is part of a program of trainings that lead to the Registered Life Planner® designation.  User by permission of George Kinder © 2009.

 

 
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