Financial Planning

At its core, financial planning seeks to answer the question, how am I doing?

There are six steps to the Financial Planning Process:

1. Establishing and Defining the client-planner relationship

2. Gathering client data including goals

3. Analyzing and evaluating the client's current financial status

4. Developing and presenting recommendations and/or alternatives

5. Implementing the recommendations

6. Monitoring the recommendations.

In order to complete these six steps, there are several integral disciplines at work in the financial planning process:

Tax Planning

Often the largest impact can be made by carefully plotting the tax impact of decision making over time. Structuring the timing of events in order to take advantage of the tax code can have a dramatic effect on long-term results. Opportunity exists for those who have the foresight to plan ahead. Planning for large, one-time events, or everyday tax planning, are both impactful components of the financial planning process. 

Estate Planning

Planning for a future in which we are not present is not always the easiest topic to cover. We provide options and give clients the information they need to make decisions that are representative of their goals and values. Generational wealth transfer and dynasty planning are topics ripe for in-depth planning and analysis. We can assist with a blueprint for estate planning so that clients can meet with an attorney with a plan already in mind.

Education Planning

Paying for education has come to represent an ever larger proportion of the allocation of our clients resources. We can help with choosing the right savings vehicle, whether it's a 529 account, Prepaid College Plan, Coverdale ESA, or standard brokerage account. We offer to outline the differences to assist in making an informed decision. We can calculate a safe savings rate to reach a reasonable target for college and put a plan in motion. We can discuss the impact that these strategies have on financial aid and strategize for the requirements of the FAFSA filing.

Insurance Planning

We do not sell insurance, but we provide objective advice about how much and what type of insurance you may need. We offer to perform a needs analysis for disability and life insurance to determine the need, if any, for insurance. We view insurance as a tool, not necessarily an investment, and we want to empower our clients to ask the questions necessary of their insurance professional to make an informed decision. 

Special Needs Planning

We strive to be flexible in providing advice to clients whose circumstances require special attention and an open minded approach to problem solving.

Please Note:  The scope of any financial planning and consulting services depends upon the terms of the engagement, and the specific requests and needs of the client. WBH does not serve as an attorney, accountant, or insurance agent.  WBH does not prepare legal documents or tax returns, nor does it sell insurance products. If the client desires, one of WBH’s representatives, in his separate licensed individual capacities as a CPA or an attorney, can be engaged to provide tax preparation and/or legal services as described on WBH’s written disclosure Brochure (a copy of which is linked to this web site) per the terms and conditions of a separate engagement and fee.