We are Here When You Need Us

Your peace of mind begins by knowing where you are today, so you can get to where you want to be tomorrow.

Your time is valuable and there are a lot of demands tugging for your attention. This is all the more reason why it is important to stop and take a moment to check-in with yourself. Make sure you are putting your energy into the areas that will get you where you want to be in the future. You may need to adjust some of the things you are currently doing or you may feel the need for validation that you are on the right path. In these complicated and pivotal times we live in, your money is core to your ability to take care of yourself and your family.

AFP shifts this potentially overwhelming experience and scales things down to a manageable size so you can clearly see what the focus should be and how it can be achieved. We begin your financial life planning process by asking questions. YOU are the expert of your life and we are here to listen, strategize and guide you on your financial journey. We strive to help you understand all the components that make up a comprehensive plan and align them with your passions and goals.

Understanding your money mindset and identifying what you value most is at the core of how we customize a financial plan that meshes with your life today and into the future.

Our Process is Consistent

Through our well-defined 5-step planning process, we help you identify, interlock, and reconnect the different pieces of your financial picture. We take a proactive approach by incorporating real-time planning during our planning sessions that allows you to actively engage in the process. We will then run “what-if” scenarios to test your key wants and needs, refining the vision and securing a solid foundation to move forward with your financial plan.

The outcome is a written “roadmap” that connects the pieces of your financial life with your vision of your best life. We have been told by our clients who have gone through our process that it has given them clarity of purpose and has empowered them with a sense of confidence. Ultimately, they say the experience provides peace of mind in knowing where they are at and where they are going.

The Power of an Annual Update

We recognize that your financial plan is not stagnant – it is ever-changing and needing to be modified to grow with you. Completing the plan is not the end, but a beginning. Each year we then work with you to co-create a list of “To Dos” and assist you in implementing these tasks.

It is so easy to get off track and we have learned this the hard way. This is why we insist on annual updates. Over the course of a year, there can be changes in your situation, tax law revisions or the economy that may impact your financial plan. Taking the time to overlay any or all of these changes to your situation can be invaluable. Embracing this process of continual reassessment, we ensure that your financial plan continually aligns with your life changes and your larger financial goals.

Alexander Financial Planning is continually renewing and updating the planning process. This is not just for new clients, but for all existing clients as plans are updated annually.

Our Depth of Experience is Your Asset

One of the benefits of being involved in investment services since 1981 is our long-term perspective in appreciating and understanding the markets. It is with this perspective, as we have endured different market cycles, economic environments, changes in investment securities, and regulations, that we apply our knowledge to our client’s portfolios. We do not invest your money until we have a clear understanding of your financial background, objectives and concerns.

A Focused Approach

There have been a lot of changes in investing over the years, but the basics remain the same. Our investment philosophy is a consistent, disciplined approach that weathers the gyrations in the markets. We call it an “All-Weather” strategy that is rooted in research and goal-based to meet your objectives. It begins with:

Reviewing your current investment portfolio

Identifying an asset allocation appropriate for your cash flow needs, time horizon and risk tolerance

Identifying appropriate titling of your accounts

Tax ramifications of types of accounts and holding certain positions in these accounts

Diversifying using efficient, low cost, no-load investments

Ongoing monitoring and rebalancing of your portfolio

Timely communication to review performance and adjust as needed

Our Structure Provides Transparency

As a fiduciary, an independent and fee-only firm, we work in your best interest, not the other way around. We do not sell investment products and we do not accept any compensation from other third parties (commissions, referral fees, etc.). We are compensated solely by our clients.

What Our Clients Receive

+ Construction & Investment Selection

Clients investment accounts are place with our custodian, TD Ameritrade. Each client maintains full control of their accounts. This saves our clients considerable time and expense associated with all back office activities.

We are able to select from a broad list of fixed income, no-load mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETF) to provide diversification in our client’s accounts. We maintain a list of approved investments based on the following criteria:
• Lower expense ratios
• Stable investment managers
• High returns within peer groups
• Lower than average risk (volatility), etc.

Our database of investments is updated monthly and we review our recommended investment list throughout the year. In all cases, we strive to minimize transaction costs for our clients.

+ Quarterly Investment Report

To expedite and communicate the performance of your investments, we provide a quarterly report with a complete list of your accounts, their values and your overall asset allocation.

This report allows us to track your performance against the client’s targeted asset allocation to ensure compliance with the investment plan, to determine if your portfolio is performing in alignment with where it should be, and more importantly, with your goals.

+ Access to Portals

As an Investment Management client of AFP, we provide access to two different portals on our website under the Client Login button.

One is to our custodian, TD Ameritrade. This portal provides access to the accounts held at our custodian, including monthly statements, trade confirmations and tax reporting documents. It also gives real-time access to your individual accounts and other market related information.

The second is access to Orion. This provides reporting information for TD Ameritrade accounts as well as any accounts held-away from TD Ameritrade. This is where your total portfolio can be viewed. Reports generated for our clients will show performance over different time-frames, and how the portfolio is performing against different benchmarks. Realized and unrealized gain/loss reports can also be generated.

The path that leads to financial success includes detours along the way.

Allow us to be your co-pilot.

Experiences with Our Clients

Some of these transitions are planned and others, not so much. Life has a way of giving some of you a curve ball at unexpected points in time. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Retiring or Partial Retirement
• Job Loss
• Business Retirement Plan Strategies
• Loss of a Partner, Parent or Family Member
• Winning a Lottery
• Caring for Aging Parents
• Divorce
• A Disabling Health Event
• Downsizing
• Inheritance / Life Insurance Settlement
• Newly Empty Nesters

“When money changes, life changes and when life changes, money changes”.
- Susan Bradley, Sudden Money Institute

Our Knowing is Your Strength

An anticipated or a sudden unexpected change is a common reason why people seek out the services of a financial planner. The probability that you will experience a life changing event during the course of your lifetime is 100%. Each transition brings new challenges and struggles that often complicate financial decision-making.

We are ready and uniquely trained to help you strategize and plan for those situations. Working with clients experiencing these life changing events requires a skill set beyond technical expertise. It requires a different set of tools to help you process the event you are experiencing. This includes an expanded understanding of the personal or behavioral side of financial planning.

To address this specific area of need, we have invested in additional training to learn from this new and evolving body of work how to help individuals and families work through both the technical AND the personal sides of money. These two sides of money parallel each other and together they provide a holistic approach to financial planning.

Even “planned” transitions can thrust you into a position where, what you once considered to be stable, is suddenly in a state of flux. And depending on your mindset about change, and your experience up until your next moment of change, that’s either exciting or terrifying. We recognize that transitions can affect how you think, how you feel, and how you may act about your money.

That's why we are here to offer an additional layer of service to you to address these events when they occur. We know it is important to give you time to process, to help keep you safe if you’re feeling vulnerable, and to be there when you’re ready to move forward.

So take a deep breath and rest assured...
we have your back,
no matter what the future holds.

Where the Rubber Hits the Road

Retirement planning is very similar to general financial planning, but with a magnification on some key areas. It is the number one reason people seek out our services. From the age of 50 to 85 there are triggering events that need to be addressed. Some may impact you and others may not, but acknowledging them based on your situation is an important part of our process. We call this time in your life “Retirement Row” and discuss this more in detail with our clients.

The number one question we get is, “Can I retire and maintain my desired standard of living until life expectancy?” Ultimately you want the peace of mind of knowing that you and your family will be ok. For some it’s more about making sure their significant other is going to be okay if they predecease them or confirmation that something hasn’t been left out. Once all the information has been input, we can run different scenarios in real-time so you can see the impact that different decisions will have on your situation.

We also know people move through different stages in retirement. What was important to you while you were working may not be as important to you in retirement. Simplifying and consolidating your accounts starts making more sense. Organizing your records and understanding your overall financial position often leads to other questions you hadn’t entertained up to this point. Downsizing, traveling, home improvements, philanthropy and family become common areas of attention. The three stages in retirement are:

STAGE 1: The "Go-Go" Phase

STAGE 2: The "Slow-Go" Phase

STAGE 3: The "No-Go" Phase

Ultimately, people come to us to help them make some significant financial decisions about pension payouts, when to take social security, Medicare eligibility and the impact of their premiums, how and when to take distributions from their investments, and a host of other questions. It takes time to reflect on some of these decisions. We also know that nothing is stagnant and as time moves forward, so do changes in tax laws, economic environments and personal situations.

Our Process is Consistent

Our process for retirement planning is the same as our process for financial planning. Through our well-defined 5-step planning process, we help you identify, interlock, and reconnect the different pieces of your financial picture. We begin by focusing on your values, goals and aspirations. These are the drivers in any financial plan. Your finances are there to support these, not the other way around. We take a proactive approach by incorporating real-time planning during our planning sessions that allows you to actively engage in the process. We will then run “what-if” scenarios to test your key wants and needs, refining the vision and securing a solid foundation to move forward with your financial plan.

We know this can be an exciting and also a scary time for some in their lives. We scale things down to a tempo that is manageable, we try to speak in plain English and move at a pace that is acceptable to your needs. YOU are the expert of your life and we are here to listen, strategize and guide you on your financial journey.

The outcome is a written “roadmap” that connects the pieces of your financial life with your vision of your best life. We have been told by our clients who have gone through our process that it has given them clarity of purpose and has empowered them with a sense of confidence. Ultimately, they say the experience provides peace of mind in knowing where they are at and where they are going.

The Power of an Annual Update

We recognize that your financial plan is not stagnant – it is ever-changing and needing to be modified to grow with you. Completing the plan is not the end, but a beginning. Each year we then work with you to co-create a list of “To Dos” and assist you in implementing these tasks.

It is so easy to get off track and we have learned this the hard way. This is why we insist on annual updates. Over the course of a year, there can be changes in your situation, tax law revisions or the economy that may impact your financial plan. Taking the time to overlay any or all of these changes to your situation can be invaluable. Embracing this process of continual reassessment, we ensure that your financial plan continually aligns with your life changes and your larger financial goals.

Alexander Financial Planning is continually renewing and updating the planning process. This is not just for new clients, but for all existing clients as plans are updated annually.

Your legal will addresses:
“What do I want my loved ones to have?”

Help to Guide Your Understanding

It is not unusual that many people we meet in our initial consultations do not have the basic estate documents in place; a will, financial durable power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney (also called an advance medical directive), and for some a living will. Our role is to communicate the impact these documents provide and to help you cut through some of the jargon. Since we are not estate attorneys, we cannot draft these documents, but we can partner with an estate attorney you are working with or we have a great network of attorneys to recommend, depending on your needs.

Estate planning decisions can be difficult and very sensitive, especially if there are children, grandchildren, special needs children, a second marriage, or other underlying issues. For some individuals, it’s simply a matter that they just hadn’t gotten around to doing it or not knowing an estate attorney. Whatever the reason, starting with a conversation is the first step. This is what we do with our clients so when you get to the step of drafting your estate planning documents, you have a clearer understanding of what you want to do. We have gone with our clients to their estate attorney meetings if this is their wish.

We also provide some understanding of basic estate planning terms and how assets move to others based on the type of account or titling of an asset. The first step is getting a complete list of all of your assets and liabilities. Conducting a thorough review of your beneficiaries is essential to make certain your wishes will be met. Titling of your real estate property, vehicles, and other assets determines if your assets will go through probate or bypass probate. Once we understand your needs and wishes, we can help you outline your estate plan to ensure your loved ones, or organizations, receive the estate in the most efficient way possible.

Your ethical will addresses:
“What do I want them to know?”

Our estate conversations begin by listening to you. Yes, the documents are very important, but we also know this. Wealth, purposefully transferred from one generation to the next, is not limited to your material assets. Some of your greatest wealth resides within you and it is too valuable to be lost. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? Ethical wills are letters or recordings created for your loved ones. They are created to last beyond your lifetime and to pass on values, wisdom, stories, wishes, feelings, advice, or important information. We help our clients begin this dialogue and provide a workshop to bring this together for them.

“Words that come from the heart enter the heart.”
The Torah

Detaching Your Business from Your Personal Wealth

90% of small businesses have less than 20 employees and many of these are owned by baby boomers nearing retirement age. As a business owner, it can be difficult to separate your business picture from your personal financial picure as they are often very intertwined. As you get closer to a time when you will be transitioning the business to new owners, there is a need to properly prepare the business and yourself for this change.

From passing your business within the family to selling the business to a strategic partner, transitioning your business takes a higher level of planning as you are running a parallel path to your personal financial plan. Identifying the options available to you to draw wealth from the value created takes some time with a team of trusted advisors. Taking these options identified and plugging them into your personal financial plan to see what sticks is the second step in this process.

Any way you slice this it takes a great deal of thought, analysis, what-if planning, discussions with outside advisors, and in-depth conversations with your family, not to mention time. Being prepared for this significant change is key to a smooth transition. Beyond positioning the business for this change is taking stock within yourself for this change. Are you ready to leave? We have found starting this process as early as possible provides the best outcomes. When you have a dual plan (business and personal) in place that prepares you and the business for your exit, your focus can shift to what comes next.

Ultimately It’s About Creating Your Best Life

We have worked with clients who have owned their businesses and we have helped them to navigate this time in their lives. We recognize that it is difficult to cross the retirement hurdle until you have peace of mind of knowing a strategy is in place. Having this in place may also make your business more attractive and valuable to buyers. Exit planning is not just about the business, but about you. Want would you like to see evolving on the other side? This ultimately becomes the focus to help drive your post-business personal financial planning.

You Have Our Undivided Attention

We have known for quite some time that women view money differently than men and that women are often overlooked during discussions about finances with financial advisors. When a couple comes into our office we know both voices need to be heard and this can be challenging for many women. Empowering women, whether they are married, single, widowed, or divorced, to have conversations around finances takes time and the ability to listen to their concerns.

Women often encounter obstacles when planning for the future that are different from men. Typically, women live longer, they generally have earned less over their lifetimes, they may have saved less or invested more conservatively, and they are often the primary caregivers for aging parents or their children. It is no wonder that women may be troubled by the financial uncertainties that lay ahead. Some women have not had a voice at the table or were never a part of a financial discussion with an advisor in the past, but are now thrust into this role of being in charge of all these decisions. It may feel like an overwhelming task for women in transition and we get that.

Our Process Moves You Forward

We know that each person has their own individual needs. We also know that because women think differently, our approach with women is different but the process is the same. As we listen to your concerns, hopes, and dreams, we will work with you to develop a financial plan that makes sense to you. Arming you with the knowledge you need to understand your financial picture helps to instill confidence and this is the ultimate goal.

We Keep You Current

One of the key areas we review in all of our financial plans is your tax return. This is important even if you have a professional tax preparer. Tax planning needs to take place in the year you are in so you don’t miss opportunities that need to be done before the end of the year. Very often your tax preparer does not communicate with you until the following year. So reviewing your tax return can tell us a lot about you last year. If your income will be similar in the current year, it provides an understanding of your marginal tax bracket. This is a springboard for a lot of things you can and cannot do from a financial planning perspective. Our goal is to address tax minimization strategies, gifting strategies, as well as timing strategies.

Tax planning or projecting out the next few years, given current tax laws, is invaluable for many of our clients. If you will be experiencing some significant changes in your income over the next few years, such as the sale of a business, stock options, a job change, or receiving an inheritance, we can run projections with our software and identify if there are some strategies to minimize the impact of this change.

Our Process Moves You Forward

By better understanding your tax picture today, we can create a strategy that will hopefully save you money on taxes in the long run. We communicate with your existing tax advisor to make sure our recommendations work in your tax plan. For years we have continued to prepare annual tax returns for some of our legacy clients. We are no longer offering this as a service to new clients, but it does help to keep us current regarding changes in tax law which benefits all clients.

There is a lot of jargon when it comes to taxes; IRS code section citings, threshold levels, and the words that are used to convey certain meanings. Our goal is to provide some understanding of basic tax planning terms and how different decisions will impact your near-term tax picture in a meaningful way.

Your Foundation for a Solid Future

One of the most overlooked and misunderstood areas of financial planning is risk management or insurance. Few in our industry give this the attention it deserves because, quite frankly, it’s just not very exciting. We have found that you may also not find it to be too exciting as well. However, truth be told, it is the cornerstone to having a solid financial plan. Your insurance portfolio may include health, disability, life, long-term care, property/casualty, and professional liability insurance. You may also have annuities that need to be reviewed as well.

We begin this process by gathering all of your current insurance information in addition to any insurance options available with your employer if you are working. From here we conduct a needs analysis on your current insurance coverage. This “stress test” makes certain that your current coverage is sufficient should you die prematurely or become disabled. We also run these scenarios 10, 15, 20 years into the future to see how the amount of coverage you have currently may need to change. Overall, this determines the level of coverage you need today and how these different forms of insurance may change over time. This analysis can only be run if you have input your cash flow (income and expenses) into a financial plan. The next step is diving into the policies to better understand your coverage and where we can identify gaps or if you may be over-insured in some areas.

Options to Meet Your Needs

In this area, you may have several different insurance agents, and our goal is to communicate with your existing agents to create a cohesive financial plan. If there is a gap or a need for insurance in your financial plan, we have working relationships with specialists to help acquire the appropriate coverage or to better explain the coverage you have currently.

Not Very Exciting, but Necessary

Your insurance coverage in all areas is reviewed annually because things change. Your policies may change their terms, your premiums get adjusted, and your level of coverage may also change, not to mention your personal situation may be different. This is a very dynamic area and it is important to stay up to date on your true coverage in each of these areas.