My Top 5 Learnings as a Financial Advisor
As a financial advisor, you meet so many types of people who have an array of financial concerns or issues. In my nearly 20 years in this business, I’ve put together a short list of some of the most common (and important) situations that arise, and how we address them.
“Where Does My Money Go?”
This scenario is particularly common for people who get their first well-paying job. Their paycheck comes in and their money goes out, but they have little idea of how they spend it (and they do spend it!). We help people track their income and their expenses, and most importantly, help them track their own numbers and take accountability for their spending behavior.
“Can I Reduce My Taxes?”
Death and taxes are facts of life. Another corollary is that as a person’s income rises, so do their taxes. Well, maybe not. At Isakov Planning Group, we excel at reviewing your tax situation and understanding the best options for minimizing your tax liability.
“I Want to Save for Retirement, but What Happens if I Need to Withdraw Money Before Reaching Age 59?”
Everyone should consider their regular cash flow over time when considering their 401k or IRA retirement contributions. Withdrawing money from your retirement plan before age 59 comes with serious penalties, and hopefully won’t be considered an option. To protect your retirement savings, it is a good idea to have about 3 to 6 months of cash liquidity available to handle common emergencies or changes in employment status. This is a much better option than dipping into your retirement savings or accumulating credit card debt.
“First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Then Comes Baby in a Baby Carriage.”
Over time, everyone goes through different stages of life, involving family, sickness and health, education, and then retirement. At each of life’s stages, your priorities may change. Think of paying for a child’s education or wedding, vacationing with your family, or investing or saving for retirement. At Isakov Planning Group, we work with our individual clients to successfully plan for each of these stages (and usually for more than one priority at a time!).
“Is My Insurance Policy a Good Investment Vehicle?”
My mantra has been “insurance is insurance and investments are investments.” In other words, insurance is for one purpose only: to ensure that if you pass away prematurely, your family will not face financial hardship. If you need life insurance, consider inexpensive term life insurance. If you saved your money for 30 years and invested it well, you may not need life insurance any longer. At Isakov Planning Group, we look at the overall dynamic of your family and its financial needs, and how to preserve or best utilize the wealth you’ve accumulated.
These five most important (and very common) subjects must be addressed in order to attain financial peace. We routinely help our clients plan for any of these issues or a combination of them. At Isakov Planning Group, we want to create financial peace for you and your family for years to come. Make an appointment with Isakov Planning Group to begin the discussion.
Also, we welcome your referrals from your friends, colleagues, and neighbors. Please contact Isakov Planning Group with your referrals!