The outcome from engaging with a Financial Planner can be vastly improved by understanding the factors in this blog post.
Here are the ten things I consider essential before engaging with a Financial Planner.
1 – Face facts.
Financial Planning gives you a sneak preview of your future, and more importantly, a chance to change it if you don’t like what you see.
If you’re too scared of what might be or you want to continue to bury your head in the sand – now is not the time for you.
2 – Be open-minded.
Financial Planning is a continuous journey. Parts of it; the questions we ask and the topics we address may seem unrelated, but trust in the process.
3 – Be ready to shut out the noise.
Stop listening to the financial press, random opinions on social media, or the ‘expert’ in the pub.
Be prepared to make a robust plan and stick to it. Trust your planner.
4 – Have your documents ready.
Get digging through your files and rummage through the back of cupboards.
It helps a great deal if you have as much information on your current situation as possible to give to your Financial Planner to review for you.
Many of us collect plans and policies throughout our life journey. Some of them may be a waste of your money.
5 – Accept that you are not going to get rich quick.
Investing is a marathon and not a sprint. Financial Planning is about living your best life with the assets you have.
Regulated investing can provide an opportunity to grow your assets, but there is no such thing as a genuine ‘get rich quick scheme’. If you invest in one you see advertised, be prepared to wave goodbye to your money.
6 – Talk to your spouse/partner/significant other (if you have one).
Financial Planning is about planning your future and best structuring your assets to achieve your goals.
It helps when you are both on the same page, or at least know what you both want to achieve – even if they are vastly different goals.
The plan involves both of you.
7 – Start getting to know the ‘future you’.
What do you want to do? What does retirement look like? What do you want to retire to?
Do you want to try something new?
For a Planner to help you get to where you want to be, you need to start thinking about future you and their ideal life.
8 – Get excited!
You’re about to take control of the rest of your life and rid yourself of the potential anxiety caused by uncertainty. You’re taking positive steps to live your best life.
9 – Be open and honest.
You are going to have to share personal information. Not only does our regulator expect us to ask specific fact-based questions, but we need to know about you as a person.
We need to know what your life experiences have been so far that have shaped your views of money, and your worries and hopes for the future.
10 – Work as a team.
We work with you – we advise you, coach you, keep your financial life on course, but you are very much involved in the Planning too.
We need to work together.
Are you prepared to accept and implement these ten factors? If so, we would love to sit down with you and help you move purposefully towards the future.
If you want a roadmap to follow as you journey through life, Financial Planning is likely to be the answer you need. Do get in touch today.
