When We Help

“When money changes, life changes. And when life changes, money changes.” – Susan Bradley

It’s our experience that money and life are always changing and that everybody could benefit from having an independent third party to discuss these important transitions with.

Birth of a Child

Few transitions are as profound or life-altering as the birth of a child. It is a time of unbounded joy and optimism, and perhaps more than a few sleepless nights. It is also the beginning of a significant change to your family’s financial equation.

We work with you to answer some of the most important questions that arise when a new child is welcomed into the world. How will we manage childcare when our paid leave period has ended? What other costs should we be anticipating, and how will they impact our goals, such as saving for retirement? Is private school worth the cost, and if so, how might we plan to pay for it? And what about saving for college?

Our goal when working with new parents is to create space to give these topics the careful attention they deserve. We make sure all of the critical components get covered so you can get back to enjoying time with your new family member.

Loss of a Spouse

Especially early in widowhood, you may feel like there are hundreds of things you need to accomplish immediately. You may feel numb or in shock, perhaps almost paralyzed by your inability to handle even the most ordinary financial tasks, let alone the more impactful ones. Different people have different styles of managing – from intently moving through the tasks at hand to an absolute inability or desire to address them.

There is much more to this stage of your life than receiving technical information. The personal side may be dominant and become the driver of decisions. The process and guidance you will need on the personal side comes more from a thinking partner than a technical expert.

Our objective as your guide is to give you hope, strength, and focus as you proceed at your own unique pace and in your own unique way.

Retirement

Retirement may be life’s longest-anticipated transition. It also happens to be one of the most financially and emotionally challenging. Stepping away from your life’s work and the steady income it provides requires strategic thinking and careful planning. Fortunately, those who prepare well for retirement are rewarded with one of the most fulfilling and creative chapters of their lives.

Divorce

Divorce is perhaps the most emotionally complex of all life transitions. It marks the end of life as we knew it and the beginning of a new chapter. It can be a period of great sorrow and pain, but also of hope and optimism.

As if this weren’t enough to manage, divorces are often financially complicated as well. Thorny financial issues abound in the midst of a divorce and often continue for months or years afterwards.

We work with you to navigate these practical issues thoughtfully and strategically. Then, when you’re ready, we guide you through the process of crafting an inspired, compelling vision for your next chapter.

Marriage

“Love is an ocean of emotions entirely surrounded by expenses.” — Thomas Dewar

For many newly married couples, conversations around money are a source of anxiety and concern. As unfortunate as this is, it is understandable. After all, when approached incorrectly, these conversations can lead to conflict and strife in any relationship.

Fortunately, there is a better way. In fact, we’ve learned from decades of experience working with couples that shared financial goals and open communication around money can be great sources of strength in a relationship.

The work we do with newly married couples is grounded in an exploration of hopes, values, and possibilities. We guide couples through a series of meaningful conversations and exercises that ultimately inform an understanding of each others’ past, a shared vision for the future, and a game plan for the present.

Sudden Money

Stock Options. IPOs, Inheritances. Business Sales. Lawsuit proceeds. Contract Signings. Sudden money has the potential to be life-changing, but also comes with the pressure of deciding what comes next. The decisions you make following a sudden money event can have implications for generations to come. Financial planning offers a path to responsible stewardship of your newfound wealth. These types of financial windfalls don’t happen very often, so making the most of them when they arrive is essential.

As your thinking partner, we will first help you get all of the concerns out of your head and on the table so you can assess the entire picture as a starting point. While it is natural to begin with the feeling that everything needs to be handled at once, this can lead to undue stress and anxiety. We will help you sort through what needs to happen now, what can happen soon, and what we can save for later so everything will get taken care of, in its own time.

Once this starting place has been established, we will co-create a plan of action that is prudent and manageable. Along the way, we will draw upon decades of professional expertise to help you identify opportunities and avoid common pitfalls.

Case Studies

Read more about a few hypothetical situations where we’ve helped medical professionals with their compensation to reach their goals.

Case Study 1

As a fee-only firm, we only get paid by our clients and receive no commissions or referral payments. Our clients know every penny they are paying to us for our services.

Case Study 2

Our team of dedicated tax professionals work with our clients and planners to make the tax planning process part of the comprehensive financial planning process

Case Study 3

12 Certified Financial Planner Practitioners, 3 Certified Public Accountants, and more, all here to serve our clients. Only 25% of financial advisors are CFPs and we hold ourselves to the highest standards.

Whether you are beginning your career, already enjoying retirement, or somewhere in between we offer the guidance and expertise you need to make the most of the journey ahead.

As a fee-only financial planning firm, we accept fiduciary responsibility and are committed to a comprehensive, evidence-based approach. Each of our team members works with a small group of clients to ensure you receive attentive service that is customized to suit your individual situation.

No matter what stage of life you’re in or which financial challenges you face, our experts are here to help you stay on track and make the most of the resources available to you.

Certified Financial Planner | The Planning Center

We’d like to meet you!

Schedule a free 15 minute conversation and we’ll spend a few minutes getting to know each other so we can learn if what you are seeking and what we provide are a good fit for each other. If it seems like a fit, we’ll talk about next steps. If we’re not, we’ll help you find the right group for your needs.