Six Steps in the Comprehensive Financial Planning Process

1. Establishing and Defining the Client-Planner Relationship.
   
   We explain the services to be provided and define both your responsibilities and ours. We agree on the scope of our relationship and provide you with an estimate of our fee.
   
   
2. Gathering Client Data, Including Goals.
   
   You provide us with information about your financial situation and together we identify your personal and financial goals, come to an understanding concerning your time frame and discuss how you feel about risk. This step requires you to bring financial records.
   
   
3. Analyzing and Evaluating Your Financial Status.
   
   We analyze the information to assess your current situation. From this, we determine what is required to meet your goals. Comprehensive planning includes analyzing assets, liabilities, cash flow, current insurance coverage, investments, tax strategies, wills and estate plans, educational savings and more.
   
   
4. Developing and Presenting Financial Planning Recommendations
   
   Our recommendations address your goals based on your financial information. We review and discuss the recommendations so you can make informed decisions about the future. We then address your concerns and revise the recommendations as appropriate.
   
   The final comprehensive financial plan is presented to you in a detailed report with the following sections: Introduction and Summary, Cash Flow, Net Worth, Investments, Taxes, Insurance, Retirement, Estate Planning, College Planning and any Alternative Financial Scenarios. Each section includes our individual observations and recommendations for your financial and personal success.
   
   
5. Implementing the financial planning recommendations.
   
   At the final presentation we agree on our role in implementing the recommendations found in the plan. According to your preferences, we may carry out the recommendations or, alternately, we may serve as a "coach," coordinating the whole process with you and other professionals such as attorneys, insurance agents, CPAs and investment companies.
   
   
6. Monitoring the financial planning recommendations.
   
   It is important to monitor the progress toward your goals. If you choose to have Bell Financial Planning implement the plan, we will review and report to you on the progress toward meeting your goals and make adjustments as your life changes.