This is not investment advice.
Financial planning is so much more than investment management. Although advising on investment strategies should be part of all financial (and especially) retirement planning, financial planning is a lifelong process that includes cash flow management, savings rate analysis (and placement), goal and current life stage identification, estate planning, insurance needs, child-to-adult planning, and tax awareness (and probably several more things!).
Which leads to the title of this story—this is not investment advice. Although investment advice absolutely is part of financial planning, it is only a small part of the financial planning done at The Shield Finance. The value here is provided by an advisor (me!), who sits with you, identifies your short, medium, and long-term goals, assigns dollar amounts to each, and makes a plan to meet all (or as many as possible) of those goals, while funding a healthy 3–6 month emergency fund, dedicating dollars to Roth accounts, tweaking and automating workplace retirement contributions, dreaming about retirement, maximizing tax savings, and funding childcare and future higher education.
My only job is to listen to your goals and dreams, find a way to fund them, and be realistic with you about how and when you can achieve them.
This type of work is hard. It’s confusing. The laws change every year. The numbers change every year. It takes research, commitment, and a high level of finance nerdiness to want to navigate it. The greatest compounding takes place over the most time—and to put it simply, if you have someone that is looking at your money today, your needs tomorrow, and your goals for the future, the compounding effect will be maximized over the next 20–30 years as opposed to the last few years before retirement.
When we look at the whole picture and properly adjust savings rates, clearly identify goals, and constantly assess and update the plan as needed, that will give you the ability to actually view money as a tool, wielded to the best of your ability to meet your needs and goals.
Real life is a never-ending cycle of moving parts. The only guaranteed constant in life is change, and with proper planning, the change goes from roller coaster to rolling hill – maybe a bit unpleasant but not jarring.
This model is different. It is accessible. It is transparent. It is what you see is what you get, by law. The costs to you are real, but they are clear. I’m not making more money as your money grows. We agree upon a set rate, reviewed annually, to give you clear guidance to live the life you want to live. My investment advice is simple – use money in a way that will provide the life you want to live now and in the future. If there are changes that need to be made along the way, that’s where I come in.
