Written by Julie Martinez Thursday, 25 June 2009 00:00

The chaos in the world economy today and the fear and confusion it causes have left many families feeling helpless, with no sense of control, and grasping for any sense of “certainty.”

As a Certified Financial Planner™, one of my greatest benefits to clients is helping them regain control over their financial lives and helping them live confidently despite our ultimate inability to predict the future.

The purpose of creating a comprehensive financial, investment and estate plan is NOT to predict the future. Rather, planning is all about acknowledging we can’t know what’s going to happen in the world, nor how it will affect the economy, nor how it will affect the markets, nor how that will affect our investments. In its essence, creating a comprehensive plan is about anticipating all contingencies. It’s about taking control and proactively dealing effectively with our inability to know what’s going to happen.

Unlike any other firm in the Black Hills, our team of professionals is prepared to run the gamut when it comes to delivering advice on personal financial issues. Our financial planning process includes services such as:

• Advice on business succession strategies.
• Integrating your estate plans with tax, investment, insurance and business planning.
• Creating cash flow alternatives built around your future needs and dreams.
• Reviewing existing insurance coverage and evaluation of insurance needs.
• Working with your CPA to develop strategies to minimize your total tax burden.
• Investment real estate analysis and integration within your overall financial plan.
• Asset allocation and investment analysis. The hallmark of our financial planning process is a total commitment to:
• Fee-only advice. Our fees are clearly disclosed in our planning agreement.
• No product sales.
• No sales pressure.
• No third party incentives.
• No conflicts of interest regarding our compensation.
• Independent, objective, unbiased financial advice.
  

Our team has decades of real-life experience that can assist you in achieving your objectives and reduce the confusion around how today’s challenges affect you. We believe there is a tremendous difference between genuine financial planning and simply working with an investment advisor. If your situation precludes you from distinguishing the difference, please contact me for a free consultation. You may reach me by calling (605) 342-8840 or by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it