Checklist for a check-in with your financial professional

The most effective relationships between a financial professional and their clients are often grounded in a holistic approach to financial planning. This strategy focuses on aligning your hopes, priorities, and dreams with a personalized plan for financial well-being. By sharing insights into your lifestyle, purpose, and financial habits, you can help your financial professional design a plan tailored to your long-term financial goals and short-term financial goals.

As you work with your financial professional to create a roadmap for your financial future, consider the following key areas:

Your Purpose

Understanding your purpose is essential for effective financial planning. Your financial professional can use this information to help you prioritize your goals and align them with your values. Reflect on the following:

• What are you most passionate about? How can your passions influence your long-term financial goals?
• Who are the important people in your life? Are there upcoming events, such as a wedding or the birth of a child, that may impact your finances?
• Where are you in your career? Are you satisfied with your work, or are you planning a career change that could affect your short-term financial goals?
• Are there charitable causes or social issues that matter to you? How much do you feel comfortable contributing to these causes, and how can your financial professional help you budget for them?

Your Lifestyle

Your lifestyle choices play a significant role in shaping your financial plan. By discussing these aspects with your financial professional, you can ensure your plan is realistic and adaptable:

• What are your favorite activities? Are you planning for major expenses, such as a dream vacation, and how do these align with your short-term financial goals?
• What is your housing situation? Are you considering purchasing or renovating a home, and how will this affect your long-term financial goals?
• How is your health? Do you or anyone close to you have health concerns that require budgeting for healthcare costs? Your financial professional can help you prepare for these expenses.

Your Finances

Your financial habits and experiences shape the foundation of your financial plan. By sharing these insights with your financial professional, you can build a strategy that addresses both your long-term financial goals and short-term financial goals:

• What did you learn about finances growing up? How do these lessons influence your current financial decisions, and are they still relevant today?
• What spending decisions are you making today that you'll be happy about in the future? Your financial professional can help you evaluate these choices.
• What are your most important financial goals? These may include saving for college, planning for retirement income, or protecting assets from market volatility. How will these goals evolve over time?
• What do you include in your monthly budget? What are your top priorities, and how can your financial professional assist you in balancing these with your goals?
• How do you handle unexpected financial challenges? What plans do you have in place for emergencies, and how can your financial professional help you strengthen your safety net?

Collaborating on a Financial Future

By working closely with your financial professional, you can develop a comprehensive plan that addresses your long-term financial goals while staying flexible enough to accommodate your short-term financial goals. Whether you're navigating career changes, planning for significant life events, or managing unexpected challenges, your financial professional can provide the trusted guidance needed to achieve financial stability and success.