Broker Check

50 Braintree Hill Office Park Suite 205 Braintree, MA 02184

781.848.9821
contact.leveroni@lpl.com
Account View

Time Tested Guidance

LEVERONI FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CONDUCTS AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF YOUR NEEDS AND GOALS AS PART OF A FUNDAMENTAL PROCESS FOR CREATING A WRITTEN PLAN JUST FOR YOU.

A Comprehensive Process for Pursuing Your Goals

We lay the foundation of your financial plan by conducting a comprehensive overview and analysis of your current financial position. We begin by gathering and organizing your financial data, prioritizing your goals, identifying any issues and coordinating with your other advisors, such as your CPA and attorney, to ensure plan accuracy and completeness. If you need referrals for attorneys or CPAs, we are able to provide them.¹

We then provide you with our observations, analysis and recommendations, and ask for your feedback. We incorporate your feedback into a written plan that becomes the cornerstone of your strategy. Following the implementation of your plan, we continually monitor your progress against established goals to ensure you remain on track to pursue your objectives.

At Leveroni Financial Management, we hold ourselves to the highest industry standards, following the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards approach to financial planning, which states: 

The Financial Planning Process consists of the following six steps:

1. Establishing and defining the client-planner relationship.

The financial planner should clearly explain or document the services to be provided to you and define both his and your responsibilities. The planner should explain fully how he will be paid and by whom. You and the planner should agree on how long the professional relationship should last and on how decisions will be made.

2. Gathering client data, including goals.

The financial planner should ask for information about your financial situation. You and the planner should mutually define your personal and financial goals, understand your time frame for results and discuss, if relevant, how you feel about risk. The financial planner should gather all the necessary documents before giving you the advice you need.

3. Analyzing and evaluating your financial status.

The financial planner should analyze your information to assess your current situation and determine what you must do to meet your goals. Depending on what services you have asked for, this could include analyzing your assets, liabilities and cash flow, current insurance coverage, investments or tax strategies.

4. Developing and presenting financial planning recommendations and/or alternatives.

The financial planner should offer financial planning recommendations that address your goals, based on the information you provide. The planner should go over the recommendations with you to help you understand them so that you can make informed decisions. The planner should also listen to your concerns and revise the recommendations as appropriate.

5. Implementing the financial planning recommendations.

You and the planner should agree on how the recommendations will be carried out. The planner may carry out the recommendations or serve as your "coach," coordinating the whole process with you and other professionals such as attorneys or CPAs.

6. Monitoring the financial planning recommendations.

You and the planner should agree on who will monitor your progress towards your goals. If the planner is in charge of the process, she or he should report to you periodically to review your situation and adjust the recommendations, if needed, as your life changes.

  • Set measurable goals.
  • Understand the effect your financial decisions have on other financial issues.
  • Re-evaluate your financial plan periodically.
  • Start now - don’t assume financial planning is for when you get older.
  • Start with what you’ve got - don’t assume financial planning is only for the wealthy.
  • Take charge - you are in control of the financial planning engagement.
  • Look at the big picture - financial planning is more than just retirement planning or tax planning.
  • Don’t confuse financial planning with investing.
  • Don’t expect unrealistic returns on investments.
  • Don’t wait until a money crisis to begin financial planning.

HOW TO MAKE FINANCIAL PLANNING WORK FOR YOU

You are the focus of the financial planning process. As such, the results you get from working with a financial planner are as much your responsibility as they are those of the planner. To achieve the best results from your financial planning engagement, you will need to be prepared to avoid some of the common mistakes by considering the following advice:

  • Set measurable financial goals.

Set specific targets of what you want to achieve and when you want to achieve results. For example, instead of saying you want to be "comfortable" when you retire or that you want your children to attend "good" schools, you need to quantify what "comfortable" and "good" mean so that you’ll know when you’ve reached your goals.

  • Understand the effect of each financial decision.

Each financial decision you make can affect several other areas of your life. For example, an investment decision may have tax consequences that are harmful to your estate plans. Or a decision about your child’s education may affect when and how you meet your retirement goals. Remember that all of your financial decisions are interrelated.

  • Re-evaluate your financial situation periodically.

Financial planning is a dynamic process. Your financial goals may change over the years due to changes in your lifestyle or circumstances, such as an inheritance, marriage, birth, house purchase or change of job status. Revisit and revise your financial plan as time goes by to reflect these changes so that you stay on track toward your long-term goals.

  • Start planning as soon as you can.

Don’t delay your financial planning. People who save or invest small amounts of money early and often tend to do better than those who wait until later in life. Similarly, by developing comprehensive financial planning habits such as saving, budgeting, investing and regularly reviewing your finances early in life, you should be better prepared to address life changes and handle emergencies. 

  • Be realistic in your expectations.

Financial planning is a common sense approach to managing your finances to pursue your life goals. It cannot change your situation overnight; it is a lifelong process. Remember that events beyond your control such as inflation or changes in the stock market or interest rates will affect your financial planning results.

  • Realize that you are in charge.

When working with a financial planner, provide the planner with all of the relevant information on your financial situation. Ask questions about the recommendations offered to you and play an active role in decision-making.

Learn more about the financial planning process at www.cfp.net.

Find out how a financial plan can provide you with clearer financial picture and a better understanding of what it will take to work towards your goals.

¹Neither LPL Financial nor any of its representatives render tax or legal advice. Outside providers of professional services are neither affiliated with nor endorsed by Leveroni Financial Management or LPL Financial.