The Financial Planning Process – Initial Meeting

At Bluewater Financial Planning, we follow a 6 step process when working with our clients. Over the next number of weeks, I am going to expand on what is involved in each of these steps so that you can get a better idea of the work that we will do for you and what outcomes you can expect from the financial planning process. The steps we follow are:

  1. Initial Meeting
  2. Gather data
  3. Prepare financial plan
  4. Present and discuss financial plan
  5. Implement plan
  6. Review plan

The initial meeting is about finding out about you. Before I am able to advise you on your money, I need to find out about you; what makes you tick, what is important to you.  You talk and I listen.

Where you have come from

It is important to understand someone’s background as where you have come from can have a very big influence on your attitude towards money. Do you have positive or negative views of money. Are you an experienced investor etc.

I also find out what your career trajectory has been to date. What do you do and how did you end up doing what you are doing (you would be surprised how many people do what they do by accident).

Where you are now

We discuss a number of issues about your current situation:

  1. What is your family situation. Do you have kids? How old are they? Are they in school?
  2. What about your work situation? Do you like where you are? Do you like what you are doing?
  3. Are you happy with your current living arrangements?

Where do you want to get to?

What are you plans for the future? What is it that you want to achieve? And when do you want to achieve it by?

For most people the answer is simple; lifestyle. People have worked hard to achieve a lifestyle that they enjoy and they want to maintain that. However, life and additional expenses come along and the demands on money increase.

Now I know about you, I will have a good idea if I can help you and by finding out all about you I will have a good understanding about your relationship with money. For instance, debt may be something that makes you feel very uncomfortable. You will also get to know me a bit and know whether I am someone that you would like to work with.

As always, you can contact me directly at steven@bluewaterfp.ie