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The M.E.R.I.T Planning Process

Comprehensive Retirement Planning

"The most valuable aspect of financial planning is not about money, it's about having a plan."

We work intimately with clients to build and monitor comprehensive financial plans that take into consideration:

  • cash flow management,
  • retirement planning,
  • investment planning,
  • financial risk management,
  • insurance planning, tax planning,
  • estate planning, and
  • business planning.

Our approach is simple, we start by asking what your goals are. After all, this is your financial plan.

"We want to help you articulate your goals and develop a financial plan to pursue them."

We do not "chase returns"; meaning, we do not seek to achieve arbitrary benchmarks based on market performance. Instead, we begin to work like architects and engineers on designing your "Financial House".

Any well-built house begins with a solid foundation. Which means that we want to ensure there are no "cracks in your foundation" before we get started. Then, we will move onto designing each room so that your house becomes a home.

The M.E.R.I.T Planning Process is our unique

blueprint for comprehensive financial planning.

"We want to help you articulate your goals and develop a financial plan to pursue them."

We do not "chase returns"; meaning, we do not seek to achieve arbitrary benchmarks based on market performance.

Instead, we begin to work like architects and engineers on designing your "Financial House".

Any well-built house begins with a solid foundation. Which means that we want to ensure there are no "cracks in your foundation" before we get started.

Then, we will move onto designing each room so that your house becomes a home.

M

Mortgage Planning

Mortgage Planning

Whether it's having a paid-off house, refinancing, or buying that dream retirement home, our mortgage planning process will help you achieve this important aspect of the American retirement dream.

E

Estate Planning

Estate Planning

We ensure that all your assets – physical, financial and intellectual – are inherited by the

people to whom you want them to be transferred after your demise.

In addition to covering the legalities, we consider the potential inheritance drains, such as taxes, and strategically position assets so that your beneficiaries can best receive your legacy.

R

Risk Management

Risk Management

This is where the magic happens...

We will apply decades of experience, thousands of hours of training and mentoring by the industry’s top experts to answer the following questions:

  • Determine how much market risk is required (if any),
  • Optimally structuring assets,
  • Reduce unnecessary waste and fees,
  • Eliminate, or at least reduce, threats to your retirement.

I

Income Planning

Income Planning

The heart of every financial plan is cash flow. Each year, we analyze how to maximize cash flow and make performance-based adjustments using our dynamic cash flow strategy.

T

Tax Planning

Tax Planning

We all need to pay our fair share of taxes to the government, but that doesn't mean we need to leave them a tip!

We are continuously evaluating your plan for opportunities for reducing your lifetime taxes paid. This includes:

  • Strategic conversions and contributions to tax-free accounts, such as Roth IRA's.
  • Tax-Free income using Cash-Value Life Insurance, Home-Equity Conversion Mortgages and other alternative sources.
  • Avoiding Capital Gains Taxes in brokerage accounts
  • Minimizing effects of the "Social Security Tax Torpedo"
  • Helping surviving spouse avoid the 'Widow's Tax Trap'