Communication and Goal-Setting: Successful financial planning begins with gathering pertinent information and asking the right questions.

• Where do you want to be in one, five or 20 years?
• When do you want to retire?
• Do you need to finance your child's education?
• Are you purchasing a home or car in the near future?
• Are you caring for an elderly or disabled parent?

By asking the right questions, we can gather the information necessary to define your short- and long-term goals. We can also use this information to help you prepare for the unexpected and help you mitigate financial risk. Financial planning means committing to and building a financially secure life for you and your family.

Analyzing Net Worth and Cash Flows: Once we've gathered the right information from you, we'll begin to assess your current financial standing; this is your starting point. Together, we'll define your financial strengths and weaknesses, designing a plan that builds on those strengths and reduces inherent weaknesses. Sound financial planning means managing not only what you own but also what you owe. We'll create your personal Net Worth Analysis, taking into account all of your assets and debts including mortgages, credit cards and loans. We'll also outline your current cash flow scenario and show you ways to improve your bottom line. The stronger your bottom line, the more assets you have available to invest toward your goals.

Selecting the Ideal Investment Strategy and Philosophy: Achieving your financial goals will require consistent savings and a solid investment philosophy. United Financial Planning Group supports a passive investment strategy as opposed to an active trading strategy, the later of which requires calculated market timing, individual stock selection and bargain hunting. Active trading aims to beat the market and predict the future by taking advantage of suspected pricing errors. But far too often, this strategy is costly and futile. Instead, our passive investment strategy is founded on a diversified asset allocation approach using your personal goals, risk tolerance and contribution timeframe. This method is supported by numerous studies at our nation's finest universities, privately funded research centers and Nobel Prize winning scholars.

Risk Management: Are you adequately protecting the assets you've worked so hard to accumulate? Are you also securing the economic value of your life for your loved ones? Should you become disabled, will your family still have the means to maintain their current lifestyle? Sound financial planning means analyzing all possible risks ' including death and disability ' and preparing your finances to safeguard against any unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances.

United Financial Planning Group can review your existing home owner's and auto insurance policies to make sure you hold adequate coverage. We'll calculate your life insurance needs to meet your family's goals and lifestyles, evaluating and discussing your need for disability insurance. United Financial Planning Group can review your current insurance expenses to determine whether or not you have the most competitive and cost-effective rates. We'll also review estate tax liability in connection with life insurance policies along with your need for long-term care insurance.

Retirement Plan Disbursement: You've worked, sacrificed and saved a lifetime for retirement, and now you've made the important decision to retire. It's time to begin living on those funds. But what's the best way to make withdrawals while still growing your remaining investments, and which plan should you liquidate first? As CFP®'s and CPAs, we're ideally qualified to discuss the tax ramifications of each decision you make based on your personal retirement goals. This process includes a thorough review of your income tax situation and the development of strategies to minimize your tax liability. We're also qualified to make income tax recommendations and prepare your annual return to your best advantage.

Estate Planning: Proper estate planning ensures a significant portion of your accumulated wealth is protected and distributed according to your wishes. United Financial Planning Group works closely with experienced estate planning attorneys who can discuss your priorities, current assets and distribution preferences. We'll design strategies to minimize estate tax obligations while satisfying your intentions, reviewing gifting strategies during life and liquidity needs at death. United Financial Planning Group can help you determine when you need more advanced planning support including the use of living and testamentary trusts. We'll also ensure that certain basic estate planning documents are in place to protect your family, such as wills, side letters of instruction, powers of attorney for property, durable power of attorney for health care, living wills and advance medical directives.

Your Personal CFO

As your personal CFO, United Financial Planning Group assists with all of life's major financial decisions, whether planning for higher education, mortgage refinancing or home renovation. We intimately understand the impact one decision may have over another area of your financial life, helping you monitor each and meet your goals.

Don't trust your personal financial wellbeing to anyone else. Contact United Financial Planning Group today to schedule a free initial service consultation.