35 Ways Eastern Planning Can Help You Work Toward Your Goals

What We Do

Benefit to You

1. Help you commit to your goals by putting them in writing.

In our experience, written goals are followed up far more than unwritten ones. This step is simple, but it makes it more likely that you will achieve your goals. 

2. Help you set practical, achievable goals within your desired time frame.

Your time and your money are both valuable. By focusing on the most achievable goals, we can help save you more of both. 

3. Help you determine which financial decisions should be addressed first. 

Sometimes, you may find you have more decisions to make than you can possibly handle at once. We can simplify life by helping you understand which opportunities and decisions must be made now.

4. Consider every possible way for you to pursue your goals…even if they’re unorthodox.

We will turn over every rock to find possible ways for you to help reach your goals faster…so that you can enjoy them sooner!

5. Work with you to create a written, step-by-step investment plan.

Having a written investment plan means you will always know what to do and when to do it. That means saying goodbye to confusion, uncertainty, and delay. 

6. Update your plan on a scheduled AND as-needed basis. 

Things change … including your financial goals. Should that ever happen, we can easily modify your investment plan so that it’s never out of date.

7. Help you secure the appropriate type and amount of life insurance to protect you and your family’s future.

Life insurance is one of the most boring topics imaginable – but it’s also one of the most valuable aspects of investment and estate planning. That’s because it brings confidence that your family will always have their needs taken care of. 

8. Help you create an estate plan.

What is the biggest benefit of an estate plan? A good night’s sleep. With an estate plan, you’ll never have to lie awake wondering, “What will happen if —” ever again. 

9. Help you save for and fund your children’s education.

Every parent and grandparent dreams of their children getting a good education to secure an even brighter future. Another dream of every parent? That their child won’t have to live in their spare room at age 25. By reviewing your children’s custodial accounts and 529 plans, we can help make both dreams a reality. 

10. Make taking your IRA Required Minimum Distributions as simple and easy as possible.

As your financial advisor, we want to save you time and hassle whenever possible and avoid a 50% tax penalty.

11. Remind you about upcoming financial decisions that must be made or serve as an “early-warning system” whenever potential challenges appear.

You’ve got enough on your plate to worry about. Our job is to take things off your plate instead of piling things on. So we’ll act as your financial alarm clock, concierge, and calendar all 365 days of the year. 

12. Leverage our experience to provide strategies and solutions you didn’t even know existed so you can secure more income, reduce expenses, and get the most out of your finances.  

Sometimes, the best way to get past a wall isn’t to climb up and over. We help you find easier, more efficient ways to overcome any financial obstacles in your path. 

What We Do

Benefit to You

13. Ensure your investments are always chosen based on your specific goals and feelings about risk.

You want to reduce the risk to your money. You want to grow your money. You want to risk it as little as possible. And you want the confidence that comes with knowing all this is done. That’s what this step is all about.

14. Keep a close eye on your investments.

You don’t have time to constantly check your phone to see how your portfolio is doing. For our advisory clients, not only do we watch them, but we’ll make timely changes when needed.

15. Provide investment research that is both usable and easy to understand.

To choose the right investments, you must know the best options. We tirelessly research which investments can bring the growth and appropriate risk needed to help you reach your goals. 

16. Stay informed on what is happening in the markets. 

The markets can instantly change, dragging your money up or down. By always knowing what’s happening in the world, we can help turn the rollercoaster of investing into something more closely resembling a kiddie ride. 

17. Striving to simplify the investing process. 

Other people have such complex investments that they don’t know what it’s doing for them. The simpler your investment portfolio, the easier it is to understand, bringing organization and flexibility. 

18. Find ways to potentially increase your income during retirement.

To enjoy the retirement lifestyle you want, you need income to fund it. We constantly look for new ways to boost your income, so you never need to worry about outliving your money. 

19. Help you understand and get the most out of your 401(k) or IRA investments.

Your 401(k) and IRA are two of your most vital future income sources. We will review it to help you get the most out of it. 

20. Help you understand the level of risk that comes with investing. 

Some people want as little risk as possible. Others are comfortable with taking on a bit more risk if it means a greater chance at more gains. But many people don’t understand how much risk they’re taking. At Eastern Planning, we help ensure you don’t have that problem. 

21. Refer you to other trusted, expert professionals whenever you need assistance with banking and lending products through affiliates or tax advice.

We want to make every aspect of your financial life quicker, easier, and less stressful. One way is to act as a conduit to any other professionals you may need to work with so that you don’t need to spend time and energy finding them yourself.   

22. Provide introductions to specialized investment analysts. 

You need specialists in every asset class. We have scoured the field to find accomplished professionals to help you reach your goals.

What We Do

Benefit to You

23. Help you find ways to minimize taxes when possible.

There are almost always ways to minimize the taxes you are legally required to pay. We won’t stop until we help you utilize them. 

24. Review your tax implications with respect to your investments to find future savings opportunities.

As a child, you often learned that turning over rocks yielded fascinating discoveries. The same is true of your tax implications with respect to your investments. 

25. Stay current on any tax law changes that apply to you.

The more current and accurate our knowledge of existing tax laws, the more we can help you take full advantage of them. 

26. Help you invest in a tax-efficient manner.

Many investors fail to factor in the tax implications of their investments. That can lead them to miss out on some significant opportunities. But as our client, we help ensure you do not miss out. 

27. Explore possible ways to address your taxes during retirement.

Help you keep more of your retirement savings for your use in retirement. 

28. Coordinate with your other tax professionals when necessary.

Taxes can be complicated. That’s why every professional you work with must be on the same page so that your tax situation never gets in the way of pursuing your financial goals. 

What We Do

Benefit to You

29. Contact you to see if you have any questions or needs we can help you with.

You should never have to wonder where your financial advisor is or what they are doing. That’s why we are committed to always staying in contact with you, specifically by proactively calling to check in with you, sending you written information or timely market news, and inviting you to attend a comprehensive review of how your portfolio is doing. 

30. Keep track of life and family changes that could impact your finances.

Children grow up, adults grow old, and nothing ever stays the same. The changes life brings can affect your finances both positively and negatively. We will help you plan and respond to both. 

31. Help you stay on the road to achieving your financial goals, no matter what obstacles life has in store. 

Want to know a secret? We believe consistency is more important than sophistication when it comes to achieving financial success. We’ll hold your hand when you need it, give you a nudge when you need it, or even provide a shoulder to lean on when you need it…because we are just as committed to you reaching your goals as you are. 

32. Provide referrals to other professionals, such as real estate agents, CPAs, and attorneys.

Here at Eastern Planning we have a wide network of trusted professionals and partners we regularly work with. If you ever need a particular type of professional, chances are we can introduce you to someone qualified, experienced, and, above all, trustworthy. 

33. Point out whenever and wherever you need to save more in order to pursue your goals. 

If there’s ever a chance you’re simply not saving enough for the goals you’ve specified, we’ll let you know immediately … and also suggest solutions. 

34. Provide easy-to-understand education on any financial terms or concepts you may be uncertain about.

Both common sense and industry studies agree: educated investors make better investors. If there’s ever anything you don’t understand—whether it’s a financial term or something you read about online – don’t hesitate to come to us. We will explain it and answer all your questions so you never feel lost, confused, or worried.   

35. Be there for you.

Simply “being there” is perhaps the most important thing we can do for you. Whenever you have a question, concern, or problem to deal with; whenever you want someone to hold your hand; whenever you feel overwhelmed, we’ll be there for you. Because without you, there is no us. Here at Eastern Planning, you are the foundation of our business.