Investopedia/Julia Kagan: What is a Financial Plan?

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Personal Finance                                             Career/Compensation                                                Financial Plan
Reviewed by Julia Kagan
Updated Dec 28, 2017
What is a Financial Plan

A financial plan is a comprehensive evaluation of an investor's current and future financial state by using currently known variables to predict future cash flows, asset values and withdrawal plans. Most individuals work in conjunction with a financial planner and use current net worth, tax liabilities, asset allocation, and future retirement and estate plans in developing financial plans. These metrics are used along with estimates of asset growth to determine if a person's financial goals can be met in the future, or what steps need to be taken to ensure that they are.
The Fundamentals of Financial Plans
BREAKING DOWN Financial Plan

Financial plans don't have a specific template, though most licensed professionals include knowledge and considerations of the client's future life goals, future wealth transfer plans and future expense levels. Extrapolated asset values determine whether the client has sufficient funds to meet future needs. A good financial plan can alert an investor to changes that must be made to ensure a smooth transition through life's financial phases, such as decreasing spending or changing asset allocation. Financial plans should also be fluid, with occasional updates when financial changes occur.
Elements of a Financial Plan

• Financial goals: A financial plan is based on an individual's or a family's clearly defined financial goals, including funding a college education for the children, buying a larger home, starting a business, retiring on time or leaving a legacy. Financial goals should be quantified and set to milestones for tracking.

• Personal net worth statement: A snapshot of assets and liabilities serves as a benchmark for measuring progress towards financial goals.

• Cash flow analysis: An income and spending plan determines how much can be set aside for debt repayment, savings and investing each month.

• Retirement strategy: The plan should include a strategy for achieving retirement independent of other financial priorities. The plan should include a strategy for accumulating the required retirement capital and its planned lifetime distribution.

• Comprehensive risk management plan: Identify all risk exposures and provide the necessary coverage to protect the family and its assets against financial loss. The risk management plan includes a full review of life and disability insurance, personal liability coverage, property and casualty coverage, and catastrophic coverage.

• Long-term investment plan: Include a customized asset allocation strategy based on specific investment objectives and a risk profile. This investment plan sets guidelines for selecting, buying and selling investments and establishing benchmarks for performance review.

• Tax reduction strategy: Identify ways to minimize taxes on personal income to the extent permissible by the tax code. The strategy should include identification of tax-favored investment vehicles that can reduce taxation of investment income.

• Estate plan: Create arrangements for the preservation and distribution of assets with attention to minimizing settlement costs and taxes. Review and update estate panning instruments, such as wills, inter-vivos trusts, power of attorney, medical directives, and marital trusts.
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Related Terms
Financial Planning Association
The Financial Planning Association is a professional organization that helps members find ethical, objective, client-focused financial planners.
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Personal Financial Advisor
A personal financial advisor is a professional who help individuals manage their finances.
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419(e) Welfare Benefit Plans
A 419(e) welfare benefit plan is a type of employer-sponsored employee welfare benefit plan.
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457 Plan Definition
457 plans are non-qualified, tax-advantaged, deferred compensation retirement plans offered by state, local government and some nonprofit employers.
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Cafeteria Plan
A cafeteria plan is an employee benefit plan that allows staff to choose from a variety of pretax benefits.
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American Academy Of Financial Management (AAFM)
The American Academy Of Financial Management is a globally recognized academic institution that issues a number of credentials and designations.
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