WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PERSONALIZED REPORT
Within four weeks (usually less) of sending in your completed questionnaire, youll receive your bound report by return mail. The report is filled with information pertaining to your own financial situation. It provides guidance and recommendations that are based on your responses to the questionnaire, and takes into consideration your age, family status, income, and special needs that are indicated in your questionnaire.
While no two Smart Planner reports are alike (in fact, no two reports are anywhere near alike because everyones financial situation is unique), each report contains five sections.
1. The main report covers every relevant area of your financial life. Depending on your own financial situation, this section typically covers:
Investing wisely and well even if youre just starting out
Diversifying your investments
Obtaining the right kind of insurance at the right price, and closing gaps in your coverage
Using credit to enhance your financial future, not impair it
Planning for a financially-comfortable retirement or thriving throughout your retirement years
Paying for any major expenses that you may be contemplating a home or college, for example
Taking maximum advantage of tax-saving opportunities
Keeping better financial records, and
Planning your estate to minimize expenses and ease the burden on your family.
The main report is well organized and is written in easy-to-understand language that reviews your financial situation in a positive, encouraging manner. Youll no longer have to approach your financial future with trepidation. The guidance contained in your report is both helpful and hopeful.
2. Priority list of recommendations. Everyone has a lot of room for improvement in their financial lives, even those who devote a lot of time to their personal finances. Since Smart Planner takes an in-depth look at every important area of your financial life, your report will make anywhere from 40 to 60 or more recommendations. Its easy to feel overwhelmed by so many recommendations, so each report contains a priority listing that lists the recommendations in order of priority so youll be able to attend to the most important ones first. And, like the main report and the investment recommendations (described below), your priority listing applies to your own financial status and needs. No two are alike.
3. Investment recommendations. The third part of your personalized report is a diversified investment strategy based on your own financial status, including the amount of money you have available to invest, whether your investments are in retirement accounts, taxable accounts, or both, and how comfortable you are with investment risk. Based on the information provided in your questionnaire, Smart Planner will suggest a way to diversify your investments. In addition, your report will recommend top-rated no-commission mutual funds that you can use to add to your investments or to replace mediocre funds. You dont have to have a lot of money to invest, either. The investment recommendations section provides useful guidance for people who have as little as $500 in investments.
4. Additional resources. This section presents a list of helpful free or low-cost publications and free web sites that Jonathan feels will be helpful as you plan your financial future. Your list of additional resources contains only resources that apply to your financial situation. Like the other sections in each Smart Planner report, the resources list is tailored to your own unique needs.
5. Worksheets and checklists. Several helpful worksheets and checklist are also included in your report. They are not bound into your report; rather, they are put in a pocket for easy access. These easy-to-use tools will help you organize your records, measure your financial progress, determine how much life insurance you need, plan your retirement, and more.
One of the most-appreciated features of Smart Planner is that it doesnt waste your time dealing with matters that dont apply to you. For example, if youve got kids to educate, your report will give you some suggestions to help you surmount that financial hurdle. But if you dont have kids or youre an empty nester, your report wont cover that subject. If youre retired, your report will be vastly different from a report for working age people because your financial needs and concerns are different.
In addition to the helpful guidance provided in their reports, one of the features that people who take advantage of Smart Planner most appreciate is Jonathans objectivity. Hes in the business of providing unbiased information to people of all financial circumstances. While his recommendations may not please some of the big financial institutions, you can rest assured that he always has your best interests in mind. As opposed to virtually every other available personalized financial report (most of which cost 10 or 20 times more than Smart Planner, hes not trying to steer you into certain financial products nor is he trying to sell you expensive financial services. Whether you use a financial adviser or handle your finances on your own, he believes you can take better control of your financial future, and this is exactly what your personalized report will help you do.
