SERVICES

Financial planning produces a roadmap for getting from “here” to “there.” It can even help define “there.” Abacus Financial Planning can be your thinking partner, walking through optional scenarios and their potential financial impact. The partnership is especially valuable in a time of transition, when you may face a new or difficult situation.

Comprehensive financial planning encompasses big and obvious matters (taxes, investments) as well as the sometimes invisible things (insurance, paycheck withholding). The Abacus approach is to create a plan that is both flexible and cohesive, realizing that any roadmap must take into account a changing landscape. We cannot predict the future, but we can set parameters for navigating it.

Financial Planning

Financial planning is a collaborative process to build an adaptable roadmap for you and your money.

Comprehensive financial planning: A comprehensive financial plan covers it all. We go through the major areas of your finances to evaluate where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there. We typically work together over 3-5 meetings.

Investments

Abacus Financial Planning conducts a thorough review of your current investments, analyzing the fit to your goals and risk tolerance. The analysis includes recommendations about your investments, such as asset allocation, asset location (high-level tax implications), diversification (by asset class and by US/global), and fees.

Retirement

We determine a “base case” for retirement based on your expected income, expenses, and investments. We then look at variations—what if you spend more each year, or what if you need long-term care, etc.?

Equity compensation

We build a plan for your stock options, RSUs, ESPP, and/or ESOP that is grounded in your priorities. Equity comp planning is often closely tied to tax planning.

Tax planning

Tax planning involves looking at your current tax situation and considering options to strategically realize income. For retirees with assets in multiple tax buckets (such as a taxable brokerage account, traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs), this often involves developing a withdrawal strategy.

Insurance

Abacus Financial Planning conducts a review of your current insurance policies and makes recommendations for keeping or changing policies, including auto, homeowner, umbrella, and life insurance. For clients 50+, this review often includes long-term care insurance.

Cash flow

Cash flow planning typically results in a multi-year plan for your cash. This is especially relevant when there is an expected change in income or expenses or when there is a large windfall.

Budgeting

A budgeting conversation can be as detailed as you want it to be. With some clients, we use Budgeting Blocks to move the conversation out of a spreadsheet. We typically recommend a reverse budget, where you decide what expenses to track and what not to track.

Estate planning

Always work with an attorney to create your legal documents. From the financial planning perspective, we review accounts to make sure they are consistent with your wishes. We look at the potential estate tax impact and consider alternate strategies.

Education planning

For clients who would like to pay for education expenses, we recommend a saving and gifting strategy.

Employer benefits

We review your benefits to help you use them effectively. The review includes health benefits, retirement savings, and additional employer-specific options.

Hourly services: In some cases, an hourly engagement may be an option. An initial engagement for a new client typically requires a minimum of 10 hours and is invoiced based on actual hours. We can discuss the expected minimum in an introductory call (there is no charge for an introductory call).


Financial Planning Fees

Comprehensive financial plan: $6,480 – $11,880
Hourly: $360/hour

Investment Management

Implementing an investment plan takes time and careful consideration. After completing a financial plan, it may be an option for Abacus Financial Planning to provide ongoing investment management support.

The Abacus Financial Planning investment philosophy is guided by these ideas:

  • Diversify: We cannot predict how a specific stock will perform. We primarily build portfolios using diversified mutual funds and ETFs.
  • Timing: We do not know when the market (let alone a particular stock) will go up or down. Time in the market is more important than timing the market.
  • Tax Aware: While tax decisions will not solely guide investment choices, the location and type of assets will be selected in consideration of taxes.
  • Historical Research: While historical performance is not a guarantee of future performance, we look to the past for trends to guide investment selection. For example, historically stocks have performed better than bonds. In general, more passively managed funds tend to outperform more actively managed funds.

Each client’s portfolio is created to fit their willingness, ability, and need to take risk. Abacus Financial Planning focuses on what we can control, such as determining the right asset allocation.

Investment Management Fees

Fees: 1% up to $2,000,000, then 0.40% on the balance over $2,000,000

Ready To CHAT?

The first step is to get on the phone. The first meeting helps me understand what you’re looking for. I can share about Abacus Financial Planning and provide open space for you to ask questions.

Financial planning process with Abacus Financial Planning

  • 3rd March 2015
    7:00 PM
    Intro meeting
    We discuss what you are looking for and the services offered by Abacus Financial Planning.
  • 3rd March 2015
    7:00 PM
    Discovery meeting
    We consider your financial situation and determine if it makes sense to work together.
  • 19th March 2015
    3:00 PM
    Get Organized
    We collect your financial information. The goal is to get a piece of paper (physical or digital) for each piece of your financial picture.
  • 1st June 2015
    7:00 PM
    Explore scenarios
    We take a high-level look at your financial plan. You choose which paths to take, and we consider the potential long-term impact.
  • 1st June 2015
    7:00 PM
    Plan delivery
    Across 1-4 meetings, Abacus Financial Planning delivers a detailed financial plan tailored to your goals and needs.