While talking about fee only financial planners, one thing should be taken into consideration is that "Fee-Only" planners are compensated solely by fees paid by their clients, and do not accept commissions or compensation from any other source. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is the largest organization of "fee-only" planners.
The main function of fee only financial planners is to develop a sound financial plan. A sound financial plan should be simple as well as practical. When there is complexity in the financial plan the operating executives will find it difficult to follow. It should be designed with a long-term view. While designing the investment, financial and dividend policies, the long-term requirements of the concern are also to be considered. Sound financial planning requires vision and forecast. Proper forecasting of the future is necessary to design the financial plan. It should have enough flexibility to incorporate changes in the plans.
Financial planning should ensure liquidity. The concern should be able to meet the maturing obligations in time. However, maintaining of liquidity should not be at the cost of profitability. It should ensure economy also. That is, the cost associated with various financial decisions should be the minimum. It should aim at the best possible use of the available resources, especially finance. A poor balance between fixed and working capital should be maintained for using the capital effectively.
The nature of business plays a decisive role in designing financial plans. A capital-intensive industry like iron and steel requires more capital. Besides, the stability and regularity of income, future prospects of growth, and the fluctuation in the demand for the product being manufactured by the firm play dominant roles in determining the capital needs as well as capital structure. The risk involved in the business has significant bearing on the determination of the capital structure.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Financial Planning
Financial Planning is the process of creating strategies to help you manage your finances in order to meet your life goals. It is a complicated matter that all rational and capable people must one day begin to pursue. Financial Planning consists of four primary steps: creating Financial Planning Objectives, developing plans that will fulfill these objectives, creating a budget by which the assets will be obtained, and finally review and revision of the financial plan.
The Financial Planning Objectives can be divided into 5 sections. The first is the basic things you need for survival, and obviously this is the primary objective that must be met before others can be considered. These things are comprised of food, clothing, shelter, and even our automobile expenses. Next is the money left over that we can afford to put into savings or an emergency fund.
Then there are the discretionary insurance you put on things such as life insurance, home owners insurance, and auto insurance. Investment is the next step, the accumulation of assets in order to secure a return. Finally, we have estate planning which includes providing for heirs by leaving them assets and minimizing taxes.
After the Financial Planning Objectives have been laid out, financial plans must be devised in order to fulfill them. This is done by analyzing both your current problems that are keeping you from obtaining your goals and whatever economic opportunities from which you may currently benefit. Solutions are then developed on how to fix the problems or benefit from opportunities and then they are implemented. The final step is to monitor and keep track of these objectives and review their progress.
The third step in the financial planning process is to devise a budget by which the previous objectives can be accomplished. There are three steps to the budget creation process: identify how you're spending your money, set goals for yourself that will accomplish your financial plan, and track your spending to make sure you're following your budget. Look for small expenses that add up over time, reduce larger expenses, and try to cut taxes. Finally, keep track of how inflation will influence your savings.
The final step in financial planning is to review and revise your financial plan There are many reasons for this step, the most important being to make sure that you are meeting your objectives and that these objectives are helping to achieve your goal. It's also important to review and revise your financial plan as you may have a drastic change in circumstances, your objectives may have changed, and maybe you have made a change to your long-term financial goals.
Financial Planning may seem to be difficult and time consuming, which it is, but with practice and dedication you will find it to be easier than you expected. There are also many financial institutions and computer software that can aid you when it comes to financial planning. Remember that with social security becoming less trustworthy, you'll never to young to begin to prepare for retirement.
The Financial Planning Objectives can be divided into 5 sections. The first is the basic things you need for survival, and obviously this is the primary objective that must be met before others can be considered. These things are comprised of food, clothing, shelter, and even our automobile expenses. Next is the money left over that we can afford to put into savings or an emergency fund.
Then there are the discretionary insurance you put on things such as life insurance, home owners insurance, and auto insurance. Investment is the next step, the accumulation of assets in order to secure a return. Finally, we have estate planning which includes providing for heirs by leaving them assets and minimizing taxes.
After the Financial Planning Objectives have been laid out, financial plans must be devised in order to fulfill them. This is done by analyzing both your current problems that are keeping you from obtaining your goals and whatever economic opportunities from which you may currently benefit. Solutions are then developed on how to fix the problems or benefit from opportunities and then they are implemented. The final step is to monitor and keep track of these objectives and review their progress.
The third step in the financial planning process is to devise a budget by which the previous objectives can be accomplished. There are three steps to the budget creation process: identify how you're spending your money, set goals for yourself that will accomplish your financial plan, and track your spending to make sure you're following your budget. Look for small expenses that add up over time, reduce larger expenses, and try to cut taxes. Finally, keep track of how inflation will influence your savings.
The final step in financial planning is to review and revise your financial plan There are many reasons for this step, the most important being to make sure that you are meeting your objectives and that these objectives are helping to achieve your goal. It's also important to review and revise your financial plan as you may have a drastic change in circumstances, your objectives may have changed, and maybe you have made a change to your long-term financial goals.
Financial Planning may seem to be difficult and time consuming, which it is, but with practice and dedication you will find it to be easier than you expected. There are also many financial institutions and computer software that can aid you when it comes to financial planning. Remember that with social security becoming less trustworthy, you'll never to young to begin to prepare for retirement.
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