As you work toward financial goals, you will find no shortage of “great ideas” you need to consider. There are always people happy to tell you about “the next great thing.” Usually, they are being paid to talk about it.
The next great thing may be any number of things like:
- Stock of companies based in China,
- Predictions on what the Federal Reserve will do next,
- Predictions on how monetary policy will change,
- Predictions on the next economic stimulus,
- How to fix your asset allocation,
- Why you need cryptocurrency, or
- Shiny objects like silver and gold.
It’s an awful lot to keep track of. And often, each of these ideas is being driven by somebody’s plan to profit if you buy into the next big thing.
Don’t bet me wrong. Some of those topics are important. It might be good for you to learn about them.
But one thing is certain: When it comes to investing, nothing matters anywhere near as much as your behavior.
You can design the greatest portfolio ever created by humankind, and one behavioral mistake a decade could mean you would've been better off in CDs at your bank or stuffing the cash in your mattress.
So yes, the economy matters, smart portfolio design matters, how much we have in small-cap, value, and growth, all those things matter.
But the thing that matters most is having a financial plan that will allow you to behave. If you are clear on your Great Financial Purpose and if you are confident that your financial plan is dialed in to fulfill that purpose, then you are likely to behave as you must to make it happen.
So, I suggest you talk with a fiduciary financial planner who can help you clarify your Great Financial Purpose. The Great Financial Purpose is the “why” behind your financial goals. It’s the Big Picture of your financial life. If you understand the big financial picture. You can more easily discover specific goals that need to happen to keep you moving toward the big picture. With the big picture in mind, it is often easier to see what you need to do to be sure you continue to make progress.
And a great fiduciary advisor will help you craft a financial plan that works consistently and safely to bring your Great Financial Purpose about.
A great place to start looking for the right advisor is to talk with a couple of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals.
To find a CFP® professional near you, start your search here.
As you visit with financial planners, I suggest a couple of things to check:
- Is the advisor always the client’s advocate – a fiduciary advisor?
- Is the advisor paid by clients, not financial product manufacturer or distribution network? That would be a fee-only advisor.
These two points help assure that you are working with a professional who is committed to your best interest at all times. It seems sort of obvious to me that a professional would work in this way, but it’s not automatic.
A fiduciary, fee-first, CFP® professional can help you make great retirement income choices and develop a comprehensive financial plan that is driven by your goals and priorities and addresses all aspects of your financial life. With a big-picture approach, you will be better prepared to understand your options at every step along the way.
Yes, I am a CFP® professional. I’m always a fiduciary and I work on a fee basis. And yes, I’m still taking on a few great families to be part of my financial planning practice.
If this article has you thinking about your own circumstances, contact my office at rdunn@dunncreekadvisors.com. I am always happy to meet with people who are working on their retirement plans. Dunncreek Advisors does not provide legal or tax advice, nor is this article intended to do so.