Planning for the Journey

By Monument Wealth Management Team | Aug 20, 2018 | Weekly Market Commentary

Dave is just about halfway through his hike, and we sure hope he’s enjoying it! From the short blurbs he’s sent through his Garmin Tracking Device and his posts on social media from the outpost, we know he’s still going strong and of course has made some friends along the way!

The hike seems to be running very smoothly for him—Do you know why? It’s because of the PLANNING that went into the trip.

Long before embarking on his journey, Dave began his in-depth research on the Pacific Crest Trail and mapped out his plan—purchasing the best hiking gear, weighing his pack down to the ounce and getting rid of any unnecessary weight, calculating the amount of time it would take to get to each campsite and outpost depending on how many miles he’d hike each day, mailing three carefully thought out buckets of supplies to three different outposts so he could restock throughout the trip, making the careful decision to skip one of the summits but conquer the rest… and the list goes on.

Dave knew that the hike may not go exactly as he planned, but at least he had a well thought out guideline and could readjust the plan if and when necessary. This plan is serving him well and keeping him on track to safely complete his journey.

Is this starting to sound familiar? Maybe you remember us mentioning how to “arrive at your destination safely and on time” in previous videos and blog posts? (See our Quick Takes videos, “On the Road to Investment Success” and “Traffic Jam”, for example.)

Well you’re right. We often talk about having a long-term financial plan that helps you get to your destination safely and on time, and this is the perfect opportunity to remind you of this narrative.

A Private Wealth Plan to Achieve Your Goals

A lot goes into a long-term Private Wealth Plan. (To see the different pieces of a financial plan, here’s our “Private Wealth Planning Puzzle” Quick Takes video.)  Instead of Dave’s brand new feather-weight sleeping bag and durable boots that set him up for success on the trail, we’re looking at an appropriate portfolio allocation and income tax planning that guide you to reaching your long-term financial goals. We’re considering the best education funding choice to suit your needs and long-term care to mitigate risk. I suppose we can relate Dave’s food supply to managing cash flow…don’t want to run out of that! (Although apparently other hikers on the trail are very understanding and generous when it comes to helping each other out.)

We help you achieve your goals. This is why Monument places such importance on starting with a Private Wealth Plan. We begin with establishing and understanding your goals and then formulate the best way to reach those goals while staying nimble and adaptable for any unforeseen circumstances. You never know when an extra hot day could slow down your hike. On the other hand, you may wake up one morning bright-eyed and ready to take on an extra five miles. With ups and downs in the market and unexpected life events, a Private Wealth Plan can and should be adjusted over time to make sure you stay on target to reach your goals and ultimately get to live the life you choose for yourself and your family.

If you don’t have a plan yet and want one… reach out to us! Scroll to the bottom of this page right now, fill out the form to tell us a bit about yourself, and we’ll get in touch within a day.

If you do have a Private Wealth Plan, cheers to progressing toward your goals!

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