Effective Planning

We live in a time when many of us can be expected to live as many as 20 - 30 years in retirement, and in a time when the importance ( and cost ) of a good education has never been greater. Today, more and more responsibility for financial security is being transferred to individuals, and a poorly planned estate can lose 40% or more of its value to taxes. The cost of ignorance has never been higher.

Yet most people have never been taught how to make effective financial decisions. Parents often don't talk to their children about financial issues, schools do not offer classes on the subject, and even many colleges and universities fail to offer courses on personal finance.

"Counsel woven into the fabric of real life is wisdom"
-Walter Benjamin

Personal Attention

Lucien, Stirling & Gray Advisory Group provides a full range of fee-based planning services to help clients deal with complex issues like retirement planning, college funding, asset protection, and estate planning. We do so in a manner that takes into account not only the numbers and technical issues, but also the complex emotional issues that are so closely intertwined with most planning decisions.

Intelligent Questions

We believe that planning for the future is not something that should be done only with a computer, or a calculator, or a spreadsheet. Done well, it involves a level of introspection, insight, and attention to personal detail that can only be shared in a relationship of trust. Before finding the correct answers, it calls for asking the right questions. It requires time. It requires attention. And it requires care.

Trust

We never do business on the first appointment, and we do not charge for an initial consultation. We expect to get to know prospective clients first, and we expect them to get to know us. Only then are we able to decide if we have a common interest in working together. We value long-term relationships, and we work with clients who share in that belief.

The Process:

Step 1: Gathering Data

Determining where you are now is one of the most important steps in the planning process. We will help you gather and analyze your current cash flow information, as well as your current assets, liabilities, and insurance coverage in order to identify strengths and weaknesses in your position.

Step 2: Setting Goals

It has been said that "if you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there." Establishing clearly defined financial objectives, which include specific time frames, tolerance for risk, and capital requirements is crucial to success. We will discuss and define with you not only what you desire to accomplish, but why it is important, and how it can best be achieved.

Step 3: Mapping out a Strategy

Once we have determined where you are now, and where you want to be in the future, we will lay out a specific strategy. This will include recommendations for liquid assets and emergency funds, recommendations for insurance coverage and risk management, recommendations for appropriate levels of spending and investment, and recommendations for portfolio allocation. We may also make recommendations for specific steps that may include the professional services of your attorney or accountant.

Step 4: Implementation

After a specific strategy has been agreed upon, we will assist you in implementing that strategy in the most effective manner possible. If you have existing relationships with other advisors such as an attorney, an accountant, and insurance agent, or a broker, and you wish to utilize the services of those professionals, we will happily assist in coordinating the process. If you prefer to use our asset management services, or if you would like to utilize the investment and insurance services available through Lucien, Stirling & Gray Financial Corporation, we will be glad to provide specific recommendations concerning insurance and investment vehicles. Additionally, we are pleased to provide referrals to attorneys, accountants, and other professionals with whom we have a working relationship if those services are required.

Step 5: Periodic Review & Revision

Life is fluid. It changes course in unpredictable ways. Events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of children and grandchildren, career changes, retirement, and death affect us all. Periodic review and revision of the strategy we implement is crucial to making sure that it continues to operate in the most effective manner possible. We will meet with you at least annually to discuss any changes in your goals or your financial situation, and to monitor your progress.

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