Our Process

For most of us our biggest lifetime expense will be taxes.  It only makes sense to start here!

The first block of your Arch Planning Process focuses on taxes and income: tax efficient saving and income pre-retirement, tax efficient income and distribution in retirement.

• Analyze your tax returns, investments, and retirement savings accounts to identify ways to help you lower your tax bill today and in the future.
• Develop a Social Security or pension optimization strategy to make sure you’re adequately funded for the spending needs of retirement.
• Using the latest in income analysis software, develop a retirement income distribution plan, designed to minimize tax and maximize income.

We can work hand in hand with your current tax professionals making sure everyone is on the same page.  If you’re not currently working with a tax professional, we may be able to recommend someone.

In a perfect world, investments would have unlimited growth, guaranteed return of principal and be accessible whenever we wanted.  Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world.

However, we do have the most up to date investment analysis and financial planning technologies.  Our recommendations are backed by in-depth, thoughtful examination and become the second block in the Arch Planning Process.

• Working together we will arrive at the optimal balance of risk and reward, mindful that the objective is to fulfill your goals and dreams.
• Through careful planning and research, employing the latest technologies available, we’ll design a portfolio strategy that is unbiased, evidence-based and that is within your risk profile

“Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”  It doesn’t matter if it’s an unexpected illness or accident, a fire or flood, an untimely death, a wealth zapping lawsuit, or some other catastrophe, there are lots of risks that can turn even the best financial situations upside down.

• We will carefully look in all the corners of your financial life to uncover the cracks and gaps that may endanger the integrity of your MasterPlan.
• Any potential weakness uncovered is brought to your attention and discussed so that you understand the risk and how you and your family could be affected.
• We will explore solutions and alternatives with you so the potential risk can be effectively addressed.

Just about everyone needs an estate plan.  It’s not just for millionaires & billionaires…and it’s not just about money.  It’s been said there are three potential beneficiaries of your estate, your family, charity and the IRS.  You get to pick two.

• We can help you design a plan that will pass the assets you want, to the people and organizations you want, as efficiently as possible.
• We’ll also help you plan for other sensitive end-of-life concerns, such as planning for incapacity, helping you understand the advantages and disadvantages of various ways to title your assets and selecting the right executor(s) and trustee(s) to help see your plans through to fruition.

Many times, this element of your MasterPlan will require the support of an attorney.  We are happy to work with your existing estate planning team, if you have one, or to recommend one from our network of professional contacts.

It’s our job to help you understand how the various pieces of your MasterPlan fit together.  As part of the education process we will discuss ideas to help you gain control of your financial life.  Understanding how your MasterPlan works is critical if it’s to be used as a guide into the future.