Update August 25 - 2010 All About "Life Insurance and Financial Planning" By Insurance Experts

Financial planning is the long-term process of wisely managing your finances so you can achieve your goals and dreams, while at the same time negotiating the financial barriers that inevitably arise in every stage of life by Creating a Sound Financial Plan
Step 1 Establish Goals
Step 2 Gather Data
Step 3 Analyze & Evaluate Your Financial Status
Step 4 Develop a Plan
Step 5 Implement the Plan
Step 6 Monitor the Plan & Make Necessary Adjustments

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Financial Planning - Get the Big View of Your Finances
By Robin Applegarth


Many people are adept at handling their daily finances. Paid the bills? Check. Shopped for the best deal on that new TV? Check.
But what happens with the bigger picture? If you've ever had a nagging feeling your money could be working harder and smarter, consider doing some financial planning.
The process is like taking a hike up a nearby mountain to get the big view. It will take some time and a little effort. But, with the landscape laid out in front of you, it can be easier to find the best road to any destination. Plus, you may see intriguing new areas to explore.
How does it work? Financial planning starts with taking a holistic look at short and longer-term goals. Next, it's followed by making a financial plan to reach those goals. Make your dollars match your values, and meet your overall needs. You may be surprised to find larger strategies you've overlooked.
There are times when it's best to seek professional advice, but there is much you can do yourself. First, we'll explore steps you can take. Then we'll find out when it's smart to hire a pro.
"Do-it-yourself" financial planning
Here are some planning actions you can take.
Think about short and long-term goals. What are your dreams? Do you want to buy a home, get a college degree, or travel the world? Maybe you long to retire early. Start a notebook or online diary to record your goals.
Take inventory of where you are now. How much savings do you have? How much are you earning and spending? What are your personal assets and debts? Record your expenses for at least 3 months to really get an idea of where your money is going. You can use resources like Mint.com, Kiplinger's budget form, or programs like Quicken.
Go over your basic needs, including risk management. Make sure you have the right kinds of insurance for health, home and possessions. If you have dependents, or own things, make sure you have a will or trust so you get to say what happens after you're gone.
Pick a goal and create an action plan. Let's say you want to buy a home, but don't have the savings. It's suggested that monthly payments and other housing expenses don't exceed 30% of your average income. Work with this figure to see what you can afford, and what you'll need to save for a down payment. Go to Bankrate.com for calculators that will tell you how long it'll take.
Review and revisit your goals and progress every month.
When to hire a professional planner--If you were organizing a large wedding or event, hiring a caterer would be smart. And most of us would head to a medical professional for health problems we did not understand. Likewise, consider hiring a competent financial planner if you find yourself in any of the following situations.
If the sums are large, consider additional help. Did you get a life insurance payment, or inherit Aunt Susan's estate? If you're fortunate enough to have received a windfall or inheritance, you're a good candidate for help.
If your finances are complex or disturbing you, get assistance. Are you headed for bankruptcy or juggling too much debt? Not sure whether you'll meet retirement goals?
If you've had a recent divorce or loss of spouse,consider help. This is a time when people feel fragile, and may not be at their best to make informed decisions. Ask a trusted professional what your options are, and then take some time to reflect before acting.
If you're unable to move forward or make decisions about your money,seek help. This might be just the step you need to get your finances in order.
So, how does one find a trusted professional? It's best to choose someone who bases their advice on a per-hour or per-job fee, rather than commissions alone. This will help insure there's no conflict of interest. A top-trained planner often has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. You can search for these and other fee-based professionals at the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors http://www.napfa.org/
Financial planning-by you or someone else--can lead to added awareness about how your money serves your life.
Robin Applegarth holds a certificate in Personal Financial Planning from the University of California, Riverside. She is the founder of a website, http://TheSilverPurse.com/ to help women build financial security. Read more about finding your unique goals http://TheSilverPurse.com/Set-Goals

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Update August 09 - 2010 All About "Life Insurance and Financial Planning" By Insurance Experts

Financial planning is the long-term process of wisely managing your finances so you can achieve your goals and dreams, while at the same time negotiating the financial barriers that inevitably arise in every stage of life by Creating a Sound Financial Plan
Step 1 Establish Goals
Step 2 Gather Data
Step 3 Analyze & Evaluate Your Financial Status
Step 4 Develop a Plan
Step 5 Implement the Plan
Step 6 Monitor the Plan & Make Necessary Adjustments

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For Reducing SpendingMoney Saving Tips
And Ideas Covers Practically All Areas Of Household

How to Hire Your Financial Planner
By Sharma Vishal

How should I select a "true professional financial planner" who will help me get my financial plan, and provide me unbiased advice?

The answer to this question is simple.

Check the capability of the individual or the organization that you wish to hire as your financial planner. Ask some few simple questions such as:

A) What is the business model of the company? How does it earn its revenues?
B) What is the process that they would follow in building the financial plan? Have a look at a sample plan.
C) What is the team size? Their experience and qualifications?
D) Are their recommendations based on solid research or driven by commissions?
E) How long has the individual or the organization been in business? How many clients have they made financial plans for?
F) Can they give references of existing clients with whom you can speak?

Do a detailed discussion with your prospective financial planner. Once you are satisfied on all these parameters, then go ahead and sign him up as your financial planner.

What all should a financial plan do for you?
A comprehensive financial plan should help you set the following things right:
i) Protection requirements and how to meet them
ii) Emergency fund planning
iii) Your goals (Retirement, asset purchase, children's needs, etc) and the money that you would require to achieve them.
iv) Detailed cash flows to help you understand the movement in your plan
v) View on your current investments
vi) How should your investments be spread into various assets in line with your risk taking capacity
vii) Investment Recommendations

What should be the cost of your plan?
We saw in the previous article the various ways that you would have to pay for a financial plan (including in some cases where there is no charge). Investors often tend to associate the cost that they are willing to pay for a plan with the amount that they are going to invest. That is not correct. The price that you pay for getting your plan built is not just about the investment that you are going to make. You should look at the overall benefit that the exercise is going to bring to you in terms of how efficiently you would manage your personal finances with respect to all the points that have been mentioned above.

Word of caution:
Do not decide your financial planner purely on the basis of who is going to charge you the least fees. Please understand there are no free lunches. And to build a financial plan which is comprehensive and takes into account all your requirements, a premium charge will have to be paid.

Also, while a CFP is a desirable qualification, the absence of it may not be the most appropriate reason to not select your planner. The approach and the expertise matter a lot. Take into account the other questions as mentioned above.

Conclusion

It is important to do financial planning but it is equally important to hire the right financial planner. The value that the planner can add to managing your personal finances is going to far outpace the fee that you pay. So go ahead and create your financial plan today!

I am working with PersonalFN. PersonalFN provides Financial Planning, Investment Planning and Mutual Fund Research and Recommendation services to investors, who are looking to invest in India. PersonalFN also provides Financial Planning Calculators and Online Portfolio Tracker Software to track your investments.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharma_Vishal