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A Guide to Financial Planning: Checklist

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First meeting

Discovery meeting. Ask as many questions as you would like to get to know the planner. Years of experience, references, and the like. A qualified planner will ask numerous questions including, but not limited to your income, expenses, net worth, investing experience, values, hobbies, and reasons for the visit.

Second meeting

Follow-up questions, review fee and cost arrangements.

Third meeting

Planning proposal, action items.

Items to Bring

These are the documents you would bring to a financial planner after your initial meeting. Although it is not an all-inclusive list, the documents listed would be required.

• Past two years tax filings (1040s)

• Latest bank statements: savings accounts, checking, CDs, etc.

• Last quarterly statements for:

Employer pension, deferred compensation plan

Qualified accounts: 401(k), SEP, IRA, Roth IRA, SAR-SEP, 457 plans

Investment brokerage accounts

Social Security statements

• Life insurance policies

• Disability insurance policies

• Health insurance policies

• Auto and homeowners insurance policies

• Liability insurance policies

• Financial statements

• Net worth statement, cash flow statement, balance sheet

• Current wills and trust documents

• Last billing statements on all debt

• List of all major tangible assets (real estate, business, etc.)