Our Process

Every client is unique and we customize solutions for each depending on their needs. Once we’ve put everything in place, many meetings can be done over the phone, but initially if possible we prefer to have face to face meetings. We find it best when we follow the process as outlined below. (Click the links to open any forms you need to complete and bring along.)

Of course many times meetings are combined or split, but typically we would have the following meetings in the following order:

  1. Introductory
  2. Discovery
  3. Strategy
  4. Implementation
  5. Review

1. Introductory Meeting
Time: ½ – 1 ½ hours
What to Bring: Completed Pre-Client Questionnaire

Description:
Introductory Meetings are designed to provide both of us with the opportunity to see if there is a fit between what we can do for you and what you need done. They give each of us the information we need to decide whether it makes sense to move towards the next step in the financial planning process. In this meeting we’ll provide you with an overview of how we work and who we are. Then we’ll go on to explore your hopes and dreams for what your money will do for you.

2. Discovery Meeting
Time: ½ – 3 hours
What to Bring: Completed Personal Financial Profile
Items listed in Bring to Discovery Meeting list

Description:
Before we begin developing your investment strategy, we take a good, hard look at where you are today. We ask you to bring in everything financial so that we can appropriately assess your investment goals, available resources, desired rate of return, and risk tolerance. This research allows us to customize a plan to fit your specific needs. Obviously the more complicated your financial life the longer it takes for us to properly assess it.

3. Strategy Meeting
Time ½ – 2 hours
What to Bring: Yourself

Description:
Once we’ve discovered everything about you financially, we develop a unique Personal Financial Policy Statement - a blueprint that will summarize your financial needs and concerns, what we’re doing about them, when we last reviewed them and when we expect to re-visit them. When that blueprint is in place, we will have a Strategy Meeting. Here we will go over recommended strategies, ask you to confirm our assumptions and answer any questions.

4. Implementation Meeting
Time ½ – 2 hours
What to Bring: Proof of ID (Drivers License, Passport, etc.), cheque book

Description:
This is where you sign on the dotted line. We’ve discovered where you are, where you want to go and we’ve figured out how you’re going to get there. In this meeting we answer any remaining questions and sign all the necessary paperwork to set you up as a new client and to make your initial investments.

5. Review Meetings
Time ½ – 1 ½ hours
What to Bring: Yourself

Description:
Our interest in your success doesn’t stop after Implementation. We carefully monitor your progress and provide you with updates that summarize your activity, contacting you regularly to let you know where you stand and giving you the opportunity to express any concerns or ask any questions. We notify you when we feel it’s time to make periodic adjustments or to rebalance your portfolio, ensuring that our strategies stay on track with your needs.

Periodically we will have a Review Meeting in person, or by phone. In these meetings we discuss changes in your life situation and how they might affect your finances. We review your Personal Financial Policy Statement and your ability to sleep at night with the investments you hold. We’ll check to see if there are other aspects of your financial life that need looking at.


©2012 Investment Planning Counsel ~ Last updated: Jan 13, 2012 at 1:43 PM ~ Privacy ~ Legal ~ Accessibility

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for BC residents only and does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit sales in any other Canadian or foreign jurisdictions.