What guidelines need to follow in financial planning?

Answer 1

The Financial Planning Process

The financial planning process consists of the following six steps as described below. It is so much more important and relevant in light of the Proposed financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Bill 2000.

1. Establishing and defining the client-planner relationship:

   The financial planner should clearly explain or document the services to be provider to the client and define both his and the client's responsibilities. The financial planner should explain fully how he will be paid and by whom. The financial planner and the client should agree on how long the professional relationship should last and on how decisions will be made.

2. Gathering client data, including goals:

   The financial planner should ask for comprehensive information about the client's financial situation. The financial planner and the client should mutually define the personal and financial goals of the client, understand the client's time frame for results and discuss the client's risk profile and risk tolerance. The financial planner should gather all the necessary documents before providing the client with advice.

3. Analysing and evaluating the client's financial status:

   The financial planner should analyse the client's information to assess the client's current situation and determine what the client must do to meet their goals. Depending on what services the client has asked for, this could include analysing the client's assests, liabilities and cash flow, current insurance coverage, investments or tax strategies.

4. Developing and presenting financial planning recommendations and/or alternatives:

   The financial planner should offer financial planning recommendations that address the client's goals, based on the information provided by the client. The financial planner should go over the recommendations with the client to help the client understand them, so that the client can make informed decisions. The financial planner should also listen to the client's concerns and revise the recommendations as appropriate.

5. Implementing the financial planning recommendations:

   The financial planner and the client should agree on how the recommendations will be carried out. The planner may carry out the recommendations or serve as a "coach" to the client, co-ordianting the whole process with the client and other professionals such as an insurance agent, investment adviser, attorneys or stockbrokers.

6. Monitoring the financial planning recommendations:

   The financial planner and the client should agree on who will monitor the client's situation and adjust the recommendations, if needed, as circumstance require.