Does it feel like you are constantly juggling family, career, and social events? Are you looking for direction on how to spend wisely and protect your family? As a prime time saver, you know the importance of thinking about future goals and finances but feel you just don’t have the time on your own to do it ‘right’? With APC’s planning and investment services, we’re focused on your future so you can focus on your today.
Prime time savers Amy and Kent Allred are hitting their stride. At ages 36 and 38, life is full and occasionally overwhelming! Amy is a self-employed bookkeeper which gives her a flexible schedule to navigate raising their 10-year-old daughter (Faith) and 7-year-old son (KJ). Kent is climbing the corporate ladder as a regional manager for a chain of home improvement stores.
The APC Way
We focus on your future so you can focus on your today. We call it Financial Life Planning.
With her skillset, the family’s money management falls under Amy’s jurisdiction but lately, she has felt stressed by the many decision points facing a maturing household. Do they have enough life and disability insurance? Should they open 529 college savings accounts for the children? Kent went to a state university, but Amy coveted her experience at a small private liberal arts school. What will they be able to afford?
The APC Way
We sweat the small stuff (and the big stuff), so you don’t have to. We coordinated an insurance review with an independent insurance advisor. We also helped the Allreds set up 529 College Savings Plan accounts, investing in the age-based funds for Faith and KJ. Our analysis showed that their current and future college savings could fund most of a four-year state university’s future tuition.
The Allreds bought their home six years ago. They feel at a crossroads, do they want to stay-in-place though a bit cramped? Have they missed the opportunity to refinance their mortgage? Or, should they marshal their resources to move into a bigger home, preferably with an acre or two of elbow room?
The APC Way
When big decisions are needed, we are your financial planner-in-a-pocket to provide guidance and analysis.
Retirement seems so far away, still, are they on track? Amy wonders if they are saving enough? Kent is only contributing up to the company match in his 401(k) but he also receives annual stock options from his employer. Amy has a little money in a Roth IRA, but she has read about self-employed retirement plans.
The APC Way
A financial plan constructs a pathway to financial independence at retirement. With periodic “What if?” reviews and updates, we check your wealth building progress, and help you make course adjustments when needed. We recommended that Kent increase his 401(k) contribution to 10%; and, we helped Amy set up a SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension Plan).
Last year, Kent inherited $450,000 from his grandmother. The Allreds aren’t sure how to use the windfall and it has been languishing in a basic savings account. Both Amy and Kent acknowledge that their approach to investing has been somewhat haphazard – basically following the advice of co-workers or family members. Kent likes his company stock but feels the stock market is like gambling with hard-earned money. Amy wants to invest wisely and see their money grow.
The APC Way
We help smart, motivated people make wise investment choices. Good stewardship involves creating an investment strategy, careful research, diversification, and ongoing review. We helped the Allreds set aside part of the windfall as a “House Fund;” we added the remaining inheritance to their APC-managed portfolio by dollar-cost-averaging (regular scheduled purchases spread over months to smooth out the effects of market volatility).
Amy said she felt relieved to have APC’s expertise and counsel supporting so many important financial decisions. Kent said he was relieved that Amy was relieved!