My neighborhood is in the middle of an enormous construction project. It’s chaos. Dump trucks and bulldozers are moving massive amounts of dirt to expand our roads and intersections to handle more traffic. A new retail shopping center and access road are also under construction. Commuters are challenged with lane closures, lane shifts, and traffic jams.
Our neighborhood is cluttered with barricades and orange pylons. It doesn’t look good. It may be this way for another year or two, but when it’s finished, it will look amazing.
Projects of this size require years of planning, vision, persistence, and grit. Developing a financial plan and building an investment portfolio also requires imagination and perseverance. Initially, your plan is a dream, and it will only take shape after you commit your goals to paper. The foundation for a successful investment experience is a financial plan. Your plan is your blueprint. Can you imagine construction workers working without a plan? I can’t.
A plan can take years, sometimes decades, to see it come to fruition. It’s challenging to plan for a retirement that’s more than 45 years away. Likewise, retirees might find it hard to rely on investments to generate a steady stream of lifetime income.
The construction projects succeed because electricians, plumbers, and masons have different specialties. Similarly, a successful investment portfolio requires investments scattered around the globe. Large, small, and international stocks deliver long-term growth. Bonds provide income and safety. Cash offers liquidity.
A general contractor coordinates and oversees the project and workers to keep it moving forward. A Certified Financial Planner® is your general contractor. He guides your steps to keep you focused on your goals and make appropriate adjustments.
Regular maintenance on buildings, lights, and sprinklers will keep the area looking good and functioning correctly for generations. Your portfolio will also need regular maintenance to weather market and economic cycles. Rebalancing your portfolio will keep your asset allocation and risk tolerance in check. Your financial plan needs reviewing annually to keep you focused on your goals. A monthly savings program should help your account grow.
A good plan doesn’t matter if you don’t implement it and follow the instructions. It’s imperative to put your plan into action so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.
“Plans are worthless. Planning is essential.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
September 9, 2019
Bill Parrott, CFP®, CKA® is the President and CEO of Parrott Wealth Management located in Austin, Texas. Parrott Wealth Management is a fee-only, fiduciary, registered investment advisor firm. Our goal is to remove complexity, confusion, and worry from the investment and financial planning process so our clients can pursue a life of purpose. Our firm does not have an asset or fee minimum, and we work with anybody who needs financial help regardless of age, income, or asset level.
Note: Investments are not guaranteed and do involve risk. Your returns may differ than those posted in this blog. PWM is not a tax advisor, nor do we give tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor for items that are specific to your situation. Options involve risk and aren’t suitable for every investor.