Financial Planning

When it's comprehensive financial planning guidance you want you'll find our big-picture approach is what sets us apart from all other financial advisors who may have been trained to focus only on one aspect of your finances. We follow six distinct steps to help you get the most out of the financial planning process:

Establish the client-planner engagement

We will:

• Explain issues and concepts related to the overall financial planning process that are appropriate to you.
• Explain the services we will provide and the process of planning and documentation.
• Clarify each of our responsibilities

Gather client data and determine your goals and expectations

We will:

• Obtain information about your financial resources and obligations through interviews and questionnaires.
• Gather all the necessary documents before giving you the advice you need.

Clarify your present financial status and identify any problem areas and opportunities

We will:

• Analyze your information to assess your current situation (cash flow, net worth, tax projections, etc.).
• Identify any problem areas and opportunities.

Develop and present the financial plan

We will:

• Develop and prepare a financial plan tailored to meet your goals and objectives, values, temperament and risk tolerance, while providing projections and recommendations.
• Present the customized report to you and establish an appropriate review cycle.

Implement your financial plan

We will:

• Assist you in implementing the recommendations discussed if you want. This may involve coordinating contacts with other professionals such as investment advisors, accountants, insurance agents and lawyers.

Monitor the financial plan

We will:

• Agree on who will monitor and evaluate whether your plan is helping you progress towards your goals.

If we are in charge of the process, we will:

• Contact you to review the progress of your plan periodically and make adjustments to the recommendations required to help you achieve your goals.

This review will include:

• A discussion about changes in your personal circumstances and how they might affect your goals.
• A review and evaluation of the impact of changing tax laws and economic circumstances.
• A review of your life circumstances and an adjustment of the recommendations if needed as those circumstances change through life events such as a birth, illness, marriage, retirement, etc.

Financial planning is an ongoing process, and Tactical's big-picture approach will help you get the most out of the financial planning process.

Asset Allocation

Tactical's proprietary Asset Allocation Analyst (TM) service directs the firm's overall investment process. Using research, personal experience and a disciplined investment process we're able to apply uniform decisions among clients with similar objectives and risk tolerances. Our extensive database contains over 35 years of historical returns and statistical data permitting us to apply a scientific approach to the construction of investment portfolios.

Asset allocation in simple terms, is the way an Investor divides up his or her portfolio: so much in stocks, so much in bonds, and so much in cash equivalents. Another distinction is the allocation between Canadian and International stocks and bonds.

Asset allocation is the largest single influence on portfolio returns.* It is a proven way to provide Investors with the highest possible return for a given level of risk.

Finally, asset allocation is the cornerstone of any sound investment strategy - the best way of translating client objectives into an efficient portfolio of stocks, bonds or cash.

 Model Balanced Portfolio

Each of our portfolios, like the one illustrated, have been constructed in keeping with the historical risk/return characteristics, as well as assumptions for the six major asset classes. This strategic asset allocation benchmark is complemented by our tactical asset allocation calls.

Tactical Asset Allocation (TAA) - shifting portfolio weightings to favour more attractive assets is carried out on a quarterly basis. It is important to note that the goal is not to time the market and be 100% in equities or 100% in bonds at any one time. That would defeat the purpose of having a long-term benchmark. Instead, TAA is a complement to "Strategic Asset Allocation": it calls for tilting a benchmark portfolio towards those assets which have the most favourable outlook for the next 12 months and to tilt it away from those with poorer prospects.

Portfolio management is an ongoing process, and Tactical's proprietary Asset Allocation Analyst (TM) service will help you take a structured, disciplined and ongoing approach to managing your portfolio.

* Source:Financial Analysts Journal, G.P. Brinson, B.D. Singer and G.L. Beebower

To inquire further about our Comprehensive Wealth Management Solutions please see our Contact Us page.