Concept Meeting

The first meeting that we have together is designed as a way for us to get to know each other. We need to understand who you are and what you are looking for in a financial advisory experience. You need to understand our philosophy as a firm and whether we are the type of firm that can meet your specific needs. There is no cost or obligation for this meeting. It is just a way for us both to conceptualize a future relationship and determine whether there is a good fit between you as the client and Lifeway as the firm.

If we are in agreement to move forward together, the first phase of financial planning would begin.

Initial Phase

Lifeway structures its financial planning services in two distinct phases. During the initial phase, a comprehensive planning process is used to develop and execute an initial financial plan. A flat fee is charged for the initial plan based on the complexity of the specific client situation. The areas covered include:

This initial planning phase will take many months and consist of multiple meetings for gathering information, establishing your goals and interests, developing options in meeting your goals, determining financial strategies, and executing you choices of action.

Ongoing Phase

At this point, both you and Lifeway will determine the suitability of moving into the ongoing phase of planning, where the financial planning process is revisited on a regularly scheduled basis. If we have been successful together during the initial phase of financial planning, the value of an ongoing, comprehensive planning process will be clear.

Our experience with other long-term clients has consistently demonstrated the value of the ongoing advisory relationship. Our knowledge and understanding of each client’s unique situation only deepens over time, expanding the needed approach to meet client goals and interests, whether as an observer, educator, facilitator, strategist, mediator, advocate, or coach.

Just as any business must consistently plan, measure, review, and adjust to be successful over a long time period, so must individuals and family groups. Although the goals, objectives and resources may be different, the general concepts and methods for successful planning are the same. Without a personal vision and a plan to execute that vision, you will fall into the plans of others and be subject to the whims of current circumstances, leading to an ongoing cycle of reactive planning.

You will normally meet with us two to three times per year during specified months, allowing for an ongoing, structured process of review, thought, and analysis. We consider you and every client to be very unique, with your own specific financial and human resources. Serving you and other clients in an exceptional way takes time, effort and a clear system of ongoing analysis and review. Because the minimum time required to meet the needs of every client is extensive, we limit the number of comprehensive financial planning clients within the firm.

A quarterly fee is charged for this periodic planning review and includes all meetings and communications throughout the year. And unlike many financial firms, Lifeway Financial has always taken a fiduciary approach to its financial planning and investment management process and is paid only by its clients in a true fee-only fashion.

In summary, the ongoing phase of financial planning is designed to provide you a safe environment where you can consistently learn, think, evaluate, process and proactively commit to actions that will lead you toward your lifeway goals.