Jim Lepp, CFP^®, CDFA^®
Trinity Financial Planning

Financial Services

I work with a network of accredited and accomplished professionals for business owners related to exit planning! For small business owners that have spent their lives building their business, my team will work with you to design/guide you through the exit process to maximize your ultimate outcome!

This is CORE. I'm a firm believer that the strategy (i.e."the Plan") should drive the tactics (investing, insurance, retirement, charitable giving, tax planning, estate planning, etc.). The plan can be comprehensive, or focused on one aspect of your financial life. The process isn't easy, but ultimately leads to your ability to implement the allocation of your resources in a manner that should enable your "best" outcome. The second part is that Planning is a process (evolves as your life evolves) and not a product!

This work is generally done on an hourly basis, and can be structured as a one-off engagement, or an annual subscription.

Ultimately portfolios are designed to accomplish goals/objectives. Desired rate of return and corresponding risk exposure defines actual securities/fixed income/alternatives selection. Mix and match strategic and tactical approaches are commonly used.

Retirement income planning (including Social Security withdrawal strategy) is a function of understanding desired lifestyle, and strategic account withdrawal to manage tax exposure. Legacy planning (including Charitable giving) also may factor in. Ultimately these plans should be monitored and updated as your new realities evolve.

Acknowledge risk first! Rollovers into an IRA (or ROTH if applicable) is a common practice, and becomes integrated into your comprehensive portfolio design.

From Life, to Disability, to Long Term Care...not most folks favorite topic, but one that once completed frequently brings a peace of mind that you are looking out for those you care for most! Long Term Care is complicated and is embedded in any Retirement planning I do.

Not all annuities are made the same, they vary from deferred to immediate, variable to structured to fixed, life time guarantees to something that basically acts as a standard portfolio (with tax benefits). My fiduciary pledge requires that the appropriate form, and then the best fitted solution is presented to my clients. Compensation may be commissioned or based on assets amount and is determined by your needs.

I am not an Estate Planning attorney and do not create documents. That said, a significant part of the CFP® curriculum deals with multiple estate designs and estate tax management. My comprehensive Financial Planning process also includes (as appropriate) a suggested design that can be used by your attorney

I am not a CPA and do not give specific tax advice.

I can generate reports that define how much you should save in a 529 Plan (monthly or annually). We'll also discuss which states plan should best serve your child's needs!

Ultimately investing should be driven by objectives (what do we want this money to do for you) and managed in a style to achieve the desired outcome while minimizing risk. I leverage academic (including those that have garnered Nobel Prizes in Economics) theories to structure the investment design.

Ultimately it's not just what you make, or earn, it's what you get to keep and then lever to achieve your desires and objectives. Strategic design is integral to effectively managing tax exposure, and leveraging tax and estate taxation laws. Separately Managed Accounts, frequently leveraging an individual or team of CFA's, may well be an appropriate solution to achieve your objectives.

Risk Management is frequently used as a code word for Insurance. I work with you to define appropriate amount and form of insurance (Term, Universal, Variable, etc.) is appropriate. I shop the market to align your need with a financially secure company that provides the coverage at the most competitive rates available.

First things first - the "B" word is the starting point. Once the BUDGET is defined, and processes are in place to track compliance, stepping stones are placed to manage and grow your burgeoning welath.