Financial planning steps toward a better future

Having a general idea of the financial planning steps will help you understand where you're going and why some steps must be done before other.

The International Organization for Standarization (ISO) is the largest body which develops and publishes International Standards and has published the standard ISO 22222:2005 Personal Financial Planning - Requirements for financial planners.

In ISO 22222:2005, there are six financial planning steps which we will describe below. However, keeping in mind that this standard's document is developed for professional financial planners, we've modified the description and order of each step to make it simple to apply to your personal situation.

Step 1 - Gather information and determine goals and expectations.

In this step you gather the facts you need to take a snapshot of your present financial situation or that of your family. You will want information such as: bank accounts, bank loans, credit cards, pension savings plans, income tax returns, investments, insurance policies, will, professional services receipts, etc.

This photograph with be developed in your personal (or family) balance sheet and budget.

Once you have gathered all this information you can begin to build the dream you want for your life and using these dreams develop reasonable objectives.

Step 2 - Analyze and evaluate your financial state.

In the second financial planning step and with your balance sheet, budget and goals you'll begin an evaluation of your financial situation.  In general you'll be looking for answers to these questions:

In this stage you'll do a basic analysis of risks to identify those which could prevent you from getting what you want.

Step 3 - Develop your financial plan.

Once you know the risks which can prevent your from getting where you want to go, your plan can be built on a firm foundation. In other words you know where to focus your efforts.  All that's needed now is to decide where to begin and to do so later we'll use the guide of the financial planning pyramid.

The general idea is that you go step by step from the basic protection, through increasing riches and finally passing on the fruit of your labor to your loved ones. In other words from your financial security plan to financial freedom.

Step 4 - Implement your financial plan

If all you do is plan it won't do you any good.  Putting your plan into action needs enthusiasm, commitment and discipline.

In this step it is normal to seek the advice of other professional like insurance agents, tax specialists, financial planners, etc. to act on certain parts of your plan.  After all, you shouldn't try to manage your finances on your own but as a team to achieve better results.

The big difference is that when you have a plan, or at least an outline, you know before you start what you want and your basic needs so that your relationship with any one of these professionals is on your terms. And believe that makes the difference, I assure you.

Step 5 - Monitor your financial plan

Measuring your progress and making adjustments to your plan is very important because both the circumstances under which you made you plan, together with your life itself are constantly changing.  What do you do if you learn that you're about to have triplets when you were planning to have a baby? It may be great news, but it is also a motive to multiply at least some parts of your plan by three.  As such, your financial success will depend on how quickly you can adapt to these changes.

Ideally you should monitor your plan monthly or perhaps semi annually, but, at least, once a year. Adjust your objectives, evaluate possible new risks and take action according to the circumstances.

Also, you need to be prepared for time when things don't turn out the way you plan.  It's impossible that everything turns out perfectly, but this is no reason to lose heart but, instead,  attempt to make the best of the opportunities which turn up every day.  Besides, when the unexpected happens we can fact it in the best way with our plan in hand and be thankful we have it.

Now that you understand what are the steps in financial planning and what you need to do for each, you have a general idea of the financial planning process. Is it easy?  Not really.  Can you do it?  Absolutely!

Wait a minute!  Didn't we say there were six financial planning steps?  You're right, and the sixth step is ...

Step 6 - Define and establish your relationship with a financial planner

This is the first of the financial planning steps described in the ISO 22222:2005 mentioned at the beginning and it applies when you decide that you'll need the services of a financial planner.  In this case, you need to clearly state the conditions under which you will both work.

We've left this step to the last because it is difficult to decide whether or not you need a financial planner if you don't at least know what involves the financial planning steps. Now you certainly have an idea of what this entails.

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