Your Life
TOUGH TIMES ON THE BENCH
Your Bench of Life™ may not always follow an easy path. There may be circumstances you face along the way which change the course of your financial future. We help you stay prepared for these unforeseen changes.
What this means to you is we are always there for you. We know you on a personal level and help you stay a step ahead of where you want to be in life. The real benefit we strive to provide is feeling confident about your financial decisions should your life take an unexpected turn.
DIVORCE / SEPARATION
Choosing to separate or divorce from your spouse or partner creates a deep sense of anxiety about your future financial security. You had planned to go through life as a couple and now that dream is coming to an end. Planning for a separation is about making wise choices with a clear mind. It involves carefully planning out all aspects of your life from where you are now to where you want and need to be. We help you plan for the future. What this means is we demonstrate personal care and help you reset a path for your financial future, both during and after your divorce. If there are children involved, we work to help you maintain the ability to care for your loved ones in the absence of a two-parent household. The more you plan the better position you will be in for this next phase on your bench of life. We take all the time needed to make sure you understand why suggestions are being made. We aim to become a friend to clients in the process, not just a financial advisor.
LOSING YOUR SPOUSE / FAMILY MEMBER
You spent the better part of your bench of life together and shared in each other’s key milestones. Now you are faced with the passing of your spouse or family member and are sorting through the grief and emotions. In addition to the loss of their love and companionship, you may have lost the person who made all the primary financial decisions for you and your family. You may be faced with healthcare expenses as a result of their passing, a loss of income and other debts and estate taxes. You are trying to find a new way forward. We go above and beyond to help see you and your family through this difficult time. What this means to you is we treat you with dignity and respect. We share in your loss. We help you build a new sense of confidence and discuss your questions openly.
Gateway Financial Partners and LPL Financial do not offer tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.
We are there to bring you a sense of confidence as you move forward with the next phase of your life.Managing through the financial, estate and probate process
- Making new choices for your financial future
- Consolidating and retitling financial accounts
- Making social security choices
- Understanding your finances as a single person
- Revisiting your beneficiaries and insurance planning
MARKET VOLATILITY
For many clients, accumulating and preserving money for the future is a top priority. The challenge is dealing with economic climates and market volatility. These challenges create confusion and fear for many investors, causing them to make emotional decisions with their money. You may feel you are in a decent place but worry that a bad stretch in the markets could put a dent in your plans. We work with clients to help them understand and stay on top of the markets as they relate to them. We can provide a wealth of market knowledge to investors. Volatility is a concern at any stage of life, but it becomes particularly concerning as you get older in retirement. We help you focus on managing through economic climates over the long haul. The real benefit we aim to provide is the confidence you gain knowing you have guidance throughout your bench of life.
LOSS OF YOUR JOB
Losing your job is a time of heightened anxiety, whether you saw it coming or not. It is one of those challenges on the bench of life that requires sound financial planning to avoid critical mistakes. Whether you had advance notice from your employer or not, there are steps you can take to help soften the impact on your finances through money management, budgeting and knowing your options. We help you carefully consider the impact of your financial decisions and reset your financial strategy to help preserve your financial independence.
- Managing your finances and spending
- Handling your 401(k), 403(b) or other retirement plan options
- Health insurance coverage and COBRA options
- Weathering household and market conditions
ILLNESS, ACCIDENTS AND ELDER CARE
Health and elder care planning can cause great uncertainty as you progress through the bench of life. Even if your finances are in a confident position right now, a period of poor health or an unprotected medical crisis could cause you to deplete some of your assets – potentially assets you are relying on for retirement. If you are a caregiver, you may be torn between caring for an elderly parent or providing for adult children who have not yet become self-sufficient. You may worry personally about being a burden on your children or loved ones in the future. We are here to help you work through these issues with caring and respect. We prepare you as much as possible for the unexpected and help you understand your options during the challenging times in life. The real benefit we aim to provide is having an advisor who is there for you to help make your future more confident.
- Understanding healthcare plans and the costs and headaches they can cause in the retirement process
- Allocating finances for healthcare, child care and elder parent care
- Reviewing disability income and long-term care insurance options
- Educating you on financial products with accelerated benefits for medical emergencies
- Navigating Medicare and Medicaid options