Financial Planning: Helping You See the Big Picture

Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a business, or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached.  That's where financial planning comes in. Financial planning is a process that can help you target your goals by evaluating your whole financial picture, then outlining strategies that are tailored to your individual needs and available resources.

Creating and implementing a comprehensive financial plan generally involves working with financial professionals to:

Connect -  Have an initial conversation and discover your needs

Explore - Uncover and understand your needs and objectives

Solve - Analyze findings and design holistic solutions

Collaborate - Review solutions and plan out a strategy

Implement * - Execute the strategy and follow up plan

Serve - Establish review meetings and monitor progress

Staying on track

The financial planning process doesn't end once your initial plan has been created. Your plan should generally be reviewed at least once a year to make sure that it's up-to-date. It's also possible that you'll need to modify your plan due to changes in your personal circumstances or the economy. Here are some of the events that might trigger a review of your financial plan:

• Your goals or time horizons change

• You experience a life-changing event such as marriage, the birth of a child, health problems, or a job loss

• You have a specific or immediate financial planning need (e.g., drafting a will, managing a distribution from a retirement account, paying long-term care expenses)

• Your income or expenses substantially increase or decrease

• Your portfolio hasn't performed as expected

• You're affected by changes to the economy or tax Laws

When should you consult a professional?

You don't have to wait until an event occurs before consulting a financial professional. Having someone help you develop an overall strategy for approaching your financial goals can be useful at any time. However, in some cases, a specific life event or perceived need can serve as a catalyst for seeking advice. Such events might include:

• Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse

• Having a baby or adopting a child

• Planning for a child's or grandchild's college education

• Buying or selling a family business

• Changing jobs or careers

• Planning your retirement

Financial planning services are offered only thorugh approved Financial Planners of MML Investors Services, LLC.

* Financial plan recommendations can be implemented with the advisor of your choosing.  Implementation of specific products or services may result in commissions or fees outside of the financial plan fee.  Periodic reviews of your financial plan may require a new planning agreement and result in addional fees.