Hello,

The Normandy Group provides regular blog posts under our Insights Tab at www.normandygroup.com/insights.  We’ve been doing this since January 2020.   Our blog highlights topics such as the core disciplines of financial planning and current events that pertain to the financial world.  Normandy’s blog may be a valuable resource for those who are seeking information about the financial planning process. The Normandy team is passionate about providing a high level of service to our clients and we hope our blog is seen as informative and interesting.

Let’s look at some blog articles that focus on estate planning, especially right here in Colorado.

The blog, “Creating an Estate Plan, 4 Reasons to Start Today!” (9/14/20) emphasizes four reasons to create an estate plan.  These reasons include but are not limited to:

• Safeguarding your family’s wealth
• Minimizing your relatives’ tax burden
• Avoiding the probate process
• Leaving the world a better place through philanthropic planning

Another blog article providing essential information regarding estate planning is “Estate Planning Basics for Colorado Residents ” (11/23/20).  This blog post focuses on several key estate planning fundamentals including this excerpt about living probate in the context of retirement planning:

“Retirement and estate planning should prepare for a potential living probate.  Living probate refers to the court’s management and supervision of your estate should you become legally incapacitated.  Though no one wants to think of such a situation, it is important to ponder it simply because the body and the mind do not last forever.  With a living probate, the court will appoint a Conservator and a Guardian.  One person can serve in the capacity of both.  Generally, a Conservator manages financial matters, and a Guardian is responsible for ensuring you have the proper medical care, clothing, shelter, sustenance, etc.

Meet with your estate planning attorney to proactively designate an individual(s) to act as your Conservator and/or Guardian.  Typically, a Conservator will be nominated within a financial power of attorney and a Guardian will be nominated within a medical power of attorney.  That is why powers of attorney play an essential role of an effective estate plan.

Further, it is important to establish these documents before you become incapacitated as there is no guarantee your incapacitation will prove temporary.  It is possible poor health, an accident or another unfortunate development will leave you permanently incapacitated throughout your life. Selecting qualified people who will accept and act in these roles is imperative.  They will be responsible for caring for you and ultimately ensuring your assets are distributed to beneficiaries without significant reductions due to mismanagement or neglect”.

Estate planning requires a proactive and collaborative approach between one’s financial planner and estate planning attorney.  This team of specialists may also include a client’s CPA.  The Normandy Group’s CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals are thrilled to be a part of this team.

Furthermore, the blog article “Colorado Estate Planning Documents Explained” (12/7/20) explores essential documents that may be implemented in an estate plan.  Topics include:

• planning for the management of your affairs if you become ill or incapacitated
• planning to bequeath your assets after your death
• establishing other useful documents

In addition to estate planning, The Normandy Group Blog has articles which offer information on a variety of subjects within financial planning.

Here are some investment planning blog posts.

“Investment Management in Lakewood CO: Do You Need It? ” (4/19/2021) touches on some of “the basics” of investment management:

“Chances are you have heard of investment management in passing yet you might not fully understand what these two words mean.   Investment management is a strategic approach to assembling an investment portfolio comprised of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and additional investments.

If you have a healthy emergency fund and ample savings, you may want to convert some of your cash into investments through a carefully crafted investment management strategy. A professional Lakewood, CO financial advisor can help to implement a truly effective plan for you, ultimately liberating you to square your focus on your career, family, and hobbies.

Building and managing a portfolio of stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, money market accounts, CDs and additional investments is easier said than done.  This is the type of project that requires a detailed analysis of a client’s retirement planning goals, the economy, investment options, and other considerations.

The overarching purpose of investment management is to custom tailor an investment portfolio with an individual’s goals and risk tolerance in mind. The aim is to reduce volatility while giving investors the potential to expand wealth through an array of diverse investment vehicles. Lean on a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional to help you create a strategic investment management strategy that lives and breathes with you, one that is able to change in unison with your life events as well as the economy.

A prudent investment management strategy can also:

• Help you reach your retirement goal in a timely manner
• Set a financial foundation for your family in the event of your premature departure from this plane of existence
• Mitigate your tax burden “

When managing investment assets it is critical to tailor these efforts towards your unique financial situation and goals. If your situation or goals change a review of your investment strategy is needed in order to make adjustments to your plan, as these are “living and breathing” plans, just like you.

Another investment planning article included in our blog ”What Is the Best Way To Manage Your Investments?” (1/18/2021) touches on The Normandy Groups approach to investment management and some of the basic concepts towards investment planning such as:

• Link your investment strategies to your goals:

“Investment management should be linked to specific goals. Are you investing for retirement, for example, or to fund extensive travel? Without specific goals in mind for your disposable income, you’re traveling without a road map.

Write down your short- and long-term goals and allocate your money to reach them within a specific time frame. Do you want to retire in 20 years, for instance? Then that’s the time horizon for your retirement investments.”

• Know the basics of investing:
  • Understand the Risk Reward Profile of asset classes
  • Evaluate your risk tolerance
  • Manage asset Allocation in Portfolios

• Utilize a Financial Advisor

“Financial advisors are professionals in managing portfolios, including strategizing asset allocation and maximizing reward while minimizing risk.”

Some of the information included in these articles may be a reminder to many of you, but we hope this is a resource for you and your families. Of course, our team is always here to be of assistance, but if you are looking to brush up on some of your financial knowledge please visit our blog page, www.normandygroup.com/insights. Here you can find these articles and many more touching on additional topics such as tax planning, financial planning & retirement planning.

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professionals and Certified Estate Planners™ at The Normandy Group offer serious financial insights for today’s complex world.  By combining investment, tax, risk transference techniques and estate planning strategies we can help you to provide clarity to your goals. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.

The Normandy Group Team is ready to quarterback your wealth planning needs now and into the future.  Thank you for your continued confidence and trust.

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