|
|
Article / Finance / Financial Planning | Post Comments |
Financial Planning and Wealth Management |
|
By : Bifmwebmaster , New Delhi , India 1.5.2010 Phone:(011) 23379718-19-20 Mail Now | |
What is Financial Planning ? Financial Planning is the process of meeting life goals through the proper management of finances. The objective of financial planning is to ensure that the right amount of money is available at the right time in the right hands. Ways by which Financial Planning can be undertaken ? 1. Cash Flow Management Incomes and expenditures can be better matched through the Plan. It assists in identifying whether borrowings are within prudent limits. 2. Insurance It usually takes care of unpredictable needs and as these needs can arise at anytime, insurance is extremely important. 3. Investment Planning With increased volatility in capital markets, there is a surge in demand for small saving schemes as a safe haven. Schemes like PPF, NSC, KVP, RBI bonds, Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, Post office MIS need to be part of asset allocation for investors. Although, it is good to keep some risk free investment in the portfolio as a part of overall asset allocation. 4. Retirement Planning Due to increase in longevity in life and growing expenses due to inflation sustaining the living standard during post retirement stage is a difficult task, so a wise investment of a nest egg during working life helps in lining comfortably during retirement stage The financial plan should help client in minimizing its tax liability and also maximizing its after-tax returns from your investments. 6. Estate Planning Estate planning is arranging for the transfer of property to legal heirs and to other beneficiaries, in a way that will, as much as possible, achieve its objectives. It is useful to everyone. Since every one has dreams and goals to be fulfilled, so even people earning small amounts of income should get their financial planning done, so that their limited income can be used more efficiently. How is it different from Wealth Management (WM) ? Wealth management sounds similar to Financial Planning (FP), it differs in the sense that Financial Planning is for one and all while WM is only for a select few. It relates more the management of plenty i.e. taking care of the needs of affluent clients as part of a long-term, consultative relationship, while FP aims at getting the most out of limited resources. What is a financial Plan ? Financial plan provides direction and meaning to financial decisions. It helps to understand how each financial decision can affect other areas of finances. For example, buying a particular investment product might help client save adequately to finance for its child's higher education or it may provide enough for a comfortable retirement. It includes a review of net worth, goals and objectives, investment portfolio, retirement planning, tax planning and insurance needs, as well as a plan for implementing client’s goals. After a plan is developed, what next ? The best plan is useless unless it is put into action. Hence the plan should be implemented in said manner, and review the plan when there is a lifestyle change such as marriage, death or divorce. The review also considers changing goals and circumstances. |