Knowing What You Don't Know: What an ... - Ultimate Estate Planner

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Knowing What You Don’t Know: What an Effective Financial Plan Anticipates By Jason Oshins, MBA Mark Twain said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” More often than not, planning is done as though the world is linear. Advisors and clients make assumptions as though life moves in a straight line and nothing unexpected ever occurs. Then, when the unexpected occurs – and it will – the plan collapses. An effective plan is dynamic, anticipating and addressing what it can, and preventing the unexpected from derailing a desired future existence. Furthermore, it builds in buffer to absorb the unexpected. This article helps clients understand what can go wrong, determine the importance of addressing these areas, and develop an action plan for mitigating them.

between clients and advisors. By answering a series of questions with honesty and confidence, the client can identify and close gaps. After all, the sooner a threat is identified, the sooner it can be addressed and marginalized. With this self-assessment, clients will gain an understanding of their level of exposure to those threats that can derail their plans. And with this understanding, they can partner with their advisor to create a priority list, action plan, and timeline for addressing the unexpected.

Oftentimes, an advisor and client will plan based on basic linear assumptions[1]. “You will get 8% every year. You’ll never get sick and need to take time off from work. Somebody else – not you or your children – will get divorced or get sued or get into an accident. Taxes will be lower once you’re in retirement. You’ll never require long term care assistance when you age. Inflation won’t prevent you from enjoying your money.” And on and on and on!

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The reality? The part that “you know for sure that just ain’t so”, in Mark Twain’s words? Life happens! Both good and bad events occur, and they occur unexpectedly. Life changes its mind. And then what does it do? It changes its mind again. At times the surprises are good, at times great, at times bad, and at times downright awful. However, no matter how many surprises occur, the plan must work. Pure and simple. The alternative – a plan not working – is unacceptable. So, how do we achieve success when the pressures of life seemingly conspire against us? This worksheet provides a framework for assessing a plan’s preparedness. While far from comprehensive, it’s a strong starting point, serving to provoke thinking and discussion

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1.

Answer each “what if” question for the series of statements

2.

Circle all “what if” questions with (a) a high level of impact and (b) for which you don’t have absolute confidence you’ve addressed it comprehensively

3.

Prioritize those you circled according to magnitude of impact to you or your family

4.

Create a 60-day action plan[2] for addressing these threats

5.

Repeat for those with a medium level of impact

6.

Create a 180-day action plan incorporating these additional threats

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“What if” questions an Effective Plan Must Address 1. What if I/partner die sooner than expected? 2. What if I/partner get sick or injured and experience prolonged loss of income? 3. What if I/partner live longer than expected, thus requiring wealth to last longer than expected? 4. What if I, spouse, child, or loved one is sick or injured and requires care?

I worry about this.

I know somebody who’s been impacted by this.

If this were to occur, the level of impact would be _______.

I am absolutely confident I have addressed this comprehensively.

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

5.

What if I haven’t saved enough?

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

6.

What if taxes are higher in the future?

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

10. What if I get divorced?

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

11. What if I get sued?

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Yes ----- No

Low -- Med -- High

Yes ----- No

7. What if inflation is greater than expected? 8. What if my investments don’t perform as well as anticipated? 9.

What if tax laws change?

12. What if I experience temporary job loss? 13. What if my child requires more financial assistance than anticipated (college costs, special needs, boomerang child, etc.)? 14. What if I/partner require long term care assistance? 15. What if parents run out of money and/ or require long term care assistance?

An effective plan – one that works no matter what – anticipates and provides for the unexpected. It provides buffer to absorb the unexpected. It’s dynamic. It’s not based on linear assumptions that can’t possibly come true. Mark Twain also said, “Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.” Life happens. An effective plan knows this and anticipates this. An effective plan works. To return to the online article, click here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jason Oshins is a Financial Advisor with Wealth Strategies Group. He works closely with clients throughout the country to increase wealth during lifetime, improve income during retirement, and provide a greater legacy upon passing, while also protecting their estate from taxes, inflation, and market volatility. He specializes in the areas of estate planning, investments, retirement planning, insurance planning and design, disability protection, long-term care, wealth transfer, and business planning. Jason obtained his MBA from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He can be reached at (702) 735-4355 x218 or at [email protected]. This material contains the current opinions of the author but not necessarily those of Guardian or its subsidiaries and such opinions are


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subject to change without notice. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents, and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), 6455 S. Yosemite Street, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, 303-770-9020. Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Wealth Strategies Group is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. 2016-28877 Exp. 9/18 _______________________________________________________________

CITATIONS [1] This list could have a seemingly infinite number of items. Included are several additional examples. Have they saved sufficiently? Will retirement last longer than they anticipate, thus requiring their wealth to last longer? Will their parents outlive their wealth? Will their parents need long term care assistance? Will their children require additional assistance? Will their children’s college last longer than four years? Will inflation be greater than anticipated? Etc. [2] A simple action plan template for an advisor and client to use includes rows of “what if” items listed in priority order along with columns of (1) action to take, (2) beginning date, and (3) completion date. Ultimately, whatever commits the client to action to address the “what ifs” is effective. Once clients understand the critical nature of addressing a specific threat, the role of the advisor is to prevent procrastination.


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