Our Philosophy & Process
Our Philosophy & Process
Philosophy
At Walden, we don’t believe in a “One Size Fits All” approach; rather, we take a holistic approach that considers your specific situation in creating individualized plans. We build on the interconnected nature of all six pillars of financial planning: cash flow, income protection/insurance, wealth accumulation/investing, retirement planning, estate planning and tax efficiency. Each component fits beautifully into the whole plan when managed effectively.
We believe in empowering you with knowledge. We guide you with recommendations that we carefully explain, always looking ahead at how we can help you accomplish your goals. As salaried employees of Walden Savings Bank, you can rest assured that our commitment is to you, allowing us to openly explore strategies designed to benefit you without outside conflicts of interest. And we believe in giving back. We regularly support local nonprofits in an effort to uplift our entire community.
Our Process
1) Understand and define goals
The most important step in our process is the first step. We take time to understand you and your priorities. Pinpointing your specific goals can be a daunting task. We can help you explore your values, priorities and interests to help you define them. We begin a relationship built on mutual trust and understanding.
2) Review and Analyze Data
We seek to thoroughly understand the strengths and weaknesses of your financial situation so that we can begin to develop strategies for reaching the goals you have set.
3) Make Recommendations
We balance multiple factors in developing recommendations for you. We assess how much risk you can comfortably tolerate relative to your age, income, retirement timeline and financial commitments. We look at ways to integrate protections to help minimize risk. We never give just one recommendation. We always offer a recommendation with alternative options, explaining the pros and cons of each decision. As your partner, we guide and educate, helping you get onto the path for reaching your goals.
4) Implement
After establishing a thorough understanding of the recommendations, including risk, fees and expenses, we create a plan to help you manage your assets. We leverage other local professional partners in this process, working closely with CPA’s and elder/estate attorneys to ensure proper implementation.
5) Monitor
Your financial plan is dynamic because your life is dynamic. Life changes, and we’re prepared to change with it. If obstacles arise that slow down our progress, we stay on course, making adjustments when necessary to keep you on a path to reach your goals. To stay on top of your changes, we can meet as often as you like. We are here to guide, encourage, educate and advise. We are here for you.