Financial Insights Blog

The Importance of Investment Planning: Building a Secure Financial Future

At Asset Strategies, we view investment planning as a crucial aspect of personal finance that involves setting financial goals, allocating resources, and strategically selecting investment vehicles to achieve those objectives. It provides a structured approach to managing your money, optimizing your resources, and ultimately building a secure financial future. This detailed explanation delves into the various facets of investment planning and highlights its significance in wealth creation, risk management, and achieving long-term financial objectives.

 

1.  Wealth Creation and Financial Goals:

Investment planning serves as a roadmap for creating wealth over time. By defining clear financial goals, individuals can identify their aspirations and quantify the resources needed to achieve them. These goals may include retirement planning, buying a home, funding education, starting a business, or achieving financial independence. Investment planning aligns your resources with these goals, helping you to accumulate the necessary funds through disciplined and targeted investing.

 

2.  Compound Interest and Time Value of Money:

One of the most powerful tools in investment planning is compound interest. Einstein referred to compound interest as the eighth wonder of the world. It allows your investments to grow not only on the initial principal but also on the accumulated interest over time. This compounding effect can significantly amplify your returns over the long term. Investment planning encourages an early start to investing, as time plays a critical role in capitalizing on the compounding phenomenon. The longer your money is invested, the greater its growth potential.

 

3.  Risk Diversification:

Investment planning emphasizes diversifying your investment portfolio to mitigate risk. Diversification involves spreading your investments across different asset classes (e.g., stocks, bonds, real estate, commodities) to reduce the impact of a poor-performing asset on your overall portfolio. This strategy helps to manage risk and minimize potential losses. A well-diversified portfolio is better equipped to weather market fluctuations and economic uncertainties.

 

4.  Inflation Hedge:

Inflation erodes the purchasing power of money over time. It is one of the most insidious forces working against your investment portfolio. Investment planning addresses this concern by seeking investments that have the potential to outpace inflation. Certain investment vehicles, such as stocks and real estate, historically have demonstrated the ability to provide returns that exceed inflation rates. By incorporating these assets into your portfolio, investment planning helps safeguard your wealth against the corrosive effects of inflation.

 

5.  Retirement Planning:

A significant aspect of investment planning is preparing for retirement. As traditional pension plans become less common, individuals must rely on their own savings and investments to support themselves during retirement. These include 401(k)’s, IRA’s, Roth IRA’s, 401(k) Rollovers, and 403(b) plans. Investment planning involves calculating how much money will be needed during retirement and determining how much to save and invest regularly to achieve that goal. By making informed investment choices, individuals can create a reliable income stream that sustains them throughout their retirement years.

 

6.  Tax Efficiency:

Investment planning takes into account the tax implications of various investment decisions. Certain investment vehicles offer tax advantages, such as retirement accounts (e.g., 401(k), IRA) that provide tax-deferred growth or tax-free withdrawals. By strategically allocating investments across taxable and tax-advantaged accounts, investment planning aims to minimize the tax burden on investment returns, allowing more of your money to work for you.

 

7.  Adapting to Life Changes:

Life is unpredictable, and circumstances change. Investment planning provides the flexibility to adapt to these changes. Whether it’s a career shift, marriage, starting a family, or unexpected expenses, a well-structured investment plan can be adjusted to accommodate new goals and challenges. At Asset Strategies, we keep the door of communication open, scheduling regular reviews of your investment plan to assess progress, make necessary modifications, and to help you stay on track to meet your financial objectives.

 

8.  Psychological and Emotional Benefits:

Investment planning also brings psychological and emotional benefits. Having a structured plan in place can reduce financial stress and anxiety. It provides a sense of control over your financial future, as you have a roadmap to follow. This confidence can prevent impulsive decisions driven by market volatility or short-term emotions, helping you stay committed to your long-term goals. Your investment advisor at Asset Strategies becomes your voice of reason in the midst of a chaotic market environment. This trusted relationship makes such a difference in tumultuous times.

 

9.  Legacy Planning:

Investment planning extends beyond an individual’s lifetime. It can involve creating a legacy for your heirs or charitable causes. By effectively managing and growing your wealth, you can leave a lasting impact on future generations or support causes that are important to you. This is Dave Ramsey’s baby step #7. Investment planning ensures that your financial legacy aligns with your values and intentions. If your goal is creating generational wealth, now is the time to partner with an advisor at Asset Strategies to help guide and implement a plan that achieves this goal.

 

10.  Professional Guidance:

While many individuals can undertake basic investment planning on their own, seeking professional guidance from financial advisors can provide additional expertise and tailored strategies. Financial advisors can help you understand your risk tolerance, analyze your financial situation, and create a personalized investment plan aligned with your goals and circumstances. At Asset Strategies, one of the biggest advantages of using an advisor at our firm is we keep the emotion out of the decision-making process. We’re able to look at your overall financial picture through an objective lens to keep you on track.

 

In conclusion, investment planning is a cornerstone of financial success. It empowers individuals to set clear financial objectives, harness the power of compound interest, manage risk, combat inflation, prepare for retirement, optimize tax efficiency, adapt to changing circumstances, and achieve both financial and emotional well-being. By creating a comprehensive investment plan, individuals can navigate the complexities of the financial landscape and pave the way for a prosperous and secure future.

 

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Jump to: Background  |  Financial Philosophy  |  Personal Background

Background: Ryan was born and raised in Omaha, NE. He has led Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University since 2012 and attended Ramsey Solutions Financial Coach Master Training in 2016. Also, in 2016, Ryan started Nelson Financial Coaching to help clients improve their behavior with money. Ryan is an investment advisor representative and registered representative holding series 7 and 66 registrations with Western International Securities.

Financial Philosophy: Ryan believes in being a guide to help clients on their financial journey. Ryan enjoys teaching and encouraging others. He believes clients should only invest in something that they truly understand. “I want to listen and understand your story. I want to know why you want to invest your money and what your financial goals are. That way we can create a plan together.” Ryan believes that one size does not fit all. Each client is different and helping them create a plan is what drives him every day.

Personal Background: Ryan currently lives in Elkhorn, NE with his wife Courtney. They have 3 daughters Zoey, Harper, and Maggie. Ryan and Courtney enjoy leading FPU at their church. Ryan enjoys spending time with family, reading books, and cooking with friends.

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Personal Background: Chrissie is a native of Nebraska, born and raised in Norfolk. She and her husband have 4 children, two boys and two girls. She loves to spend time with her family. Her favorite past time is cheering on the Huskers and her favorite hobby is running.

Personal Background: Mary is a native of Nebraska, born and raised in Wahoo. She and her husband have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. They thoroughly enjoy all of their antics and activities. In their “spare” time they also enjoy camping, golf, horseback riding, traveling and the Huskers.

Personal Background: Katherine is a native of Nebraska, born and raised in Aurora. After graduating from high school, she went on to study English at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Katherine moved to Omaha in 2006 to be closer to family. In her spare time, Katherine enjoys spending time with family and friends, relaxing at her family’s farm, being outdoors, and is an avid fan of tennis.

Personal Background: Sarah is a native of Nebraska, born and raised in Omaha. She has come to accept the unpredictable weather Nebraska offers. Sarah loves spending time with her husband and three children, cheering for her favorite sports team (Huskers, Royals, Packers and Thunder), reading, cooking and being outdoors.

Personal Background: Anna was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She recently received her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In her spare time, Anna enjoys spending time with her family and playing the guitar.

Jump to: Background  |  Financial Philosophy  |  Personal Background 

Background: If you had asked Mandy what she wanted to be when she was growing up, she would have said she wanted to be a dancer like her mom.  She never would have imagined herself following in her father’s footsteps instead, pursuing a career in the field of business.  After being a stay-at-home mom for 12 years and having personal experiences with her own financial advisors, she realized that this was the path for her.

Mandy has been in the industry since 2016.  Her undergraduate work was completed at The Master’s College, and she later earned her MBA from Bellevue University. She is an investment advisor representative and registered representative holding series 7 and 66 registrations with Western International Securities.  Mandy is a licensed fiduciary.

Financial Philosophy: As the common saying goes, “most people don’t plan to fail, they simply fail to plan” and Mandy understands that the topic of money is not generally something folks want to talk about.  Addressing one’s financial situation, for a variety of reasons, oftentimes gets pushed to the back burner.

Mandy enjoys educating her clients – ensuring they understand their investments and how they work.  She is passionate about building relationships, answering questions, and guiding her clients along the way.  She steps back and looks at the big picture, outlining a path for her clients to follow that leads them to their goals.  She is very passionate about this process, treats her client portfolios with the care and commitment she would her own, and finds her job extremely rewarding.

Personal Background: Mandy was born and raised in Montana. She has since traveled the world and now resides in Nebraska with her husband and three boys. She enjoys exercising, finding adventures outdoors with her family, and a good glass of wine over conversation with a friend.

Jump to: Background  |  Financial Philosophy  |  Personal Background  |  Quote

Background: Chadd Hoeft began his career in 1999 and co-founded Asset Strategies in 2002. Because of his experience, integrity, and professionalism, Chadd has been helping Dave Ramsey and Ramsey Solutions fans with their investments for nearly 19 years. Chadd believes in the principles that Ramsey Solutions teaches and serves each client using those investment philosophies. Chadd is an investment advisor representative and registered representative holding series 6, 7, 63, & 66 registrations with Western International Securities.

Financial Philosophy: Chadd believes that the best approach in helping clients is to get to know them personally. “It is important to sit down with the prospective client and take time to learn who they are.” Chadd strives to understand their financial concerns to identify areas in which he can add value to their lives. The next step is to educate the client on the game plan that has been built. “It is the client’s money; they need to be educated on how their accounts are being invested.” Furthermore, Chadd’s goal is to serve his clients over the long-term. “Whether it is the accumulation phase or the distribution phase, we want to be here to help our clients make good decisions.”

Personal Background: Chadd was born in Grand Island, grew up in Omaha, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His home is in Elkhorn with his wife Suzi, son Drew, daughter Campbell, and wheaten terrier, Wrigley. Chadd and his family’s Christian faith are very important to them. He happily serves on a couple of boards at their church. You’ll find Chadd spending time with family and friends and coaching Drew’s football, baseball, and basketball teams. He is an avid sports fan. If one of his favorite teams is playing, he will be watching with high interest.

"Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

Jump to: Background  |  Financial Philosophy  |  Personal Background  |  Quote

Background: Justin grew up on a farm ranch in Southwest Nebraska. Justin began his career as an advisor in 2000 and co-founded Asset Strategies in 2002. As an Investment Advisor Representative with Western International Securities, Justin has been helping Dave Ramsey and Ramsey Solutions fans with their investments for nearly 19 years because of his experience, integrity, and professionalism. Justin believes in sharing the same investment philosophies with his clients that Dave teaches on his program. He enjoys helping clients begin their journey to building wealth and helping clients manage the wealth they’ve already accumulated or inherited.

Financial Philosophy:

Justin tries to put himself in his client’s shoes when making recommendations. He values trusted and honest relationships, and that is the kind of advisor he wants to be for his clients. Additionally, Justin wants his clients to feel like they can come to him with all of their financial questions. “Whether it is about investing with us or making a personal financial decision outside of our company, I want my clients to feel comfortable talking to me about the decisions they are faced with.”

Justin is also knowledgeable and strives to educate his clients on the investing options they have. He does not believe “one size fits all”. “Each client has their own unique interests and situation, and I want to make sure my recommendations fit their individual goals.”

Personal Background: In his spare time, Justin enjoys coaching youth sports, reading, trips to the farm ranch, spending time with friends, and serving in his church. He lives in Plattsmouth, Nebraska with his wife Jenny, daughters Rachel and Ashleigh, and son Braden. Justin graduated from Hastings College with degrees in Business Administration and Economics. He is an investment advisor representative and registered representative and holds series 6, 7, 63 & 66 registrations.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

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