Investors are bombarded with information on the best ways to invest and handle their finances. But they may not realize that much of the information they get about investing is driven by people selling products and services. Even financial articles are often written with a sales bias, and the information can be oversimplified to the point of being nearly useless.
Financial planning can seem complex and daunting because there are so many variables—income differences, tax considerations, varying goals and challenges, availability of workplace benefits, and the list goes on.
How can one tell if they’re being misled?
It’s hard to know whom to trust and where to get your information from.
Our history
This is where we at Paul Winkler, Inc. (PWI) come in. All of our offices are run by planners that have been in the profession for over 20 years. We all came into the industry from the traditional side: working for banks, wire-houses, mutual fund companies, and brokerage firms. Those experiences uniquely equipped us for now helping you avoid the pitfalls and traps that await the unwary investor.
We don’t believe most financial providers knowingly try to mislead the public, let us be clear about that.
The problem is that their level of education is often rudimentary at best. The primary training that we received when working for the big investment firms was how to sell the company’s products. We sounded like we knew what we were talking about, but that was only because the clients knew so much less than we did.
At PWI, we address this problem by requiring that all of our advisers have financial planning degrees (which is a rarity in the industry today). Our advisers also pursue advanced designations and none of them work on commission.
Our process
For those interested in our services, the process starts by looking at where you are now and assessing what you need to know. Few investors really understand the investments they currently own and that creates unease and discomfort around investing.
People tend to fear that which they don’t understand and second-guess their decisions—often at the worst times. This leads to under-accumulating for retirement and missing goals.
We educate you so you understand your investments. You don’t have to know everything, and you don’t have to be a math major to understand, but we believe that blind trust is a poor strategy when it comes to your financial future.
We want you to know what you’re doing and why.
People also struggle getting their finances organized. They may not understand how all the financial pieces fit together, and thus, miss opportunities that can lead to greater financial security.
We use financial planning techniques that cover your entire financial life, and we incorporate sophisticated software that allows us to analyze your situation, organize it into an easy-to-understand picture, and give you recommendations for moving forward.
Success vs. confusion
A tremendous amount of research has been done to identify the factors that cause some to reach financial success and others to remain confused and worried about their financial future. The answer frequently comes down to planning. Most people spend more time planning for vacations than their financial futures. The fear of the unknown, or the fear of “being sold” often causes people to avoid engaging in the process.
Want to learn more about what we do?
We believe the financial planning process ought to be fun, and it should never be driven by sales. We have found that the result of our coaching and planning is that the client—often for the first time in their life—gains a clear picture of their purpose. Their concerns are answered, and they lose the fear about their finances. They can finally relax about money because they understand where they want to go and how to get there.
The next step is up to you. It all starts with a free initial consultation in any of our offices throughout Middle Tennessee. Don’t wait another day! It’s time for you to Relax About Money™.
Plan a call with us to get started. It’s free and it only takes 15-minutes. Start by picking an adviser near you here.
Written by Paul Winkler
*Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc. (‘PWI’), a Registered Investment Advisor. PWI does not provide tax or legal advice: please consult your tax or legal advisor regarding your particular situation. This information is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed to be a solicitation for the purchase of sale of any securities. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. This shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicit any offer to buy a security or any insurance product.
