10 Myths of Financial Planning

Unfortunately, most Americans do not know the true value of a financial planner. To most, financial planner, investment advisor, financial advisor, financial consultant, etc. all pretty much mean the same thing. To help you gain some clarity, here are some common myths.

Myth 1: I need to have some investments before I’ll have a need for a CFP.

Investing is about one fifth of what financial planning is all about. There is also money management, risk management and insurance, income tax planning, retirement planning and estate planning. And to the extent that you don’t reduce your insurance expenses and income taxes and develop the discipline to start saving the amount needed to fund your retirement, you won’t have any investments to need advice about.

Myth 2: I (or my stockbroker, or the managers of my mutual funds) can beat the market.

So can about half of all orangutans flinging darts at a list of stocks. In any given year, there are many managers and investors who beat the market due to luck. But over the long haul, very few active managers beat the market because of management fees and transaction costs, and because they are wrong. Timing and beating the market consistently is nearly impossible

The wonder is not that people like Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch exist, but that more of them do not exist. Based on pure probability, there should be hundreds or thousands more like them, but there are not. Why is that? The market is a giant, efficient pricing mechanism that instantly incorporates new information into securities prices. Since all known information and all expected future events are already reflected in securities prices, prices are fair, and very few abnormal profit opportunities exist net of expenses (or at least you can’t take advantage of them.) What causes prices to change is new, unexpected information reaching the market. Since no one can consistently predict the future, no one can consistently beat the market, unless they are lucky and repeatedly guess correctly.

Myth 3: My estate won’t be subject to tax.

While that will probably be true for the first spouse to die, it will not be true for the surviving spouse, though life insurance can pay much if not all the tax bill. Not only may your spouse or children be subject to taxes, but estate planning is not all about taxes - it is also about control and proper asset distribution.

Myth 4: All of my insurance is in order.

We have yet to meet a client who did not have inadequate limits, unnecessary coverage or inappropriate deductibles. Additionally, consumers are generally unaware of all the factors that need to be considered for each type of policy whether it is life insurance, disability insurance, critical illness insurance or car insurance.

Myth 5: I’m saving enough for retirement.

Most Americans aren’t, and most underestimate the amount of money they’ll need. The only way that one will know the amount they need for retirement is to create a financial plan that sets out specific goals you wish to prepare for, and after this you can then determine the capital you will need to set aside to accomplish your very personal goals. It is when you know the amount needed at the end of your working career are you able to know the amount of money you will have to set aside each month to achieve the retirement you so desire.

Myth 6: My estate will pass according to my will.

If your will is valid, it will only cover your probate estate. Jointly owned property, retirement plans and life insurance proceeds are not covered by your will. The costs and time with probate can hurt the recipients of your estate.

Myth 7: If something happened to me, my family would know what my wishes would be.

Did you know that many American mistakenly believe that having a will or a power of attorney are not priorities? Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, your will and power of attorney are probably the most important documents you will ever write.

Unless you’ve discussed your wishes with your family in detail and put them in writing, chances are they wouldn’t know what you want.

If you die without a will your state will decide how to distribute your estate. And if you have children who are minors, the state through the public trustee will decide who will raise them and care for them. Children might be taken into public custody until guardians are identified.

This situation may occur if you become incapacitated and do not have a  power of attorney. You should be reminded that the wishes and directions that you place in your will do not have legal authority and until you have died.

Myth 8: Social Security will provide most of my retirement income.

For 2004, the maximum combination that Old Age Security and the Canadian Pension Plan benefit for people who retire at 65 years old is $1,277 per month. Our government administered retirement benefit programs were only designed to provide one third of an individual’s total retirement income. The remainder is to be generated from both employer pension plans and the retiree’s own savings. In 1997, 49.1 per cent of unattached elderly females were living in poverty compared to 33.3 per cent of elderly males.

Myth 9: I don’t need to save for my retirement because I’m going to die young.

So what will happen if you don’t die young? In past generations people lives would go like this, they work for 40 years, retire at age 65, live off their savings for a few years, and by the age of 70, they would be pushing up daisies. In the past, the primary concern of retirees was losing their money. Going forward, the top worry for retirees will be the chance of out-living their money. With advances in health and science, some futurists are predicting that many people alive today will live to be well over 100.

Myth 10: I can’t afford a financial plan right now.

Perhaps part of the reason you think you can’t afford one is because you’re paying too much in insurance premiums, income taxes, interest and investment expenses, all of which a Certified Financial Planner can help you reduce. And fees you pay for investment advice and tax planning are tax deductible. Hiring a competent, fee-only planner to prepare a comprehensive financial plan will probably be the best investment you will ever make.

We strive to make financial planning to all people from all walks of life. We work to customize a financial planning services to you and your budget and work with people on a sliding scale. Read more about our personal financial planning services or contact us today.