In Meena's Words
I once cooked a 50-course dinner for my brother's 50th birthday.
It was extraordinarily fun, borderline over the top, and took the nine of us 20 hours over two full days(!) to finish all the dishes, including a 5-tier birthday cake. It was a dinner none of us will forget.
Behind the scene, it took months of planning to pull it off.
My natural affection for planning...
I like what someone wise once said planning is about bringing the future to the present so that you can do something about it NOW.
As a born planner, I have a plan for everything from A to Z. It is the best way I know to get from point A to point B with the best chance of success and the least amount of surprises along the way.
Whether it is planning for a 50-course dinner or a 30-year retirement, my approach is similar - combine thoughtful planning and careful execution with a healthy dose of passion.
Though I cannot cook a 50-course dinner for all of my clients, every one of them will get the same planning approach I use to help them achieve their retirement goals.
My personal interest in writing . . .
For years, I have enjoyed being a personal finance newspaper columnist and an award-winning book writer. Apart from the visceral joy I get from writing, the process has taught me two things that have made me a better financial advisor.
One, writing has helped me develop the skills to get past the noise and focus on what matters.
Two, writing has honed my ability to step into someone's shoes so I can better understand their values, their concerns, and their aspirations.
The best financial advisors, in my mind, are those who can deeply understand where their clients come from, where they want to go, and help them achieve their goals by focusing on what matters.
My extensive training and experience . . .
I believe being a competent financial advisor requires keen foresight along with a solid foundation of academic training and professional experience.
Prior to becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM PROFESSIONAL in 1996, I spent years working as a CPA, mostly in the tax areas. The rigorous training required by these two professions, coupled with my 20+ years in wealth management, have given me the deep insight and market knowledge to be the kind of financial advisor I would want for my parents.
Thank you for stopping by. I wish you great success and happiness in your retirement!