Make Every Financial Decision Work Toward Your Goals
You may be saving for retirement, funding your children’s education, growing a business, or simply trying to create more freedom and less financial stress. But without a coordinated plan, it can be difficult to see how each decision fits into the bigger picture—or whether you’re making enough progress or overlooking something important.
You may be asking:
- Are we saving and investing enough?
- Are we on track for retirement?
- How should our investments, taxes, insurance, and estate plan work together?
- Can we support our family while protecting our own future?
- Can we achieve our goals without making unnecessary tradeoffs?
A financial plan connects the pieces so you can understand where you stand, make informed decisions, and move toward your goals with greater clarity.
What Is Comprehensive Financial Planning?
Comprehensive financial planning is the process of bringing every part of your financial life together around your goals. Instead of looking at investments, taxes, retirement, insurance, and estate planning as separate decisions, it considers how each one affects the others.
When we create your financial plan, we help you understand where you are today, clarify what you want to accomplish, and identify the steps that can move you forward. Your plan also gives you a framework for making decisions as your life, family, business, and priorities evolve.
What Our Financial Planning Helps You With
At LifeWise, our financial advisors bring the six key areas of your financial life together so every decision supports your broader goals:
- Cash Flow Management
- Risk Management
- Investment Planning
- Tax Planning Strategies
- Retirement & Goal Planning
- Estate Planning
With three CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals, a Certified Exit Planner (CExP™), and decades of combined experience, you have the peace of mind of knowing that your financial plan is in good hands.
Financial Planning for Every Stage of Life
Our financial advisors work with individuals, families, and business owners across Central Illinois
who want thoughtful guidance, coordinated advice, and a long-term relationship with their team of trusted advisors.
Families Building and Managing Wealth
For families balancing today’s needs with retirement, education, major purchases, and long-term financial goals.
Individuals Approaching or Living in Retirement
For those who want greater clarity around retirement income, investments, Social Security, taxes, healthcare, and legacy planning.
Multigenerational Families
For families who want to preserve wealth, support children or grandchildren, and prepare the next generation for future responsibilities.
Business Owners
For owners coordinating business growth, retirement planning, succession or exit decisions, employee retirement plans, and personal wealth.
A Complete Financial Plan — With No Ongoing Obligation
Unlike most financial advisors, you don’t have to commit to an ongoing wealth management relationship to begin working with LifeWise. Start with a standalone, flat-fee financial planning engagement that gives you a clear view of where you stand, what may need attention, and the steps that can help move you toward your goals. This also gives you the opportunity to experience our planning process and get to know our team before deciding whether ongoing guidance is right for you.
Our Process
Planning Roadmap
A financial plan serves as our blueprint for pursuing your goals. The better we know you and what you want to accomplish, the more we can help address your financial needs and goals both now and for the future.
Initial Consultation
- Share background
- Review planning pyramid
- Review compensation
- Provide client with document checklist and issues & concerns questionnaire
Information Gathering
- Review documents provided by client
- Review issues & concerns questionnaire
- Complete consulting agreement
- Link accounts to eMoney
Preliminary Plan Review
- Review base facts
- Net Worth
- Asset Allocation
- Cash Flow Report
- Summarize recommendations
Final Plan Presentation
- Review any changes to plan
- Review final recommendations
- Assign implementation and action items
Ongoing Review and Updates
- Implementation check in
- Monitor plan for any changes
Build a Financial Plan Around What Matters Most
Your financial decisions should support the life you want to live, the people you care about, and the goals you’re working toward. LifeWise Wealth Advisors can help you bring the pieces together
and create a clearer path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a financial advisor do?
A financial advisor helps you evaluate where you stand, clarify your goals, and make informed decisions about investments, retirement, taxes, insurance, estate planning, and other areas of your financial life.
What is included in a comprehensive financial plan?
A comprehensive financial plan may address cash flow, risk management, investments, tax planning strategies, retirement and other goals, and estate planning. The specific recommendations depend on your finances, priorities, and stage of life.
What is the difference between financial planning and investment management?
Financial planning considers your full financial picture and how different decisions work together. Investment management focuses more specifically on building, monitoring, and managing your investment portfolio.
Can I work with LifeWise for financial planning without transferring my investments?
Yes. You can begin with a standalone, flat-fee financial planning engagement before deciding whether an ongoing wealth management relationship is right for you.
Can you help with tax planning and tax preparation?
Through our affiliated firm, LifeWise Tax Advisors, clients can access strategic tax planning and tax-return preparation. This allows tax considerations to be incorporated into broader financial decisions while services are provided through separate affiliated entities.
How often should my financial plan be reviewed?
Your financial plan should be reviewed regularly and whenever something important changes, such as retirement, a business transition, a major purchase, an inheritance, a change in your family, or new tax laws.
Do you work with business owners?
Yes. We help business owners coordinate their personal and business finances, including retirement planning, succession and exit planning, investment decisions, tax considerations, and long-term wealth goals.
Do you work with multiple generations of the same family?
Yes. We often work with spouses, children, and grandchildren to help families prepare for education expenses, gifting, inheritance, wealth transfer, and other multigenerational goals.
When should I start working with a financial advisor?
You don’t need to wait until retirement or until your finances feel complicated. Financial planning can be valuable while you’re building wealth, preparing for a major transition, or trying to make more intentional decisions about your future.
Where do your financial advisors serve clients?
LifeWise serves individuals, families, and business owners throughout Champaign and Central Illinois, including Bethany, St. Joseph, Paris, Urbana, Decatur, Sidney, and surrounding communities. However our financial advisors can also work with clients nationwide.
Are your financial goals on track?
Our FREE, no obligation consultation provides the answer.
