Our Process

What to Expect in Working with Sonas

 

Each Meeting

What to expect.

 

We don't want to overwhelm you with seemingly exhaustive list of action items. Rather, we aim to focus on the most important issues first. We will assess your most urgent needs together, formulate a plan to address it, and, in time, move on to subsequent areas. Eventually, each aspect of your financial life will be carefully constructed and as idealized as possible for you.

 

Part 1

The first part of each meeting is devoted to providing education on the planning area we are discussing based on your level of financial knowledge.

 

Part 2

Part two of the meeting is going over our analysis of the planning areas we are discussing.

Part 3

Part three of the meeting is presenting you with two or three options that will help you achieve your desired your outcomes.

 

Part 4

You then choose the option you believe is the right solution for you. (We believe, in most cases, there are multiple options for making a good decision.)

Planning in Silos

Most people plan their finances in silos, meaning they make a financial or life decision in one planning area without considering the effect on other areas. This is less than ideal because decisions made in one area of finances can negatively affect other areas.

Over the years we have found how important it is to look at your planning issues from multiple perspectives before making final decisions. We especially want to ensure a decision being made in one area of a client’s finances does not negatively affect any other areas. This is the reason it is customary for us to work collaboratively with other professionals our clients work with. Oftentimes a client’s planning outcome can improve with input from other competent advisors such as an accountant, estate attorney or real estate professional.

We always consider what effect those decisions will have on anything else. In other words, we want to ensure any financial decision will be a good decision across your entire financial life – especially to prevent a move that would sabotage any other areas of your finances or your life.

 The Process - Our Long-Term Approach

 

Year one:
Maximum high-touch attention.

From careful discovery, to helping you track down all your account information, to building the financial plan and investment portfolio, the advisor delivers the highest level of service in this first year. On average, five-plus meetings will occur, and all of this work establishes your confidence and trust in the advisor and in yourselves. This builds an understanding of what the advisor provides, and how together you will work to achieve your goals.

 

Year two: Sharing control.

In the second year of our relationship, a baseline level of trust has been created, you’ve bought into the plan, and now feel ownership and control over its execution. The advisor begins to transition from a maximum level of service to a maintenance level of service.

In this phase of the relationship, the advisor is guiding and teaching you how to communicate when you need help and how the advisor continues to provide the services required. Starting at the end of year one, the advisor has gradually lowered his or her level of attention, culminating at the end of year two, when the point of true trust occurs. After that point, this less intensive level of client service becomes the new baseline. Trust in the advisor and trust in the plan has been established.

 

Year three: Settling into a rhythm.

Year three is the most important year; you have the confidence in the advisor and feel empowered to create the financial future you helped design. In the third year of the engagement, you want to experience a sense of consistent execution of things like an annual meeting, and quickly returned phone calls and emails; all unfolding in a predictable rhythm. This is also the year in which the advisor begins to shift his communication with the client.

Though communications remain consistent, fewer of them are personal. This might include firmwide market commentaries and educational blog posts along with information that’s of distinct interest to his particular client.

 

Year four and beyond: Stable and on track.

This is the stability stage of your journey; you are confidently on the way to your chosen destination. The advisor is communicating but not over-communicating. Time-sensitive requests are addressed quickly, of course. The advisor is monitoring and rebalancing the client’s investment portfolio regularly and reviewing it with the client every year. But this stage of the relationship is mostly about predictable, low-friction execution and maintenance of the plan.

That’s not to say we are on autopilot. We know the trust we’ve worked hard to establish can be lost if not responsive to your needs. High-touch service will kick in if and when you need it, facing a life change such as a move, job change, marriage, divorce, a financial windfall, market volatility, or other disruption or life event. During those periods, the advisor will educate, encourage, and provide guidance and perspective. We will work together tol restore your sense of control, and soon you will be back into a confident routine. At this point we, while fulfilling our duties, will have plenty of bandwidth for meeting your needs when you call or email.

 

  • Knowing you have a strategic plan in place that is managed by your financial team frees up your time to pursue interests outside of everyday business and financial management. That trip you didn’t think you had time to take? Book it.

  • We want to be who you call first. Your goals and objectives are our priority, and we welcome the opportunity to talk things out when you think they may impact your financial plan. Concerned about helping your aging parents manage their money, or considering a big-ticket purchase? Give us a call.

  • The average person has 8-10 different financial people in their life providing advice. It’s hard enough to find one person you trust much less 8-10! Sonas understands not only investments, but taxes, estate planning, insurance coverages, group benefits, and financial planning.

  • In a word, yes. Our goal is to help you become financially smarter with each passing year. We believe the more you know, the more you grow. Financial literacy is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.

“ If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent.”

– Isaac Newton