IN North Allegheny Fall 2018 | Page 13

INDUSTRY INSIGHT YOUR FINANCES SPONSORED CONTENT Equip Yourself for a ‘Good Life’ P reparing for a lifelong financial journey requires an understanding of the possibilities, potential resources, and identification of contingency plans. The journey likely will require navigating a series of obstacles through varying conditions. You don’t have to sacrifice a Good Life today for a Good Life solely in retirement. How can we live a Good Life now and in the future? Today we unpack six critical actions required to equip yourself for a Good Life, financially. 1. Gird Yourself with a Comprehensive Financial Strategy 2. Design and Articulate a Realistic Set of Financial Goals 3. Stand Firm in the Face of Diversity and Threats 4. Build a Defense System to Protect Your Resources 5. Craft a Commitment to Developing the Practices Required 6. Accumulate Resources and Be Opportunistic in Changing Environments In life no route map is provided. However, we can learn financial truths and practices to stock ourselves with the greatest possible probability of success. As you acquire new skills, you will become Who We Are… • As fiduciaries – serving your best interests and avoiding conflicts of interest • As financial strategists and coordinators – helping you design and take the actions needed to take the best possible care of your total financial situation • As astute observers of markets, politics, technology, and demographics – helping you assess the impact of global forces on your assets, your community, and your peace of mind McKinley Carter Wealth Services 100 Bradford Road, Suite 400 Wexford, PA 15090 724-940-4400 mc-ws.com McKinley Carter Wealth Services, Inc. (“McKinley Carter”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. For additional information about McKinley Carter, including fees and services, send for our disclosure brochure as set forth on Form ADV using the contact information herein. Please read the disclosure brochure carefully before you invest or send money. comfortable making financial decisions. In time, you can begin to look ahead and understand how to adjust accordingly. So, how do you define a “good financial life”? Your specific description will be unique to your priorities, values, and desires. Our experience is that most people could use some help articulating and testing realistic financial goals. The most common goals include basic living expenses, automobiles, travel, education, weddings, home renovations, vacation home, charitable intentions, and/or a major purchase. There likely will be times in which your financial security or expectations will be threatened. Having a well-grounded and rational approach will help you stand steady, be prudent, and act boldly and confidently. Financially there are threats in which we can diversify our risk and others that are non-diversifiable. We must design a fortitude to protect our resources from harm. There are also times when it seems like we are on a downhill coast and others where the climb will never end. Rarely is our financial life a smooth, level journey. You will be tested to call upon different experiences and strategies. We can find ourselves unsure as to how many resources are necessary for the entire journey and how we should manage our reserves for the uncertainty. The Final Mile — Unfortunately, or fortunately, none of us knows where or when we will reach our finish line. However, we will need to successfully navigate such key financial matters as Financial Autonomy, Tax Planning, Estate Objectives, Debt Management, Career & Business, Investments, and Risk Management. Your professional advisor can spot financial blind spots and help you successfully circumnavigate the landscape. We invite you to learn how our leadership, expertise, and support empower families, businesses, and non-profit organizations to take great care of their total financial situation. In so doing, we help you navigate economic and financial uncertainties, attack the unknown obstacles that are inevitable, and pace yourself to maximize your resources for the entire journey. For a more detailed explanation of each of the six important actions to equip yourself, we invite you to visit www.mc-ws.com/blog. This Industry Insight was written by Brian T. Gongaware, CFP®. Brian is a Principal of McKinley Carter, serves as Director of Advisory Services in the Wexford office, and is also a Certified Financial Planner™ professional. He uses his deep expertise in client relationships and investment management to help clients identify their financial goals and needs, and design appropriate financial and investment strategies. NORTH ALLEGHENY ❘ FALL 2018 11