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The Foundations of Retirement Security |
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The Foundations of Retirement Security
“Excellent ideas, unimplemented, are of little value.”
As a client of Polaris, you meet with us personally as many times as necessary to make sure all financial decisions are right for you. Your dedicated service manager will guide you through the correct completion of proper paperwork, transfer of assets, issuance of policies, and creation of legal documentation.
You are consulted through periodic meetings, phone calls, e-mails, faxes, and letters as we maintain the implementation of your plan. We will seek your approvals as requested, get your signature when needed, and finalize all the paperwork, providing you with: 
Comfort in understanding what is being done on your behalf
- Assurance that your plan is put into action and being monitored regularly
- Freedom to spend your time doing what makes you happy.
Budgets
“If you don't know where you're going, any road will do.”
You receive a financial plan prepared by Polaris that examines your budget expectations for the rest of your life. This personal document is the basis for any recommendation we make. Both you and your advisor use this guide for substantive discussions about: 
- Whether you have enough assets to maintain your lifestyle
- Allocating your insurance dollars for the best protection of loved ones
- Maximizing your company retirement benefits
- Developing the correct investment risk and reward policy
- Planning for big purchases, leaving legacies to heirs, or gifts to charities
The Tax Plan“Tax Evasion is Illegal, Tax Avoidance is a Right.” 
You need not fear the taxman, even though the tax code has become more complex. But to go it alone is fraught with possible missteps. The tax mistakes that occur while trying to maximize employee benefits and utilize them in retirement can be substantial.
We are prepared to supervise and/or review the preparation of your tax returns. In developing a tax plan, we will:
- Insure you receive all your deductions and credits
- Maximize your after-tax employee benefits
- Determine the amounts for withholding and estimated tax payments
- Develop a balanced strategy towards paying taxes and living life as you choose
The Investment Policy “A smarter way to be conservative.” 
Perhaps the most important discipline affecting your long-term financial security is your investment policy. You must choose between investment earnings—adequate to cover your cost of living and inflation or controlling your risk of investment losses.
Using your financial plan to graphically illustrate these trade-offs, you and your advisor will be able to:
- Establish the appropriate investment policy
- Develop a prudent strategy to help achieve your objectives
- Select money managers to implement your strategy
- Monitor and adjust your investments to stay within your boundaries
Insurance Planning“Bring the umbrella…so we know it won't rain.”
Your insurance needs evolve as you grow older. Children become adults. You and your spouse adjust to retirement income. But your choice of annuity or lump sum payout has everything to do with your choice of life or long-term care insurance.
Through analysis of “what-if” scenarios in your financial plan, you and your advisor will determine:
- What kind of coverage you need, and for how long
- If you are paying for coverage you no longer need
- How to select your insurance company and build an appropriate policy
- How to deal with health issues in underwriting
Estate Planning
“Death and taxes may be inevitable, but disorder is avoidable.”
Although no one really wants to talk about the inevitable “death and taxes,” the fact remains that an unplanned end is a terrible thing for your loved ones. And sadly, it's a bonanza for lawyers, courts, your creditors, and the IRS.
Even if your plan includes no legacy for your survivors, you can still benefit from the peace of mind that comes from knowing your financial, health, and testamentary issues will be provided for. Your advisor will help you:
- Review your will, power of attorney, and healthcare proxy
- Ensure beneficiary designations and ownership arrangements agree with your plan
- Use trusts, if appropriate, to avoid probate and publicity in settling your estate
- Determine if your estate will be subject to a death tax
- Devise strategies to minimize and pay the tax
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