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Once a
model is designed, it can be used to ask a broad range of
possible “what if” questions.
But in the real world, answers to very basic
questions are often the most elusive, and this is where my work
can be particularly valuable.
For example, given the amount of
income you earn and assumptions you make about how long you’ll
be earning it and other aspects of your estate, how much can you
afford to borrow and/or spend each year, to maintain a desired lifestyle, say,
for the next 15, 20, or 25 years?
In my
opinion, GOLDPLAN® handles this kind of analysis better than
anything I've ever seen. My experience has also taught me
that trying to arrive at a legitimate and realistic answer to a straightforward
question like this, without using a
powerful computer model like GOLDPLAN®, is wishful thinking.
My GOLDPLAN®
software simplifies the process of illustrating results and makes it easy for clients to understand
and get useful insight from the output.
Once a client understands how a model works, and what its limitations are,
he or she can easily grasp what the
model is telling them and why that information, or additional
information, might be critical to the kinds of decisions that might
be, or should be, under consideration.
Clients are generally encouraged to have
their plan reviewed periodically, to bring it up to date and to
evaluate the relative success of previous decisions.
Clients decide how often reviews will be conducted to insure
that investment and estate strategies remain in alignment with
their needs and long term goals.
I am available to meet
with a client’s attorney, accountant, banker, or other advisor to discuss investment and estate
planning strategies and to coordinate work that needs to be
done. Providing investment advice or advice about the
acquisition, liquidation, or replacement of financial products
is optional.
Investment Portfolios
When I am engaged to provide investment advice, I design tailor made plans to fit the needs of clients and their
families. These would include suggestions for specific
investment and/or planning strategies. I do
not sell investments or manage assets on a discretionary basis
per se although clients may delegate the timing of investment
transactions to me. I
do not control, take possession of, or become involved in the
safe keeping of financial assets.
Clients typically give me authority to review
and make trades in their on-line brokerage accounts
for them. To do this requires the execution of an
ancillary agreement sometimes called a limited power of attorney
giving me authority to purchase and sell securities in an
account but does not allow me to move cash or securities from
one account to another.
I conduct periodic
investment reviews, measure investment performance, and
discuss whether or not I think any adjustments are indicated to
meet long term goals.
In doing my work I use software I have
designed myself, as well as computer tools created by others.
I make good use of the internet.
I
have had reasonable success managing assets using strategies which,
in some markets, can offer a better than average return at lower
than average risk for qualified clients. I help manage these
portfolios using software that I developed.
I offer no personal
guarantee that my investment advice will produce a specific
result. Every investment strategy involves some risk and
there is always the chance that results will not pan out as
expected. What I offer clients is my best advice in trying
to match their risk preferences to an appropriate investment
strategy. I offer my thoughts, ideas and
recommendations—my best effort.
Payment for Services
I generally work on a fee basis. The fee might take the
form of an hourly rate, a fixed fee, or it might be based on a
percentage of assets under review. I publish a fee
schedule but fee arrangements are flexible. I make every
effort to insure that fees charged are reasonable, appropriate,
and fair. Recognizing that clients have different needs,
interests, and levels of sophistication, I try to tailor the
range and breadth of services accordingly. Clients are required
to pay part of the fee before service begins. Subsequent
payments are due and payable as work is completed and statements
are presented. Fees for investment advisory services are
generally paid in advance on a quarterly basis.
A client may discontinue the service at any time. If service is
cancelled within five business days of signing an
agreement, all payments will be refunded; otherwise any unearned
fees will be refunded on a pro-rata basis.
A client’s portfolio or
estate does not have to be any particular size to engage my
services. Almost everyone can use help now and then in
making decisions that are important to them and their families.
If a potential client can benefit from my work, I will do my
best to provide the service needed in an affordable manner.
Insurance
Products Sometimes
a GOLDPLAN® study will reveal a need for life insurance, Long
Term Care, or other insurance product. If clients want to
purchase insurance with me, I will do my best to find the most
appropriate product to fit the need. I am an independent
agent, not beholden to any particular company, and the carriers
I use are among the best the industry has to offer.
I
am currently a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of
Washington but also work with clients in other states.
Education
and Experience of
Mark
A. Goldman
B.A. Economics
1966
Franklin and Marshall College
M.B.A. in Corporate Finance 1971
The Wharton
Graduate School
at the University
of Pennsylvania
Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)
1977
The
American College
For
most of my career, I have been a stockbroker, life insurance
agent, Registered Investment Advisor, and/or a developer of financial and estate planning
software. I began developing financial models
because it eventually became clear to me that a good deal of
financial and estate planning is done by what I call the “seat
of the pants” method. "Seat of the pants"
planning is not reliable.
Legal
documents, no matter
how well or cleverly drafted, cannot distribute assets that no
longer exist or will never materialize...and while financial
products are certainly important in formulating financial or estate planning
strategies, some firms offer analytical techniques that are designed more to sell
products than to provide real insight into how those products
are likely to perform over time in any given estate.
That's not what I do.
GOLDPLAN®
models can’t predict the future...but they can sometimes
illuminate the landscape. When the stakes are high and the
outcome is important, I no longer make recommendations based on
my intuition...I run the numbers.
GOLDPLAN®
is both efficient and economical. Almost anyone who can derive
value from using this technology can now afford to do so.
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