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The Millennial’s Guide to Retirement Planning
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Kody Williams
Financial Advisor|CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®
Client Testimonial
As a new family physician, the upcoming changes in my finances and future plans was a bit overwhelming. I was looking for financial advisement so that I could have a responsible and low-risk plan. Well, Kody delivered. First, my wife and I were skeptical of any financial advising. After we met Kody, however, we felt like he truly understood our goals as he really took the time to listen and get to know us. He was recommended to us by a close friend of ours and he is such a personable guy and a genuine listener. We did not feel like he was just trying to use us to increase his own gains in the stock market like other financial advisors have done. We were blown away with how comprehensive the plan was that he designed, but also how simply he explained the plan and made easy steps for us to take. For me, I don't have a large interest in finances, so it feels great now to have a plan where I know I am making the right contributions, minimizing my risk, and also a plan made by an advisor who also understands what my wife and I's priorities are. Exactly what we were looking for. Would highly recommend Kody and his team as we feel we can now just relax into our lives with a new, solid plan.
Client Testimonial
"My position from the beginning was that I felt confident that I didn’t need any help with my financial planning. I decided to meet with Kody because I wanted something I couldn't find on the internet.... a truly professional evaluation of where I was on the road to retirement. My wife and I are deeply impressed with the effort Kody invested in us. I should add that he never exerted the slightest influence that could be construed as pressure or manipulation. Thank you so much for providing the perspective that we lacked, Kody. It was a blessing to have crossed paths with you."
Client Testimonial
I had a very positive experience working with Kody and his team. After a few employment changes, I had a few 401K accounts and needed to consolidate for more simplified management. In addition to Kody helping me accomplish this, he also took the time in multiple sessions to deeply understand our family goals over a period of a few months. Kody has a great way of advising and explaining options and the cause and effect of those options. He is surrounded by a great leadership team as well as support staff. The follow-through from this team is exceptional, especially in today's world where customer service seems to have taken a back seat to speed.
Client Testimonial
I was hesitant at first since both my wife and I weren’t too familiar with the financial planning process. However, that was quickly dissolved when I met with Kody and his team! My wife and I had an open, down-to-earth conversation. We laughed, we spoke, we talked about life and anything that came up! Kody was great in explaining the products they provide, the ins and outs, the processes, our goals, and was completely focused on our interest! Anything we expressed was what he took in. He didn’t attempt to persuade us towards anything. We had a budget and we worked with it! We loved the process. We feel peace of mind for the future.
What is a CFP® and why should an advisor obtain this credential?
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ is a financial expert who has completed a rigorous certification process and has a fiduciary duty to act in their client's best interest. CFPs® have areas of focus, such as tax planning, estate planning, insurance planning, retirement planning, business planning, and investing. To become a CFP®, a person must:
• Have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university
• Complete coursework specific to financial planning
• Pass the CFP® exam, a 6-hour exam which tests knowledge across eight topics, including principles of financial planning, investment planning, taxes, insurance, psychology, regulations and retirement planning
• Complete either 6,000 hours of professional experience related to the financial planning process, or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience that meets additional requirements
• Fulfill ethics requirements
From day 1, doing the right thing for the person sitting in front of me was more important than anything. To me, the CFP® certification shows that I have agreed to adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism, and diligence when dealing with clients. It holds me and my team to the highest fiduciary standard, of which I am proud.
What is a ChFC® and why should an advisor obtain this credential?
ChFC® (Chartered Financial Consultant) credential holders have an in-depth knowledge in :
• The financial planning process, including the role and responsibilities of a financial consultant
• Risk management strategies, including mitigating the risks associated with insurance, human capital, liability, property, and wealth management
• Income tax strategies, including planning for deductions, tax credits, capital gains and losses, taxation of life insurance, annuities, and partnerships, LLCs, corporations, and proprietorships
• Retirement planning strategies, including choosing between and working with SEPs, SIMPLEs, IRAs, Roth IRAs, 403(b), and nonqualified deferred compensation plans
• Investment strategies, including issues pertaining to return computations, diversification, securities markets, tax issues, portfolio management, and ethical practice
• Estate and gift-tax planning strategies
• Personal financial planning strategies
• Specialized strategies, including aiding divorcees and blended families, financial planning for families with special needs, serving non-traditional families, addressing the unique challenges associated with modern retirement income portfolios, and applying behavioral finance strategies as a chartered financial consultant
What is a CLU® and why should an advisor obtain this credential?
Launched in 1927, the CLU® is the insurance profession’s oldest standard of excellence. Today, it continues to be the premier credential for professionals who want to provide their clients with the security of life insurance and risk management.
CLU® designees know how to serve the diverse needs of their individual and business clients through in-depth insurance knowledge, including expertise on life insurance products, aspects of risk management, the legal aspects of life insurance, and assisting clients in making decisions about estate planning, including various wills and trust arrangements.
The American College of Financial Services is the premier educational institution dedicated to the development of financial services professionals. Graduates and designees of The American College of Financial Services have studied, passed rigorous exams, and proven that they not only have the technical knowledge to serve their clients, but have sworn to practice ethically and in the best interest of the people they serve.
Client Testimonial
Kody and Amy prepared a detailed analysis of my financial starting point and commended the strong points and identified the weak points without using scare tactics. They provided me the detailed report without it being conditioned on a sale of any policy. They both thoroughly answered my questions over the course of a couple of weeks and went the extra mile to educate me. I was presented with a variety of options given time to make well-considered choices. In a day and age of highly transactional interactions, I felt like I was viewed and treated as a whole person with a story, not just a quick sale.
The testimonials presented may not be representative of the experience of all clients and are not a guarantee of future performance or success.