What should Central Ohio business owners look for first when choosing a financial planner?
Choosing the right planner starts with understanding their relationship model. Business owners need ongoing planning—not one-time advice. Look for scheduled reviews, documented recommendations, and flexibility to adjust mid-year. At Alpha Financial, we use a planning-first, education-first approach to keep decisions aligned as income, taxes, and goals shift.
What questions help reveal whether a planner understands business-owner needs?
Ask how they stabilize owner pay, set liquidity and savings targets, and help balance reinvestment with diversification. Request real examples of agendas, follow-ups, or decision logs. Alpha Financial provides written summaries so owners understand the “why” behind each decision and how to revisit it.
Helpful prompts include:
- “How do you set distribution thresholds?”
- “How will we measure progress?”
- “What does your onboarding process look like?”
How should a planner coordinate with my CPA and attorney?
Complex decisions often touch tax, legal, and risk issues simultaneously. Coordination matters. Ask when and how collaboration happens. Alpha Financial outlines clear triggers for involving your CPA or attorney—such as profit changes, entity decisions, or benefits updates—so financial, tax, and legal choices support each other.
How do I evaluate whether the planner is helping me stay on track?
You need objective metrics that don’t change with market noise. Look for liquidity coverage, savings progress, target contributions, risk protection levels, and progress toward 12–24-month goals. Alpha Financial uses a simple scorecard that shows what’s on track, ahead, or needs attention.
What does a good first year with a planner look like?
A strong first year includes mapped cash flow, targets for reserves and savings, documented decisions, and an agreed review rhythm. Alpha Financial focuses on building clarity and structure early, so each review builds momentum rather than starting from scratch.
How often should we meet?
Quarterly or semiannual, with additional sessions if cash flow changes mid-year.
Together, we can work to keep you on-track toward your financial goals.
Request a consultation to learn more.
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