Do You Need a Family Financial Summit?

A Family Financial Summit might be a new concept for many of you, so let’s start by defining it before delving into whether or not you need it. Essentially, it’s a family meeting that allows for the sharing of financial values and goals.

It can be helpful in aligning expectations about inheritance, responsibilities, and the legacy the family wishes to build. By discussing these topics in advance, families can ensure that everyone is informed, prepared, and in agreement with the strategies and plans in place.

Few families have these types of meetings, and if they do, the conversations can be complex and emotional. Why not involve your financial advisor? We can help make this a productive experience that benefits everyone involved. A little bit of structure and neutrality can go a long way.

In determining whether or not you need a Family Financial Summit, it might be helpful to consider the wide range of topics that could be addressed. The following list is likely too long for one meeting, but it should help in creating your own unique agenda:

Inheritance and Wealth Distribution: Delve into how assets will be distributed, including conditions or guiding philosophies behind these decisions, to manage expectations and ensure fairness.
Financial Responsibilities: Clearly outline what financial contributions or support are expected within the family, whether for elder care, education expenses, or funding business ventures, to foster a sense of shared responsibility.
Estate Planning Details: Discuss the essentials of wills, trusts, and the overall estate plan structure to make sure everyone understands their role and the procedural aspects, ensuring a smooth transition when the time comes.
Family Legacy and Philanthropy: Articulate the family’s vision for its legacy, including philanthropic pursuits or values to be upheld, to instill a sense of purpose and continuity.
Investment Strategies and Management: Explore the family’s approach to investments, including risk tolerance, asset allocation, and long-term goals, to align financial strategies with family objectives.
Education Funding Strategies: Address plans for funding education for younger family members, including savings plans like 529s, scholarships, and grants, to prioritize educational aspirations.
Budgeting and Living Within Means: Stress the importance of creating and adhering to a budget, highlighting how living within or below one’s means is crucial for long-term financial stability.
Insurance Planning: Review insurance needs, including life, health, and property insurance, to protect against potential financial losses and provide peace of mind.
Tax Planning and Efficiency: Explore strategies for minimizing tax liabilities through charitable giving, investment choices, and other tax-efficient planning techniques.
Succession Planning for Family Businesses: If applicable, discuss the future of any family-owned businesses, including leadership transitions and maintaining the business’s legacy.
Financial Education for Younger Generations: Emphasize the importance of financial literacy, discussing ways to educate younger family members about money management, investing, and saving.

Preparation is key to a successful discussion. This involves setting clear objectives to guide the conversation, choosing the right location, and drafting an agenda in collaboration with your financial advisor. This groundwork helps in creating an environment that’s suited for open and productive dialogue.

Is this concept for you? That’s for you to decide, but we’re happy to help. For many, the benefits are too great to be ignored. These conversations are an investment in your family’s financial health and harmony, ensuring that wealth serves as a tool for unity rather than a source of division.

Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Marzano Capital Group is another business name of Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. All investment advice is offered through Independent Advisor Alliance LLC, a registered investment advisor. Independent Advisor Alliance is a separate entity from LPL Financial.

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Jon Marzano, AIF®, Founding Partner, Managing Principal

As Managing Partner of Marzano Capital Group, Jonathan (Jon) is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the firm. A 20 plus year veteran of the industry, Jon’s work with Marzano Capital Group is based around his core belief in a straightforward and simplistic approach to the wealth management process. The desire for continued education and personal growth coupled with a strong work ethic drives me to constantly review and refresh our process in the office. We must continue to learn, as the industry evolves, in order to best serve our clients and their families. Our goal is to create the most predictable financial outcomes we can for our clients and that comes using the best technology, building deep relationships by way of meaningful communication, which is where we take the lead. These beliefs provide the foundation upon which Marzano Capital Group has been built. Jon began his career in financial services after graduating college in Charlotte, NC. First as a financial analyst for a Private Equity firm, then as a Financial Advisor for a national firm. After seeing the industry from the corporate side, Jon and his father sought out a new challenge and formed Marzano Capital Group in 2005 to offer clients independent advice, free from big corporate America. The firm has grown from a two-advisor firm to one that has multiple partners and a talented pool of upcoming associates. Outside of work, Jon is dedicated to growing and improving the communities that his clients live and work in. Jon has been involved with numerous nonprofit organizations and has served on too many boards to list them all by name. Jon has two adult children, Kaeley and Carter. Kaeley is a recent college graduate and is in sales with a technology company based out of Raleigh, NC. Carter will make this world a better place in the trade industry and welding has become his passion. As a father, I could not be prouder of the accomplishments of my kids. I have learned that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. My hopes are that my children feel the same passion for their work as I do.

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