Comprehensive Financial Planning and Modeling

At Darrow, all of our financial plans are developed by a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. We are also a fee-only registered investment advisor. This means that we do not sell any products or receive commissions; and we have a fiduciary duty to make recommendations that are only in the best interest of our clients.

Financial plans are customized based on your needs. Common topics for analysis may include:

• Retirement income planning projections
• Education and college planning including saving strategies with 529 plans
• Major purchase objectives (e.g. home purchase and financing options)
• Asset allocation and investment management to balance risk and reward
• Investment opportunities for excess cash, an inheritance, or windfall from a liquidity event
• Withdrawal strategies in retirement
• Stock options and equity compensation
• Income tax planning strategies and tax projections
• Disability and survivor income
• Social Security timing and maximization
• Long-term care
• Estate planning and trusts for legacy goals
• Business planning (e.g. starting a business, selling a company)
• Life insurance coverage
• What-if scenario analysis (e.g. annual income if you retired at age 62 vs 65 or how buying a retirement home early may impact your plans)

Your Financial Model also includes:

• Detailed recommendations based on the analysis
• Implementation support from our team
• Cash flow projections
• Net worth projections
• Monte Carlo analysis of goal attainment

A Monte Carlo simulation is a stress test for your financial plan

To help assess the feasibility of your retirement and financial goals, we develop a comprehensive financial model to include pre-retirement income and expenses, anticipated living expenses in retirement, contributions to investment accounts, projected Social Security benefits, taxes, life expectancy, inflation, etc. Detailed assumptions about the standard deviation and average expected annual return are added to the plan at the account level.

In phase one of the planning, we start with ‘straight line’ assumptions of investment growth and withdrawals. Although more robust than many compounded investment growth calculators investors can find online, phase one of the analysis doesn’t account for the variability in investment returns – only that the average annual return will be achieved each year. When the probability of success is near 100% on the baseline investment return assumptions, we can move to the second phase of planning and utilize a Monte Carlo simulation.

In the Monte Carlo simulation, we run hundreds or even thousands of trials to test the viability of the plan using the standard deviation of investment returns. For example, an account could have an average expected rate of return of 6% and a standard deviation of 12%. What happens to the success of your plan if the returns were -6% and 18% instead of 6% and 6%? Both would equal 6% on average, but the range of returns in any given year does matter.

Using the return assumptions and standard deviation inputs in the plan, the model now accounts for market volatility and its impact on cash flows, producing a probability of success across all of the trials. The analysis is a cumulation of all the planning done during phase one, and accounts for the impact of taxes, inflation, and other inputs as well.

The results of a Monte Carlo simulation can be quite dramatic, which is why a more robust approach to retirement planning is so critical. Comprehensive financial planning with a Monte Carlo simulation can be a great tool to help give investors piece of mind that their retirement strategy has been tested under a wide range of market conditions.

Financial Modeling as Part of Your Strategic Wealth Plan

Transparency

As a fee-only financial advisor, we do not sell securities, investment products, or receive commissions or compensation from 3rd parties.

Fiduciary Duty to Always Act in Your Best Interest

A fiduciary duty means we are legally bound to act at all times for the sole benefit and interest of our clients. This is the highest act of loyalty, trust and care under the law.

Independent

We are also completely independent, so you don’t have to worry about fund family allegiances or other corporate actions that could distance us from our clients.

Our Story

In 1987, we began helping individuals and families invest in their future.  Now a predominantly female-run second generation family business, we are proud to have the opportunity to help multiple generations of families in the community achieve their wealth and lifestyle goals.

Wealth Management and Investment Advisory Services

Learn more about working with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional

Investment Management · Financial Planning

Tax Planning · Retirement Planning · Specialized Financial Management Services

Darrow Wealth Management does not provide tax and/or legal advice. Certain circumstances may require us to coordinate with your qualified tax and/or legal advisor.