OUR PROCESS – Financial Planning’s Role for The Chaos in the Middle
From the time of Adam following man’s exile from the presence of God, humanity has banded together for survival. This “coming together” is what scientists call society. While history clearly shows that society - aka empires - can take many varied forms, all society functions on some degree of structure, rules, and governance. Furthermore, all societies are temporal, rising and falling with regularity. The focus of this blog is on that space of time in between the fall of one society and the rise of another. This is by all accounts, the most dangerous and volatile span of human existence. Regardless of the nature that societal rule, structure and governance takes, it is measurably safer than the anarchy that exists during the transition from one regime/society to the other. And since these societal transfers occur with regularity, we should ask if financial planning has a beneficial role in protecting and preserving both life and dreams during the chaos that is in the middle.
By numerous metrics, it can be argued that the American hegemony is in the advanced stage of decline and quite possibly near collapse. If and when the current social and economic system expires, life will certainly continue in some form or fashion as another society emerges. Whether or not you are happy with the timing or qualities of a new society is not the focus of this blog. Rather, if history repeats itself, we can assume that the transition from one society to another will be messy- even dangerous.
Financial Planning is a process that strives to achieve action plans for every possible contingency. A monumental goal to be sure; but one that can not only save lives, but also optimize the purpose and fulness of living. Since our clients are predominantly in the United States, we will focus our comments on this country. Also, if you want to do your own due diligence on the matter, I suggest you read (or watch) “the Great Taking” by investment banker and hedge fund manager David Rogers Webb.
Our client financial plans incorporate a strategy for optimizing response and recovery for local, regional, and even national crisis. These proactive measures can also be adapted to survive a societal transition. Life must go on. There must be continuance. And so having a continuity plan is prudent counsel. Additional guidance for creating a continuity plan for you own family can be found in an brochure entitled “Planning for Crisis” on our website in the FORMS menu.
This is the future of Advice. This is Financial Planning done right!