!

YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN

Prepared'For
Jane Doe

Your'LearnVest'Expert
Sample Planner, CFP ®

Prepared'On
August 27, 2012
 WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!
DEAR JANE,
Congratulations on taking a huge step towards Your Richest Life! Your LV Financial Plan will
show you how to take control of your money and give you a complete to-do list to get there.
Financial planning may sound intimidating, but it is really just four simple things:

1 2 3 4
Knowing where you Choosing the right Building a way to Allocating the
stand with your financial priorities fund your financial funding in the very
money to work on priorites best way for you

JANE'S FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT

Age 39
Annual Household Salary $207,000
Monthly Take Home Pay $11,212
Monthly Spending $4,164
Credit Score 800
Non-Retirement Savings $350,000
Retirement Savings $231,578
Non-Retirement Invested Assets $0
Other Assets $0
Total Debt (Excluding Mortgage) $0
Total Mortgage (If Applicable) N/A
Home Value (Zillow Estimate) $400,000

TOTAL ASSETS TOTAL LIABILITIES NET WORTH

$981,578 - $0 = $981,578
Note: Your net worth is one measure of your financial health. It changes as you pay down debts, make investments, or
take new loans. There's no "right" number, but it should grow each year.
 YOUR INCOME
ON AVERAGE, TO WORK WITH
YOU HAVE $11,377 EACH MONTH
GROSS SALARY
This number differs from ANNUAL GROSS SALARY MONTHLY GROSS SALARY
your paycheck, so let's look
at how we got it step by
step. Start with your salary: $207,000 $17,250
WHAT YOU TAKE HOME
The difference between your monthly gross salary and what hits your bank account each month includes
things like taxes, health insurance deductions, and 401(k) contributions. To get an accurate sense of your
actual take-home, we "add back" 401(k) contributions to the amount that hits your bank account.

HITS YOUR
BANK ACCOUNT $11,212 $11,377 ESTIMATED
TAKE-HOME PAY

ADDITIONAL INCOME
And of course we have to consider any additional income that you make. Here's what we know:

ANNUAL
OTHER INCOME $0 $0 ESTIMATED OTHER
INCOME PER MONTH

MONTHLY NET INCOME

So, your monthly net income includes your adjusted take-home pay and your other income.

Estimated Take-Home Pay Estimated Other Income Monthly Net Income

$11,377 + $0 = $11,377
As your financial planner, my estimate is deliberately conservative, knowing that this money may be subject
to tax, withholdings, or other irregularities. You may end up banking more than this -- in a few pages, you'll
see exactly where that extra cash should go, if and when it comes in!
 YOUR SPENDING
We get it: nobody likes to budget. To make this important process a bit easier, we split spending
into two camps and provide rules of thumb about how much is too much.

ESSENTIALS CHOICES
Housing Shopping
Utilities Eating Out
Groceries Personal Care
Transportation Everything Else

RULE OF THUMB RULE OF THUMB

NO MORE OF YOUR NO MORE OF YOUR
THAN 50% NET INCOME THAN 30% NET INCOME

ESSENTIALS + CHOICES = RULE OF THUMB

NO MORE OF YOUR
TOTAL SPENDING THAN 80% NET INCOME

We like these rules of thumb because people typically need to set aside at least 20% of their
income to achieve their Financial Priorities. But these guidelines are still pretty general - let's take
a look at what your spending looks like.
 How you spend your money is honestly up to you but I'm here to help you understand how much
you need to put aside to achieve your most important financial priorities.

ESSENTIALS ARE 10% OF YOUR NET INCOME

………………………………………………………….………………….….……………….….…………….………………….….………
Housing $0
HOA………………………………………………………….………………….….……………….….…………….………………….….………
Fees $0
………………………………………………………….………………….….……………….….…………….………………….….………
Utilities Bill $300
………………………………………………………….………………….….……………….….…………….………………….….………
Monthly Groceries $500
Gas………………………………………………………….………………….….……………….….…………….………………….….………
& Fuel $300
………………………………………………………….………………….….……………….….…………….………………….….………
Other Transportation $0

TOTAL: $2,560

CHOICES ARE 27% OF YOUR NET INCOME

REGULAR MONTHLY EXPENSES NON-MONTHLY EXPENSES
Cable/Internet $100 Tuition Payments $0
Non-Tuition Education $0 Gifts $0
Charitable Giving $0 Travel (Vacation) $5,000
Hobbies $0 Non-Monthly Insurance $5,704
Childcare $0 Property Taxes $8,000
Pets $0 TOTAL: $18,704
Shopping/gifts $750 MONTHLY AVG: $1,559
Cell Phone $200
Entertainment $0 Non-monthly expenses can sometimes feel like
Health & Wellness $30 a financial curveball. But incorporating a
Personal Care $50 monthly average into your regular budget can
Restaurants & Bars $250 help you plan ahead of time. Set up a separate
Gym Membership $0 savings account for these expenses so that
Monthly Insurance $0 they don't catch you by surprise.
Country Club Dues $125

TOTAL: $1,505

TODAY'S SPENDING IS 37% OF YOUR NET INCOME

Monthly Essentials $2,560
Monthly Choices $1,505
Average Non-Monthly Choices $1,559

TOTAL ESTIMATED SPENDING: $5,624

 ACHIEVING FINANCIAL
SECURITY
Now that we know where you stand, we can talk about your
Financial Priorities. LearnVest places three Priorities above the
rest: retirement, emergency savings, and staying out of credit
card debt. These define your financial security and make it
possible to accomplish other goals down the road. To make
sure you're fully protected, we emphasize hitting certain targets
for these goals before moving on to anything else.
 YOUR KEY STATS
WE AGREED YOU'RE
READY TO DEDICATE $5,165 PER
MONTH
TO YOUR FINANCIAL
PRIORITIES

HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES TODAY WHAT IT NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE

INCOME $11,377 INCOME $11,377
FINANCIAL PRIORITIES $165 FINANCIAL PRIORITIES $5,165
SPENDING $4,164 SPENDING $6,212

UNDER BUDGET BY: $7,048 BALANCED BUDGET !

BOTTOM LINE
Changes in your day-to-day spending will make sure that you don't spend more than you earn and that you
build the funding required to achieve your financial priorities in a timeframe that makes sense for you.

MUST BE REALLOCATED TOWARD FINANCIAL PRIORITIES

$5,000 IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

We're not here to micromanage your lifestyle. I know that making budget changes is both a tough and
personal process, so in the appendix I've included a collection of LearnVest's best "smart spending" tips to
help you make these changes. If you ever have specific questions about a way that you want to cut your
spending, we can always discuss it on a follow-up call or via email. Believe me, these cuts may be hard at
first, but they will be worth it when you make fabulous progress on your Financial Priorities!
 YOUR PRIORITIES
MAKING IT HAPPEN WITH: PER$5,165
MONTH
Your Priority Goals

ORDER NAME GOAL ACHIEVED

1 RETIREMENT 5 Yrs +
2 CREDIT CARD DEBT Done!
3 EMERGENCY
! SAVINGS Done!
4 DOWN PAYMENT Oct '14
5 TAKE TIME OFF WORK Dec '13
6 TRIP TO AFRICA OR GREECE! Feb '15
7 BROKERAGE INVESTING 5 Yrs +

Next up is the game plan for the next year, which shows you exactly how much money to
allocate each month to everything you are working on. The key ingredient to making this
financial plan a success is sticking with the game plan!
 YOUR FINANCIAL CALENDAR: YEAR 1
This calendar lays a path to your goals based on your expected income. If more cash comes your way (like a bonus or tax
☐! refund), keep 10% and do something fun! Then, put the rest to Down Payment and see some satisfying progress.
August 2012 September 2012 October 2012
☐ Retirement Savings $250 ☐ Retirement Savings $250 ☐ Retirement Savings $250
☐ Down Payment $3,922 ☐ Down Payment $3,922 ☐ Down Payment $3,922
☐ Take Time Off Work $980 ☐ Take Time Off Work $980 ☐ Take Time Off Work $980

November 2012 December 2012 January 2013

☐ Retirement Savings $250 ☐ Retirement Savings $250 ☐ Retirement Savings $250
☐ Down Payment $3,922 ☐ Down Payment $3,922 ☐ Down Payment $3,922
☐ Take Time Off Work $980 ☐ Take Time Off Work $980 ☐ Take Time Off Work $980

February 2013 March 2013 April 2013

☐ Retirement Savings $417 ☐ Retirement Savings $417 ☐ Retirement Savings $417
☐ Down Payment $3,788 ☐ Down Payment $3,788 ☐ Down Payment $3,788
☐ Take Time Off Work $947 ☐ Take Time Off Work $947 ☐ Take Time Off Work $947

May 2013 June 2013 July 2013

☐ Retirement Savings $417 ☐ Retirement Savings $417 ☐ Retirement Savings $417
☐ Down Payment $3,788 ☐ Down Payment $3,788 ☐ Down Payment $3,788
☐ Take Time Off Work $947 ☐ Take Time Off Work $947 ☐ Take Time Off Work $947
 YOUR RETIREMENT
PRIORITY #1: RETIREMENT SAVINGS

TODAY YOU HAVE
IN 6 MONTHS YOU'LL HAVE
$231,578 4% COMPLETE You are likely to spend 20-
30 years in retirement.
That's nearly as many
$239,676 4% COMPLETE years as you will spend
working, so you can

IN 1 YEAR YOU'LL HAVE $250,761 4% COMPLETE imagine that your nest egg
needs to look less like a
hummingbird's and more
IN 5 YEARS YOU'LL HAVE $426,804 7% COMPLETE like a dinosaur's.

*Projections based on LearnVest's suggested contributions

WHY RETIREMENT IS YOUR #1 PRIORITY

Put simply, inflation means higher prices. By the time you retire, prices will likely

1. INFLATION be higher than they are today, which means a single dollar will not go as far
tomorrow as it does today. Since each dollar will buy slightly less in the future,
the answer is simply to save more dollars!

2. HEALTHCARE On one hand, advances in healthcare mean that we're living longer. On the
other hand, that means caring for ourselves in old age is more expensive.

3. INDEPENDENCE Unlike older generations, who could count on Social Security and large
pensions, we're largely on our own to fund our retirement.

HOW TO STRATEGIZE: WHAT'S YOUR REPLACEMENT RATIO?

Your precise savings goal should depend on your replacement ratio: the part of today's income you'll need
after you stop working. This number adjusts for inflation and reflects the fact that your daily post-retirement
costs are likely to be slightly less than they are today (except healthcare).
 AM I ON TRACK?
MY CURRENT PATH
I SAVE MY POST-RETIREMENT INCOME IS* WHICH IS

$250 $68,606 33%

PER MONTH PER YEAR (IN TODAY'S DOLLARS) OF MY CURRENT SALARY

LV RECOMMENDS
I SHOULD SAVE MY POST-RETIREMENT INCOME IS* WHICH IS

$2,197 $144,900 70%

PER MONTH PER YEAR (IN TODAY'S DOLLARS) OF MY CURRENT SALARY
*Based on standard inflation assumptions and a rate of return customized to your age and time horizon.

I know this number looks big, so I've built a plan that gets you to this monthly savings goal over time.
Because retirement is so critical (and the payoff of starting early is very real), your plan is designed to get
you to a bare minimum of a 60% replacement ratio before being funding any other goals. But even after
you've reached the 60% replacement ratio, it's critical that you continue to keep retirement as a top priority.
Here's an example of how powerful a little extra funding can be.

WHERE SHOULD THE MONEY GO?

Put it in the right account.
The 401(k) plan is great for people with high incomes because of the tax savings and you should
slowly aim to max it out. Consult a tax advisor to select an appropriate company sponsored plan,
like a SEP IRA or solo 401(k) that affords your husband a much larger tax-advantaged savings
option than an non-deductible IRA.

Bottom line: It never hurts to save more - a lot could change between now and retirement
Cash infusions like a bonus or a tax return should go to retirement - it's the best dollar you can spend.
 !
YOU HAVE ZERO CREDIT
CARD DEBT
Let's keep it that way. Congratulations on already having this piece of

your financial security locked in! Continuing to avoid credit card debt will

save you not only a ton in interest payments, but also the anxiety of an

ever-growing balance. Put your spending to work and be sure your card

is offering cash back or reward points like hotel or airline miles.

 YOUR EMERGENCY SAVINGS

Emergencies come
TODAY YOU HAVE $350,000 100% COMPLETE in all shapes and
sizes, whether it's
fixing your car or
IN 6 MONTHS YOU'LL HAVE $350,000 100% COMPLETE losing your job. A
cash cushion

IN 1 YEAR YOU'LL HAVE $350,000 100% COMPLETE protects you from

having to take out
credit card debt
IN 5 YEARS YOU'LL HAVE $350,000 100% COMPLETE when life throws you
a curveball.

Protect yourself from the unexpected.

Emergency savings provides you security, freedom and flexibility when the unexpected happens.
In other words, not saving can make emergencies substantially more expensive since you'd likely
have to say "charge it" when you don't have cash reserves to provide a safety net.

ORIGINAL COST PLUS INTEREST FOR A TOTAL OF

CAR REPAIR $300 $245 $545
ROOT CANAL $1,200 $4,000 $5,200

WE RECOMMEND YOU SAVE AT LEAST 6 MONTHS OF NET INCOME, WHICH MEANS:

$30,000 AS YOUR GOAL

FOR FINANCIAL SECURITY
 þ
YOUR EMERGENCY FUND IS
FULLY FUNDED
Bring on the rainy day. It's fantastic that you have an emergency fund -
keyword being emergency. You should really only raid it in the cases of:

1 Job loss
2 Medical or dental emergency
3 Break down in your primary form of transportation
4 Emergency home expenses (think leaky roof, flooded basement)
5 Bereavement-related expenses (like traveling to a family funeral)
 ACHIEVING YOUR OTHER
FINANCIAL GOALS
While your financial security always comes first, at LearnVest we know

you are also aiming for other financial accomplishments beyond

retirement, emergency savings and staying out of credit card debt. No

two financial plans are ever the same, so let's take a look at the goals

that are most important to you.

 PRIORITY #4

BUY A HOUSE
AVERAGE COST OF RECOMMENDED DOWN MINIMUM NEEDED FOR OVERALL SAVINGS
HOME IN YOUR AREA PAYMENT UNEXPECTED COSTS GOAL

$700,000 $500,000 $5,000 $505,000

Your Progress

TODAY YOU HAVE $400,000 79% COMPLETE

IN 6 MONTHS YOU'LL HAVE $423,591 84% COMPLETE
IN 1 YEAR YOU'LL HAVE $446,355 88% COMPLETE
IN 2 YEARS YOU'LL HAVE $505,000 100% COMPLETE

Your Contributions
TODAY IN 6 MONTHS IN 1 YEAR IN 5 YEARS

$0 $3,932 $3,794 Done!

Assuming you put the equity from the sale of your current home into a new home and
then save a $105,000 over the course of the next two years, you'll be ready to upgrade
to a larger home with little or no financing! You could fund the difference from your
savings if you prefer to remain mortgage free, you could take out a small mortgage
which has tax benefits, or a combination of both!
 PRIORITY #5

TAKE TIME OFF WORK

OVERALL GOAL: $15,000
You'll Start Saving In: You'll Save For: You'll Be Done Saving In:

Sep '12 16 Months Dec '13

Your Contributions
TODAY IN 6 MONTHS IN 1 YEAR IN 5 YEARS

$0 $983 $948 Done!

Once you get closer to having a baby, review your insurance coverage and compare
other company sponsored plans to get an idea of how much you'll have to contribute for
hospital & delivery expenses. Understand your maternity leave - will part or all of the time
off be paid? How long can you take? Take a look at this LV article on Family & Medical
Leave Act: http://www.learnvest.com/2010/07/maternity-leave-how-does-it-work/
 PRIORITY #6

TRIP TO AFRICA OR GREECE!

OVERALL GOAL: $10,000
You'll Start Saving In: You'll Save For: You'll Be Done Saving In:

Nov '14 4 Months Feb '15

Your Contributions
TODAY IN 2 YEARS IN 3 YEARS IN 5 YEARS

$0 $2,968 Done! Done!

Taking a big trip to Africa or Greece will be an incredible adventure, and will be something
you can afford to start saving for in 2014 after you've funded your other priority goals.
Based on the savings calendar, if you begin saving in October 2014 and you keep up with
the suggested amounts, you'll have the funds needed by January 2015.
 INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
Up next is your custom investment analysis which shows you exactly

how to configure your portfolio for each investment goal you have. You'll

also get a preview of the LearnVest Investment Philosphy before we get

started so that you are comfortable with the different terms and

references that lie ahead.

 LEARNVEST'S INVESTING PHILOSOPHY
5 SIMPLE CONCEPTS
Investing doesn't have to be intimidating. Here are the 5 concepts you need to know:

1 2 3 4 5
KNOW YOUR BALANCE RISK CREATE A MELTING WATCH THE SET IT AND
TIMELINE WITH PEACE OF POT OF FEES (SOMEWHAT)
MIND INVESTMENTS FORGET IT

Investing money is the savviest way to grow your wealth over the long term, after you have
built up your emergency savings (which never gets invested).

1 KNOW YOUR TIMELINE

How much risk you can take on will depend on how long you have before you’ll need your money
back. Time can help balance out the ups and downs of the stock market, so we’ll be looking at
the investment timeline for each one of your financial goals to help determine how much
risk you should (or shouldn't) take on in a certain account.

2 BALANCE RISK WITH PEACE OF MIND

There are a lot of emotions that go along with investing and you need to be able to tune out the
noise, and sleep at night. The first step to investing is to determine for yourself how much
risk you are willing to take on.

The risk with investing is that you could lose money – the reward is that the dollar you invest
today could be worth a lot more in the future.

When you’re investing for the long run, time is your best ally.
 3 CREATE A MELTING POT OF INVESTMENTS
Your investment mix should be a melting pot, which means never having all of your money in one
type of company, industry or even just one single investment. We can’t control all of the risk in
the market, but we can spread it around in your portfolio by diversifying what you invest in.

Investments come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In the end, when you diversify, you are
minimizing your risk and setting yourself up for long-term growth.

4 WATCH THE FEES

Some investment expenses are unavoidable, but the fewer unnecessary fees you pay, the more
money you'll have for yourself.

The bottom line is that the less you have to pay for your investments, the more you stand
to gain via investing in the long run.

There are a lot of low cost solutions including index funds and ETFs – both of which give you
plenty of options for diversification, without a high price tag.

5 SET IT AND (SOMEWHAT) FORGET IT

The key to investing isn’t crunching tons of numbers. It’s about being smart and sticking with your
long-term strategies.

Historically, over the long term, the stock market has tended to go up, but it will have days,
months and even years where it will go down. The key to dealing with the inevitable swings in
the stock market is to keep a cool head and think about the long term.

You can’t control the headlines on the news, but you can control how you react. The tendency to
stay calm instead of panicking translates to better returns over time. So, plan to check in just a
few times a year and stick with the rebalancing schedule set in the upcoming pages of your plan.
 DEFINING ASSET CLASSES
"Asset classes" represent the major categories of investments, which expose your portfolio to different
levels of risk and potential reward. Here's a brief introduction to the largest ones.

BIG COMPANIES
Stocks of big American companies are known for their stability. You’ll hear them
called large cap stocks, which refers to the fact that their "capitalization" (the total
value of their shares in the market) is high - usually $10 billion or more.

SMALL & MEDIUM COMPANIES

Stocks of smaller and mid-size American companies. Newer and smaller companies
aren’t as poweful as the big guys, so despite higher possible returns, they do carry
extra risk. They typically have $2 - $10 billion dollars worth of shares in the market.

FOREIGN COMPANIES
Stocks of non-US companies in developed countries (think Germany) and emerging
economies (like South Korea). These investments can be risky, but because they are
not necessarily tied to what happens in the US, they add to the diversity of your mix.

ALTERNATIVES
Investments in things like energy, natural resources, real estate or commodities like
gold or oil. Because they often move opposite the normal market indexes, these can
add a layer of defense and more diversity to your portfolio.

BONDS
Bbonds act like loans to companies or governments, and the investor is paid back a
certain amount of interest. In general, that dependability means less risk, but also
slower growth than other investment types.

CASH / CASH EQUIVALENTS

"Cash" in an investment portfolio means money that either is or can quickly be
converted into cash, like a money market account. Having part of your portfolio in
cash helps protect what you have, especially as you reach your goal's target date.

TO SUM UP:
 YOUR RETIREMENT
TOTAL ASSETS TODAY TARGET END DATE INVESTMENT STRATEGY REVIEW & REBALANCE:

$231,578 December 2040 Pretty Aggressive Annually

Your Current Allocation

7% 14% 14% 47% 10% 7%

BIGGER COMPANIES ALTERNATIVES OTHER

SMALL & MED. COMPANIES BONDS
FOREIGN COMPANIES CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS

Recommended Allocation

32% 20% 16% 12% 20%

Recommendation
BIG COMPANIES ! BOOST BY 25% OF YOUR PORTFOLIO
SMALL & MEDIUM COMPANIES ! BOOST BY 6% OF YOUR PORTFOLIO
FOREIGN COMPANIES ! BOOST BY 2% OF YOUR PORTFOLIO
ALTERNATIVES ! BOOST BY 12% OF YOUR PORTFOLIO
BONDS ! REDUCE BY 27% OF YOUR PORTFOLIO
CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS ! REDUCE BY 10% OF YOUR PORTFOLIO
OTHER ! REDUCE BY 7% OF YOUR PORTFOLIO

You’re not investing in enough high-reward assets to meet your goal. Lower-risk investments
aren’t likely to earn you as much money over time and taking some calculated risks in a
diversified portfolio is a necessary part of building long-term wealth. Remember, time helps
mediate the risk you take on, and you have 25+ years until retirement.
 TAKING ACTION
Investing is about putting money away and
watching it grow - but where you put it makes a big
difference. Now that you know what your portfolio
mix for each goal should look like, here are three
important steps to help you put things into motion:

! REBALANCING YOUR ASSETS

! VETTING A BROKERAGE FIRM

! BUYING INVESTMENTS LIKE A PRO

 REBALANCING YOUR ASSETS
Now you actually have to put these reccomendations into motion, so first:

Get your online account access info: You'll need to be able to log into your
u
accounts so gather up the passwords.

Pull up a list of your investment options: Every account has access to different
u
investments - know what you've got to work with.

Look at transaction costs first: Making an investment change in a 401(k) won't

u
have a fee, but your brokerage accounts, 529s and IRAs might.

STEP BY STEP
Plan to set aside an hour of time when you can focus so that you can work through your
suggested portfolio changes. Remember that your suggested portfolio is designed to be holistic.
Since you have more than one account you will need to make adjustements in more than one
place and here is how I would suggest you proceed:

In John Doe's 401(k) at ABC Company you have access to three different index
funds that would fit in your portfolio based on your suggested allocation and you
þ don't have any transaction fees. Rebalance your existing portfolio to include XYZ
Index Fund, DEF Index Fund and LMN Index Fund. Also change John's future
investment election so that these indexes are in play.

In your Roth IRA, you are using an actively managed investment vehicle. There is a
2% management fee being charged, which you will want to consider carefully since
þ those expenses eat away at your returns. Is this manager reviewing the rest of your
portfolio when rebalancing the assets in this account? If not, you may not be getting
a holistic analysis and could be taking on more risk than planned.

Your 403(b) at ABC Company is where the bulk of your assets are today. You'll
want to end up with no more than 20% in bonds in this account. This is also the
þ account where you have options in the Alternative category, so XYZ Natural
Resources fund will be a supplement to add into your mix. Don't forget to change
future investments after you rebalance.
 ACCOUNT VETTING PROCESS
There are two types of brokerage firms: discount and full-service. Since we’re gaming for the
lowest cost option, don’t be turned off by the term “discount".

To get started looking for your first account, or a new home for an existing account, take a
look at Betterment, Vanguard, Scottrade, Charles Schwab, Fidelity, and E*Trade. Each offer
an easy-to-use web platform, and a wide range of services, including access to low-cost options
like EFTS and Index funds. Just remember, you’re going to be with this brokerage firm for a while
(you’re investing for the long term) so do your research carefully.

WHEN YOU COMPARE BROKERAGE FIRMS, CONSIDER:

! The minimum to open an account and buy your first investment

! Whether there are maintenance fees or annual fees

! How much is charged for each trade or transaction

! The pool of investments available - are ETFs and Indexes offered

! If a direct deposit or auto transfer can be set up (investing should be easy)

 BUYING INVESTMENTS LIKE A PRO
Now, on to deciding what to actually buy. You'll run into three common fund types:

Index and Exchange-Traded Funds ("ETFs"): These are going to be your lowest-
!
cost options and they make it a snap for you to build a diversified portfolio.

Target Date Funds: These put your asset allocation on autopilot, and adjust the
!
allocation to become less risky over time, as you approach your target date.

Managed Mutual Funds: Here you're paying for a person (or, more often, a whole
!
bunch of people) to try to "beat the market." Translation: Much higher expenses!

WHEN YOU RESEARCH SPECIFIC FUNDS, CONSIDER:

Your brokerage account might offer some research tools, but the best data can be found at
www.morningstar.com. One of the reasons we like Morningstar is that it provides independent
investment research, so that there’s no hidden agenda to try to sell you certain funds. There is a
star rating system, an easy-to-use risk and return analysis, a clear expense breakdown and
historical performance data.

" The asset class - remember you want to make a melting pot

" The size of the expense ratio - the higher this is, the lower your net return

" The minimum amount needed to buy a particular investment

" How well this fund has performed over time relative to it's benchmark

" Load Fees or comissions that may be tacked onto the price of the fund when you
buy or sell - go for the No Load options
GET YOUR ESTATE DOCS
IN A ROW
Go ahead and just get it over with! Everyone needs these

important estate planning documents and certain types of

insurance policies at different times in their life to be sure that

their money is secure, so let's take a look at what you'll need

today and down the road.

 GET YOUR DOCS IN A ROW
This financial plan would not be complete if we didn't talk about important (and easy) ways to protect your
family and your wealth. You can get these documents in place pretty easily. Does your company offer pre-paid
legal services? If so, that is one option to get started. If you like the less expensive DIY option, try
LegalZoom.com. Otherwise, plan to meet with an Estate Attorney in your area to get help setting things up.

Make sure you review things on an annual basis to be sure that nothing
RULE OF THUMB needs changing. If you are getting married, divorced, having kids or
recently widowed, you likely need to make some adjustments.

SAFE DEPOSIT BOX

WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED THIS?

MAYBE
A safe deposit box is a secure place to store important documents, including
all of the reccomended estate planning tools that will be suggested as a part
of this financial plan.

You can share access to the box with a trusted person in your life, which is If you have important
usually either a spouse or the person designated as your Power of Attorney. documents and family
heirlooms to keep safe, this
Items you might store in a safe deposit box include copies of birth or might be something to consider
marriage certificates, executed copies of your estate planning documents so investigate the options with
(your will, trust documents, life insurance policies), a list of bank accounts your brick and mortar bank
and investment accounts with account numbers, non-replaceable valuables, (online banks do not have
rare coins, property deeds and paper stock or bond certificates. these available).

BENEFICIARY FORM
WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED THIS?

YES
A Beneficiary Form is really important because it is considered a will
substitute, which means that even if you don't have a will set up, money can
still be transferred directly to the person you designate. In fact, you bypass
the probate process entirely, which is important.
You always need to complete
When do you fill one out? Your 401(k) or retirement plan at work, your life
these forms, even if you also
insurance policies, any IRA accounts, annuity accounts and 529 College
have a will and/or a trust. Don't
Savings accounts all have beneficiary forms.
make any assumptions that you
already filled one out - go back
Typically, if you are married you will list your spouse as your beneficiary. If and ask for a copy of the form
you want to someone other than your spouse, keep in mind that you may be for each account and review it
required to get spousal consent for this! carefully.
TOD/POD INSTRUCTION
WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED THIS?

YES
Transfer on Death (TOD) and Payable on Death (POD) are both ways in
which you can easily transfer assets to a beneficiary without having this
money pass through probate. Your beneficiary does not have any financial
control over the money while you are alive, and you can change the TOD
and POD instructions at any time.
It is always ideal to have
You will typically set up POD instructions for any bank accounts (think your
instructions on file to TOD or
savings and emergency fund) and TOD for any brokerage accounts where a
POD so that you can avoid the
beneficary form is not used.
probate process. This
These instructions are an easy and free way to keep your estate plan represents a potential cost
current, even before a Will or a Trust is needed. Please note that not all savings to your estate and it
states have adopted the TOD law so you will need to check with your streamlines the transfer of
brokerage firm for more details. money to heirs.

LIVING WILL
WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED THIS?

YES
A living will lets you share your medical choices with your loved ones. While
it is not pleasant to think about, a living will is ultimately a source of guidance
for your family and friends in the event that something were to happen to
you. If you don't have one, the hospital gets to decide who will be in control
of your decisions, so this is not something to be taken lightly. You absolutely want to have
A living will includes decisions about what sort of treatment you would want if this so you are in control of
you were incapacitated, and it assigns your health care proxy - the person your healthcare decisions
responsible for carrying out your living will on your behalf. You can choose should anything unexpected
someone you're close to or an unbiased advisor. happen!
Click below to view a Living Will on Legalzoom.com
http://lztrk.com/?a=4191&c=13&p=r&s1=

POWER OF ATTORNEY
WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED THIS?

MAYBE
A general power of attorney is a document that gives the right for someone
else (like a partner or a parent) to make decisions on your behalf in case you
pass away or become incapacitated.

You can set up a power of attorney for legal affairs only, and you can also set You and your husband may
up a power of attorney for health care in order to have a trusted person want to consider naming each
available to make decisions if you are incapacitated. other POA if you think you may
If you are married, typically you will name your spouse as your power of need to have someone act on
attorney. Otherwise you will need to carefully consider what person in your your behalf for financial
life you most trust to execute decisions on your behalf. decisions.
Click below to view a Power of Attorney on Legalzoom.com
http//lztrk.com/?a=4191&c=27&p=r&s1=
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT
WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED ONE?
Did you now that if you die intestate (without a will), then the state you live in
will use the probate process to determine what will happen with your assets?

Even when you have a will, your estate will go through probate, however this
YES
Make sure you review and
document is used to guide the court in making decisions for you and will update your wills regularly.
greatly improve the chances that your specific wishes are carried out. Once you have kids, you'll need
to update it and you'll want to
A will is also used to assign legal guardianship to your minor children, so if have a plan for guardianship as
you have a family this document is especially important. well.
Click below to view a Last Will & Testament on Legalzoom.com
http://lztrk.com/?a=4191&c=13&p=r&s1=

TRUST DOCUMENTS
WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED ONE?

YES
A living trust outlines exactly how your wealth and assets will be transferred
upon your death. Unlike a will, any assets in a trust are not subject to
probate and no court system can intervene into the decisions you have
made.
It is extremely valuable in estate planning because you control every single You already have a trust
aspect of how your wealth is transferred to heirs. You can also use a trust to agreement in place which is
help avoid or lessen estate taxes, which you cannot do with a will. terrific!
Think about special provisions that make sense for your situation. Should
my kids inherit any money before a certain age? If my spouse re-marries,
should their kids be able to inherit anything?
Click below to view Trust Documents on Legalzoom.com
http://lztrk.com/?a=4191&c=19&p=r&s1=

TERM LIFE INSURANCE

WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED ANY?

YES
Term life insurance gives you coverage for a pre-determined amount of time
(people often get term insurance until their children are grown). A good rule
of thumb is to cover 7-10x your annual salary.
You and your husband both
The earlier you get life insurance, the less expensive it is, as cost rises with
already have Life Insurance
age. Before committing to life insurance, shop around and compare rates.
Policies with $1 million dollars
This is the least expensive type of life insurance, and the most commonly of coverage. When you have
used since the cost is so low relative to the value and protection it provides. children, you'll want to make
You can quickly check rates at www.quickquote.com before you call an sure you have coverage of at
insurance broker. least 10 times your incomes.
DISABILITY INSURANCE
WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED ANY?

YES
Disability insurance is hugely important, as it will protect you if you become
disabled and can no longer work. There are short- and long-term policies
available. The most important thing to look out for is "own-occupation"
coverage, which grants you insurance money if you are too disabled to
perform your own job (not just any job!)
A scary statistic shows that if you're under age 35, you have a one in three If you do not have a policy at
chance of becoming disabled for at least six months during the course of work, you should shop for a
your career. Being stranded without any income during this time would do long term policy that covers you
major damage to your financial foundation. for at least two years in "own
If your employer offers disability insurance, take it! Getting this type of occupation". You may want to
insurance through an employer is the most cost effective way to do it. consider short-term disability if
Otherwise, it is important to secure a long term disability policy on your own. you have unpaid leave.

HOME INSURANCE
WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED ANY?

YES
Homeowner's and renter's insurance are both inexpensive ways to protect
your property and you should always have the applicable form of coverage in
place!

The policies can protect you if your personal property is damaged or stolen.
They also afford you some liability protection in case anything happens in Be sure to review your
your home. Think slip and fall accidents, dog bites, etc. homeowner's policy annually to
ensure that the level of
Remember that how much coverage you have will vary based on the type of coverage still make sense.
policy in place, the riders you elect, and the state that you live in.

UMBRELLA POLICY
WHAT IS IT? DO I NEED ANY?

YES
Umbrella insurance is extra liability insurance that you purchase in addition
to your regular insurance policies. As its implies, umbrella insurance sits "on
top of" your car and homeowners insurance policies like an umbrella, to
provide added financial protection in the event that other policies cannot
cover the loss.
It used to be that only the very wealthy needed umbrella insurance, but more Since your networth is over
and more lawsuits happen nowadays. Did you know that you can be sued $350,000 and you're
from a car accident and that your wages can be garnished to pay damages accumulating assets rather
for the rest of your life if you are not well insured? quickly, you should consider an
The more money or assets that you have, the more of a target you become umbrella insurance policy to
for lawsuits, and the more you have to protect. Consider umbrella insurance provide an added layer of
once you have more than $200,000 in assets. protection.
 YOUR GAME PLAN
This Financial Plan would not be complete without a clear game
plan for the next five years. I've mapped out exactly how much
you need to put towards your financial security and your other
financal goals month by month, year by year. I also want to
leave you with easy to implement action items that tie back to
everything we have been working on to build your financial well-
being.

! 5-YEAR CALENDAR

! IMMEDIATE TO-DO'S
 YOUR TO-DO'S
Good Grooming: Overall Financial Health
☐ Keep checking your credit score from time to time so you can track your progress, and watch out for any
fraudulent activity with your credit. Credit Karma lets you do a check free of charge with no impact to
your score and you can get a full free credit report annually from www.annualcreditreport.com.

☐
Learning to avoid spending triggers can be a challenge, but one of the best things I can recommend is to
prioritize the degree of satisfaction you get from spending money on a particular thing or activity (like
eating out, yoga classes, travel) and then put those things first. Rather than spending on the little things
here and there that add up, spend on what you savor the most and "trim the fat" in other areas!

☐
Since you plan to use a portion of your savings to buy a new house, consider a laddered CD portfolio
instead of investing. Spread out your CD contacts so you have smaller sums in each one, with maturity
dates that vary so you never have all of your money tied up, subject to a penalty to withdraw, and so you
can maximize interest rate increases that may come available. Compare at www.bankrate.com/cd.aspx

☐
Launch into investing (for goals that are more than five years in the future) by taking the LV Building Your
Portfolio and Buying Investments like a Pro courses. Check out LV 's The Market newsletter here:
http://www.learnvest.com/how-lv-works/newsletters/. Next up, check your retirement accounts to make
sure your portfolio matches your age, timeframe and your risk tolerance.

☐
Since your husband is self-employed, it is important to meet with a tax advisor on a regularly basis. It
might make sense to either make estimated quarterly payments or you can consider having a larger
amount withheld from your paycheck if you updated your form W-4 to protect you from having to make a
large payment at year end.

Priority #1: Retirement Savings

Sit down and take the LearnVest Roadmap to Retiring in Style - this short and interactive course is a
great way to understand how retirement really works and why it is such an essential aspect of your
savings today. Log in to the LV website and head to My Plan and then Take a Course for easy access.

Find out if Dell offers a Roth 401(k) which would allow you to withdraw contributions and earnings at
retirement tax free! With over 30 years to grow your money this could be a significant tax benefit.

Priority #2: Credit Cards

Since you travel often and you pay off your credit card balance in full each month, make sure you are
using an airline credit card that is amassing miles to help you travel for free from time to offset future
travel expenses. Compare options at www.creditcards.com or chaseblueprint.com.

Don’t throw out or cancel your oldest credit card. The further back your credit history goes, the better
your score. So, if you still have your oldest credit card and it’s not currently your main card, keep it active
by buying something small on it every so often and paying that off immediately, in full.
 Priority #3: Emergency Savings
Open a high yield savings account that offers sub accounts that way you can split up all of your savings
into different buckets so you always know how much is saved for various things like emergencies,
quarterly estimated taxes, irregular expenses, new house, baby fund/taking time off. Make one sub
account just for travel so you always know what you can (and can't!) afford when opportunities come up.
Speaking of savings, head over to HR and change your direct deposit so that your monthly savings goes
straight from your paycheck into your separate bank account. That way you never even see the money
mingled with your checking balance and there is never any worry that you will save only "if something is
leftover."

Priority #4: Down Payment

Existing-home prices have over-corrected and are now selling for less than the cost of construction in
most of the U.S. As you debate whether to build your next home since your husband is a home builder,
or buy an existing one, here is a helpful article to help you: http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-
finance/articles/2012/04/23/build-or-buy-a-housing-market-dilemma

Everything you need to know about your taxes and being a homeowner from buying, selling, or just living
happily in your home: http://www.learnvest.com/knowledge-center/your-taxes-if-youre-a-homeowner

Priority #5: Take Time Off Work

Think about how raising a family changes your financial priorities. Are you ready to trade off spending in
certain areas? Here are two great LearnVest articles to help you re-prioritize once you're starting a
family: http://www.learnvest.com/2010/06/how-much-money-does-a-baby-cost-are-you-ready-for-a-
baby/http://www.learnvest.com/2012/01/the-makings-of-an-updated-smart-family-budget/
Practice living off one salary before the big birth day, and sign up for childcare flex spending accounts if
your employer offers them, in order to take advantage of the tax benefits. Read more about child care
and figuring out your work (or no work) plan at http://www.learnvest.com/2011/06/budgeting-for-a-baby.

Priority #6: Trip to Africa or Greece!

Keep your travel savings in a separate account than your emergency savings or other savings targeted
to other goals. That way you never steal from your other priorities as you get ready for trips.

Take a look at the LV Knowledge Center before you plan your next international trip to as a reminder of
all the little things that often get overlooked from travel insurance, reviewing your cell phone plan, and
credit card exchange rate fees: http://www.learnvest.com/knowledge-center/i-want-to-plan-a-trip/
 NOW GET GOING!
JANE,
You have a lot of exciting and challenging goals ahead of you. I know from
experience that starting fresh with a financial plan means putting some serious
thought and hard work into your finances. This document contains a number of
resources to help you put your plan into motion. After reviewing the payment
calendar and to-do list for your Financial Priorities, make sure to take a look at
the section about getting your estate documents in order, as well as Learnvest's
Smart Spending Tips. Most importantly, I am here to help and support you. If
you have questions along the way, check in with me anytime!

It will be really fun to track your progress, so keep an eye on your LearnVest
Money Center. I suggest checking on your account daily for the first 30 days,
and then weekly, so you can review your budget, organize your transactions
into custom folders, and access a real-time snapshot of all the progress you are
making.

Remember, a financial plan is based on your situation and goals today, so as

your life changes, you should expect to revisit your goals and to-do's. There are
plenty of tasks to be working on until then, and I am confident that the steps in
this plan are going to help ensure a solid foundation for your financial future. I
really enjoyed building this plan for you and I look forward to talking again soon
on our next planning call!

To a Richer Life,

Brandie Farnam, CFP ®

!!

TM

P L A N N I N G S E R V I C E S
 APPENDIX: LV'S SMART SPENDING TIPS
GROCERIES

1 Do a thorough fridge and cabinet search to see what items you need: milk, yogurt, bread, cereal, fruit, and
meat. Write down an item when it's running out, and keep the list on the refrigerator.

2 Plan out your meals for the week and write down the ingredients you'll need. When creating the grocery list, try
to group items together based on where they are in the supermarket to save time.

3 Stick to the grocery list and mark it off as you go down each aisle one at a time. Keep an eye out for discount
sales and try to avoid impulse foods like convenience food.

4 Check the prices and compare between brands before buying the products. Bulk quantities are often, but not
always, cheaper.

5 Grocery shop with coupons, a set menu and list and avoid stocking the pantry for things you are not cooking
this week.

6 Put oranges, grapefruit and lemons on your grocery shopping list. All citrus fruits contain fiber, which helps you
feel full longer and eat less! That's also why it's better to eat the fruit itself rather than just drink fruit juice.

EATING OUT

1 Drink healthy and order water. Not only is water one of the best tools for weight loss and glowing skin, it's free
of charge at restaurants.

2 Want a meal for 50% off? Sign up on Scoutmob.com to get deals to local food and drink venues. Deals offered
on Scoutmob are free but you only pay when you redeem it at the venue.

3 Avoid the appetizers. Or, even consider eating one as your meal. Sometimes you can make a whole meal just
from those cheap eats. Many restaurants offer discount apps for Happy Hour.

4 Always wanted to try that upscale eatery? Join the Restaurant Week mailing list and enjoy a prix fixe meal at a
discounted price. This is a great way to try a fancy new place on th cheap.

5 Eat local. Support your local Mom and Pops. Prices are often cheaper than chain restaurants. But, an even
better reason is that everybody REALLY does know your name.
 6 Instead of going out to a restaurant, invite friends over and have a cookout or a potluck meal. The cost will be
low AND you get to enjoy good company.

7 Eating out is a luxury so make it one! Save this for special occasions and social gatherings and eat up those
groceries.

8 When you cook dinner make sure you pack yourself a lunch for the next day. Try to bring your lunch 4 days a
week and only eat lunch out once a week.

Skip the late afternoon coffee shop break and instead pack some snacks to keep at your desk. If you are
9 itching for a real break, go for a 10 minute walk and grab an apple instead. Get a to-go cup and brew coffee
before work.

10 Plan, plan, plan. Not having healthy options on hand (or in mind) makes it too easy to resort to fast food,
especially when your family is clamoring for something to eat.

11 Grow your own herbs. Tasty fresh herbs liven up everything you cook, and pre-potted plants are cheap. So if
you can keep a plant alive and love to cook, you can’t beat the convenience and the flavor.

AROUND THE HOUSE

1 It pays to be generic. Most generic drugs and brand name drugs share the same active ingredients. So the
results should be the same and you just saved yourself a few extra bucks!

2 Give up expensive habits, like cigarettes and alcohol. Not only will it take a toll on your life, but those habits will
quickly reduce your wallet size. Adopt healthier habits so you can make fewer doctor visits.

3 Switch to energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs. You should see your electric bill trim down. And not to mention,
you're also helping the environment.

4 Use billshrink.com to save money on cable, internet and your cell phone. Most people over pay for these
services.

5 DIY. Always look for ways to do something yourself if you can. Don’t call a plumber for a simple clogged drain.
Learn how to mend your own clothes. Make your own gifts instead of buying them.

6 Stop buying bottled water. Less plastic means fewer chemicals and a smaller stake in the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch. Reusable bottles are a bonus for your health, the environment and your wallet.

7 Save money and keep harsh chemicals out of your kitchen by making your own dishwasher detergent. It's an
easy way to save precious pennies in your monthly home budget.
ENTERTAINMENT

1 The best things in life are free. Visit your local library and sign up for a library card. It's simple and free access
to books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, and online resources.

2 Swap out traditional cable for Hulu or Netflix, which are only about $8 a month and both offer on demand TV &
movies.

3 If you do keep cable call your provider and ask for a loyalty discount. Or change providers to get new client
discounts.

4 Find free forms of entertainment in your area! Summer is a great time to go to free outdoor concerts, art fairs,
and hiking in the great outdoors.

5 Cancel unread magazine or newspaper subscriptions. Stop auto-renewals and try to get a refund for the
unused portion of your subscription.

6 Borrow ebooks. If your library is one of 18,000 branches linked up with OverDrive (search.overdrive.com), you
can check out titles virtually using your library card number.

BEAUTY

1 When it is time to restock on shampoo and other personal care products, go store brand for a change. Tip
bottles upside-down to eek out every drop you paid for before tossing it.

2 Clean out your beauty closet and make a note of what items you actually use. Organize them into different
sections of what you use everyday vs. what you hardly ever use, to know what you need to keep buying.

3 Instead of spending a ton on spa and salon treatments, consider a DIY facial or hair coloring. If you opt for the
spa or salon, use the makeup and toiletires you already have and go longer between appointments.

4 When possible, purchase pump bottles or squeeze tubes instead of lids or tops that open up. When something
does come in a pot or jar, put the lid back on right away to keep it from drying out or getting dirt in it.

5 Less is more -- you only need a small amount of shampoo and conditioner. Also, don't lather on too much soap -
- it will just dry out your skin.

6 Get gorgeous for free! Swing by one of Benefit's Brow Bars on your birthday to receive a complimentary brow
wax - just present an ID with your birth date on it. Visit benefitcosmetics.com to find a location near you.
FITNESS

1 Check your local library for fitness DVDs. You can check one out for at least a week- this gives you the
opportunity to try many different routines to stave off workout boredom.

Host a fitness class. Find a YouTube video and invite friends over to break a sweat in the comfort of your living
2 room. Search for the activity type (i.e. zumba) and choose one that is led by a certified fitness professional or
personal trainer.

3 Instead of joining a gym to swim, run or bike, find an outdoor alternative such as going to the YMCA to swim
laps, running in the great outdoors or buying a used bike on Craigslist.

4 Do a trial membership. Many gyms offer a trial period in which you can enjoy the benefits of membership
without the fees. Anytime Fitness offers a 7-day pass that anyone can print and redeem.

5 Don't skimp on your running shoes--you'll pay later in visits to the doctor! Visit a store in person to find the pair
that fits best. After that, go online to a place like Running Warehouse to replace them at a good price.

6 Get fit while being cheap. Check cheaper retailers like Target, Walmart, and Kohls for more affordable workout
gear.

7 Many local running and athletic apparel stores offer walking and running groups, or classes led by certified
coaches and trainers. This is a great way to get expert exercise advice and find new workout buddies!

TRANSPORTATION

1 Check out gasbuddy.com for the best deal on fuel in your area. Also, shop for lower car insurance to save even
more.

2 Save on gas. Planning a road trip or renting a car while on vacation? Ask your hotel if it offers a gas rebate to
guests. You could get a $25 to $50 gas card at check-in or have fuel expenses deducted from your bill.

3 Buying or selling a used car? Find out what it's worth using the Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) and maximize your
sale or trade.

4 Do your research. As you enter a car dealership, come armed with pages of pricing, reviews, research and car
buying advice from Edumunds.com. Be an empowered, engaged and educated automotive consumer.

5 Drive more efficiently -- unload the trunk to lighten the weight of the car or drive more smoothly instead of
accelerating quickly and braking.

6 Carpool. Save on gas costs by carpooling with your work colleagues. You can also save your energy by
alternating drivers each day.
YOUR CLOSET

1 Why buy brand new when you can swap and spend nothing! Plan a seasonal clothes swap with friends and
refresh your closet on the cheap.

2 Shop with cash only! Leave your credit cards at home and buy only what you can afford with the cash in your
pocket.

3 Think in color palettes. Keep your current wardrobe in mind when you shop for clothes and don’t buy anything
that won't go with at least two or three other items that you own, even if it's a hot trend.

4 Hit the discount chains. There are stylish bargains to be had at stores like T.J. Maxx and Target. Shop
Target.com for the latest from their designer partners. Also, check out resale sites like Craigslist and Ebay.

5 Shop out of season. Shop for spring and summer items in the fall, and buy your fall and winter looks when
spring rolls around.

6 Never hit the mall when new clothes hit the racks. If you pay attention to the fashion week previews, you can
shop the trends on a bargain and choose looks that will be around for more than one season.

7 Shop at consignment stores. Make money on clothes you don't want while shopping for new looks at
consignment stores.

8 Learn to sew. Start by mastering basics like replacing buttons and hemming pants. These few and simple
alterations can save you lots of money!

9 Treat with TLC. Caring for your clothes will help them last longer. Use gentle fabrics, avoid the dryer when
possible and hang and fold clothes properly. Always read the clothing care tags!

10 Use your smartphone to find clothing coupons before you check out: Coupon Closet, Coupon Sherpa, Shooger.

11 Buy basics from generic brands. Your basics don't need a designer label. Buy T-shirts, tank tops and lounge
wear from cheaper stores. Simple cuts and solid colors don't require a high-end designer.

SHOPPING

1 Grab a friend and get half off. Take advantage of buy-one-get-one-half-off sales. If you and your friend are both
craving a new pair of jeans, hit the special deals together!
 2 Don't let gift cards go to waste — you can swap it for someone else's unwanted card on sites like
cardavenue.com.

3 Do sign up for your favorite store’s mailing list. The store will likely send you all kinds of coupons to use in the
future.

4 Look for coupons in the newspapers. Each week in your Sunday paper, clip out coupons from large department
stores.

5 Offer to pay in cash. Small businesses especially appreciate this, and are often more willing to give you a
discount - particuarly in places like markets and other casual settings.

6 Befriend the salesperson -- even if you are not buying something at that time, the salesperson will be more
inclined to let you know when a sale is coming up.

7 Go shopping during sales or major holidays. You can even learn about sales by asking sales assistants. They
know when a sale is approaching and which items, specifically, will be on sale.

TRACK YOUR SPENDING

1 Start tracking your spending and close your budget gap. I bet you will be surprised to see how your money was
really spent!

2 Switch to a cashless diet! Keep cash withdrawals to a minimum so you can track where your money is going
with your debit card.

3 Stop using a credit card and switch to a debit card for all your expenses and then use the LV Money Center to
track all your spending.

4 Log in to your online bank account and opt into daily balance alerts, low balance alerts, and any other alerts you
might find useful in order to avoid bank fees.

5 Download your bank's mobile app on your smartphone to track your spending on the go.

6 A low-tech solution to track spending is to carry around a notebook and log your expenses or hold onto your
receipts and add them up at the end of the week.

7 It's always a smart idea to go cashless and use a debit card for everything. Also be sure to manually log cash
transactions on the Money Center when you do use the green stuff, so hang onto those receipts.
DISCLOSURES
Information in this Financial Plan is for educational purposes only. Calculations
are all estimates based on information that you provided. The suggestions here
are neither appropriate for the purposes of making a decision to carry out a
transaction or trade nor do they provide any form of personal financial advice
(investment, tax, or legal), or make any recommendations regarding particular
financial instruments, investments, or products. LearnVest is not a broker or tax
advisor.  The Services are intended only to assist you in your household and
financial organization.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

!!

TM

P L A N N I N G S E R V I C E S

Office number: 866-931-4099

www.learnvest.com