Values-Based Financial Planning : The Art of Creating and Inspiring Financial Strategy

As a financial professional who strives daily to help my clients make smart choices about their money, I am impressed by Bill's personalized approach to helping people take control of their lives by showing them ways to create and implement a viable foundation for their ideal financial future. There are many approaches of course, perhaps infinite, to planning wisely for your future. No one method or process is perfect. However, if you're truly serious about taking financial control over your future, whether you invest for yourself or work with a competent professional, then seek ideas and methods that are focused on helping YOU fulfill what's important to you in life. Bill's work talks directly about doing this and in beneficial ways that can help you make real progress towards achieving your lifetime goals and fulfilling your values.

Bachrach does a great job at helping investors identify their own personality type and recognize what is really important to them in investing. You wont find stock tips in this book but you will find the tools needed to create an overall roadmap and financial plan to help you meet your true root financial goals. This is the important part. One of my favorite points that Mr. Bachrach makes, one that I emphasize with people I advise is that there are certain things you can't hire someone to do for you: spending time with your family, exercise, travel etc. There are some things you can delegate- financial planning is one of them. Bill Bachrach also has a healthy and objective view about advice for investors who are not sure if they want to use the services of an advisor. If you want the book with the hot trading tip of the day to add to your 500 book collection of investing books, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for an overall strategy to help meet your financial goals then this book is recommended.

Bill Bachrach's book can help all investors, young and old, to reach all their financial goals so they can live the best possible life. Because everyone is different, that best life will be different for everyone. Even the "do-it-yourself" investor can make better decisions by understanding that investing is not about getting the highest returns all the time, because no one can do that, but, it is about getting the returns they need to reach their financial goals without taking undue risks. "Collaborators", those who like to get ideas from, and bounce ideas off, an investment salesperson, can make better decisions about where to invest their money.Finally, "Delagators", those who want to spend their time on those things that are more important than money, such as their health, their important relationships, and their career or retirement, can have a way to find a "Trusted Advisor" who will help them reach their financial goals by preparing a proper investment, tax, and estate plan and coach them to implement the plan.Inside, the reader will find a blank "Financial Road Map" to complete at home, or, with their advisor. There is also a valuable comparison of a "Trusted Advisor" and a "Salesperson" to help in the selection of someone to help implement the plan.Bill Bachrach has developed this approach over the last fifteen years. Bill has been recognized as one of the most influencial people in the financial services industry in the U.S.A. He has coached hundreds of advisors in North America and around the world in his process. His stated goal is to help change the financial services industry to become more client oriented.

Bachrach's book is a valuable read, whether you are a financial whiz or still looking for direction. I was impressed that the book is endorsed by Stephen Covey (see back cover) but was not surprised. Bachrach encourages us to focus on our values first because there is a direct connection to what is important to an individual and their money. The book also does a wonderful job of helping people determine whether they should do their own financial planning or hire an advisor. Bachrach gives some great tips on finding a "trusted advisor" rather than a salesperson. This book was well worth the money. I now have a great deal of clarity about my values, goals, and the next steps I need to take to make my Financial Road Map a reality.

This fast-read is a must for people wanting to start the process of planning their financial futures. This is not a book about how to pick stocks or bonds or mutual funds. This book walks the reader though a series of exercises which will result in an inspiring vision of your financial future, focusing on what's most important to you in life. I've been a financial advisor for over a dozen years and this is the best book I've read on the topic. A "must read"