Your Fiduciary CPA & Financial Advisor

Document Preparation Guide

This guide describes the documents and records that help us build your financial plan. Gather what you can before our first meeting — don't stress if you can't find everything. We'll work with what you have and help you track down the rest.

1

Retirement Accounts

We need to see your current retirement savings to assess your readiness and identify opportunities.

Employer Plans Priority

Bring your most recent quarterly or annual statement for any 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan. We're looking for your current balance, contribution rate, and employer match details. If you have old plans from previous employers, include those statements as well.

IRAs Priority

Current statements for all Traditional and Roth IRA accounts, including any rollover IRAs from previous employers. If you have multiple IRAs across different custodians, include a statement from each.

Business Retirement Plans If Applicable

If you have a SEP IRA, Solo 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, or other business retirement plan, bring the most recent statement. If you're considering setting up a plan, we'll discuss options during our meeting.

Pension or Defined Benefit Plans If Applicable

If you have a pension, bring your most recent benefit statement showing your projected monthly benefit and the age at which it becomes available.

2

Investment & Savings Accounts

Non-retirement accounts that are part of your overall financial picture.

Brokerage Accounts Priority

Recent statements for any taxable investment accounts you hold at firms like Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab, or others. Include any managed accounts, individual stocks, or brokerage CDs.

Bank Accounts & HSA

Recent statements for checking and savings accounts showing current balances. If you contribute to a Health Savings Account, include that statement as well — HSAs are a valuable planning tool we want to incorporate.

Education Savings

If you have a 529 plan, Coverdell ESA, or other education savings accounts, include the most recent statements showing current balances and contribution history.

3

Insurance Policies

Reviewing your insurance coverage helps us identify gaps and ensure your family is protected.

Life Insurance Priority

Bring policy documents or declarations pages for all life insurance you carry — term, whole life, or employer-provided. We need the coverage amount, premium, policy type, and beneficiary designation for each.

Disability Insurance

If you have disability coverage (through your employer or individually), bring the policy summary showing the monthly benefit amount, elimination period, and benefit period.

Health Insurance

A summary of your health plan benefits showing your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether you're on a High Deductible Health Plan eligible for HSA contributions.

Other Policies

If you have umbrella liability coverage, long-term care insurance, or any business insurance policies (general liability, professional liability, key person, buy-sell), include those declarations pages as well.

4

Estate Planning Documents

These documents ensure your wishes are honored. If you don't have them yet, that's an important conversation for our meeting.

Will, Trust & Powers of Attorney

If you have a current will, living trust, financial power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, or living will/advance directive, bring copies. If any of these are outdated or if you haven't created them yet, just make a note — we'll discuss what's needed.

Beneficiary Designations

A list of current beneficiaries on your retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and investment accounts. These designations override your will, so it's important that they're up to date.

5

Debts & Liabilities

A clear picture of what you owe helps us create an effective payoff strategy alongside your other goals.

Mortgage & Real Estate

Your most recent mortgage statement showing the outstanding balance, interest rate, and monthly payment. If you own rental property or have a second home, include those mortgage statements as well along with recent property tax assessments.

Other Debts

For any student loans, auto loans, credit card balances, home equity lines of credit, or business loans, bring statements or a summary showing the balance, interest rate, and minimum payment for each. If you've already noted these in the Financial Planning Discovery form, no need to repeat — but having the actual statements helps us verify the details.

6

Income & Employment

Understanding your income sources helps us optimize tax planning and cash flow.

Pay Stubs & Benefits

If you're employed, bring a recent pay stub showing your gross income, withholdings, and deductions. Also include your employer benefits summary — specifically the 401(k) match details, stock option or RSU information, and any other compensation beyond base salary.

Social Security Estimate

Your most recent Social Security benefit estimate, available at ssa.gov. This is especially important if you're within 15 years of retirement — it helps us project your retirement income accurately.

Business Documents Business Owners

If you own a business, bring your operating agreement or partnership documents, any existing business valuations, and your buy-sell agreement or succession plan if you have one. Recent profit and loss statements and balance sheets are also helpful.

Don't have everything? That's completely fine. The most important things are completing the Financial Planning Discovery form, thinking about your goals, and bringing whatever documents you do have. We'll work together to fill in the gaps over time.