Why products come first
A financial plan is only as good as the products inside it. If a plan rests on a product with hidden layers, fee drag or poor tax treatment, the projections will be wrong no matter how carefully they are drawn. That is why our professionals act as product consultants first and planning consultants second.
Planning-first vs. product-first
| Typical planning-first approach | Advanced Group: product-first | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Goals and projections, then fill in products | What you own today: every product mapped to its core, with each layer and cost listed |
| Industry view | Usually one side: investments or insurance | Both sides, so products are compared across industries, not only within one |
| Returns shown | Often average annual returns | CAGR and net dollar value after fees and taxes (RPA) |
| Fees & taxes | Listed as percentages | Shown in dollars and lost compounding (drag reports) |
| Then the plan | Built on the existing product mix | Built on products that have earned their place (PSG model) |
How a review works
- 1Product reviewWe map each holding back to its core product (COMP) and list every layer, fee and restriction.
- 2Drag & volatility analysisRPA and drag reports show what you keep after fees, taxes and market setbacks.
- 3PSG modelYour current Protection, Savings & Growth across 27 units: an existing PSG review and report.
- 4Plan & forecastA recommended PSG report and forecast, with retirement income and asset transfer built in.
How a by-product is built
A by-product starts with the same gross return a core product earns. Each layer of design, distribution and compensation then takes a share before the result reaches the client.
- 1Index-linked or outsourced accumulation. Gains tied to an index, a cap or a third-party manager.
- 2Restricted diversification. Limited menu of allocation choices.
- 3No tax controls. No control over harvesting, turnover or tax type.
- 4Loads & surrender periods. Up-front or deferred sales loads; lock-up periods.
- 5Percentage-based fees. Charged on account size, not fixed, and can rise with the balance.
- 6Distribution & compensation. Commission to the selling representative, or an annual advisory fee.
Our analysis tools
Own the underlying asset directly where possible, and add a layer only when it earns its cost.
Annual, average and compound returns side by side, so you see what your dollars actually did.
Fees and taxes shown in dollars and in lost compounding, not only as percentages.
Your household modeled across 27 units, as it stands today and as recommended.