The Master's Financial Group

Managing Money*

A Word About No or Low Risk

Bank deposits are considered "low risk" because they do secure the current value of the principal deposited. However, taxes and inflation may cause these deposits to have a lower net return over time. Any investment that offers a substantial return also involves some degree of risk.

Beyond Managing Money*

We feel that our job involves much more than just managing portfolios. As a part of our annual review with each client, we set their assets in the context of the amount of money they are likely to need for a financially secure retirement. This is the "financial planning*" part of our work.

For clients who are pre-retirees. This involves setting appropriate goals for saving as well as investing*. The kind of monthly saving targets that one sets for the last five to 15 years that you are working can dramatically affect the standard of living that you will be able to enjoy in retirement.

For many clients, this planning role includes reviewing and making recommendations about insurance coverage as well as investments*. It can even at times involve the discussion of how to reduce spending to free up money for more important retirement needs.

Personal Planning Strategy*

Since each of our client accounts is individually managed we have no single "portfolio". Because clients have differing goals, time horizons, and risk tolerances, the portfolios we manage will have differing balances of growth, income, and cash positions.*

Our planning strategy focuses on two key issues: The first is how to achieve consistently above returns without exposing a client to a level of risk that they are uncomfortable with. The second is how to make sure that each client has enough money to secure a comfortable retirement. The first is about growth and income and how to make consistently good investment decisions. The second is about setting clear, practical retirement planning goals.

Real long-term growth, growth that is greater than the assured losses brought by taxes and inflation, may not be obtained form bank deposits. As one gets older, priorities sometimes change. Producing income and protecting the assets that you have accumulated can become more important. In that case, the amount one places in growth can, and likely will, decline.*

How much should you have in growth? It is entirely related to how much uncertainty and fluctuation one is willing to bear and how much money you need to accumulate to support yourself in retirement. Keep in mind most retirees live longer than they generally believe they will. In the year 2000, the average 65-year-old will live another 18 years¹, substantially longer than the previous generation. So the point is that you may need to accumulate more than you think.

¹Source: "65+ in the United States: 2005" U.S. Census Bureau

Charles L. Cooper, CFP, is a registered representative with Sunset Financial Services, a NASD registered broker/dealer. Sunset Financial Services is registered to offer securities products in all 50 United States. Charles L. Cooper is licensed to offer securities products in AK, CA, CO, CT, GA, HI, KS, MI, MO, VA and WA. Charles L. Cooper is also licensed to offer insurance products in AK, CA, CO, CT, GA, HI, KS, MI, MO, VA and WA. The information included herein should not be considered a solicitation or an offer to sell product in any state besides those in which Charles L. Cooper is properly licensed.

John R. Roessig, CFP, is a registered representative with Sunset Financial Services, a NASD registered broker/dealer. Sunset Financial Services is registered to offer securities products in all 50 United States. John R. Roessig is licensed to offer securities products in CA, CO, FL, HI, KS, LA, NE, TN, UT and WY. John R. Roessig is also licensed to offer insurance products in CA, CO, FL, HI, KS, LA, NE, TN, UT and WY. The information included herein should not be considered a solicitation or an offer to sell product in any state besides those in which John R. Roessig is properly licensed.

Thomas L. Tousignant, is a registered representative with Sunset Financial Services, a NASD registered broker/dealer. Sunset Financial Services is registered to offer securities products in all 50 United States. Thomas L. Tousignant is licensed to offer securities products in CA and CO. Thomas L. Tousignant is also licensed to offer insurance products in CA and CO. The information included herein should not be considered a solicitation or an offer to sell product in any state besides those in which Thomas L. Tousignant is properly licensed.

* SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT ADVISORY
SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH SUNSET
FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
3520 BROADWAY
KANSAS CITY, MO 64111
(816) 753-7000 (HOME OFFICE)
MEMBER NASD/SIPC
The Master's Financial Group IS NOT
AFFILIATED WITH SFS.