Planning Areas
The following services are included with membership:
1) Planning & Goal Setting
Where are you headed? What are your goals and concerns? We’ll figure it out together and make a plan.
2) Banking & Cash Management
We evaluate your current banking arrangement and how you manage your cash and near-term cash reserves.
3) Credit Cards
We see if your credit cards are working for you or against you. Debit cards generally don’t help. The way we see it, our typical member should be getting $200 to $800 back a year from their credit card company. (Incidentally, this cash back from the credit card company more than pays for your annual Community Ladders membership).
4) Building Your Credit Score and Reviewing Credit Reports
We examine your credit report 3 times per year, addressing problems and advising on how to build a stronger credit score.
5) Debt Management
We analyze your debt load and how you manage it. For intensive debt management work, an additional fee may be required (see below) or we may refer you to a trusted debt management organization.
6) Budgeting
We look at your inflows and outflows, as well as major expenditures. We identify opportunities to save. For very detailed budget-making help, an additional fee may be required for a separate session on budget preparation (see below). Tips for budgeting and saving are included in our biweekly email newsletter.
7) Financial Product Vetting
We examine the financial products you are using, and suggest better ones as appropriate. As the community grows larger, we will be able to offer our members vetted and trusted products, as well as negotiate as a group for the best rates, safe contracts, and best values.
8 ) Basic Tax Planning
As we look at your financial picture, we will highlight issues that may be useful in the current tax season, and also help you plan for future years. Community Ladders offers a tax preparation service for a flat fee, but will also direct our members to software that allows them to prepare their own taxes for free. Learn more about our tax services »
9) Investment Planning
We look at both your cash (e.g. you are saving for a house or child’s education) and retirement (e.g. 401K, 403b, IRA, ROTH IRA) investments and determine if you are on course to meet your goals. Where applicable, we recommend passive investment strategies designed to meet your goals.
10) Retirement Planning
Community Ladders examines your cash and retirement (401k, IRA, etc.) investing and provides guidance across all accounts, and covers housing, stocks, bonds, money markets, CDs, mutual funds, and ETFs. In addition to personalized advice and recommendations on specific securities, we offer step-by-step investment guides that explain in detail what we’re recommending and why.
Additional Services
Some clients may desire services and attention beyond the scope of those included in the membership. These may include advanced debt management, detailed budgeting, home refinance evaluation, or advice on major purchases or life decisions. The rate for extra services for members is $65 per hour.
Non-Member Services and Single Sessions
Our community members are our first priority. We realize, though, that not everyone is interested in sustained financial planning services, or in the better rates and protections that come with a group approach to financial services. For those that really only want a session, consulting services are available on a space-available basis. Please see our Membership section for income-based one-time fees.