Creating a Personal Financial Plan: Step-by-Step Guide

This article was co-authored by Ara Oghoorian, CPA. Ara Oghoorian is a Certified Financial Accountant (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and the Founder of ACap Advisors & Accountants, a boutique wealth management and full-service accounting firm based in Los Angeles, California. With over 26 years of experience in the financial industry, Ara founded ACap Asset Management in 2009. He has previously worked with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Ministry of Finance and Economy in the Republic of Armenia. Ara has a BS in Accounting and Finance from San Francisco State University, is a Commissioned Bank Examiner through the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, is a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner, has a Certified Public Accountant license, is an Enrolled Agent, and holds the Series 65 license.

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Financial plans are written, organized strategies for maintaining financial health and accomplishing financial goals. Developing a personal financial plan will not only allow you to control your financial situation but can enhance your quality of life by reducing the uncertainty you feel about money-related issues and future needs. While you may opt to employ a professional financial planner, developing your financial plan is a perfectly feasible practice. Most financial planning experts recommend following a six-part process to develop a robust plan for the future of your finances.