Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

Although you can’t quite tell from the weather, fall is just around the corner! I’m sure you have noticed that it’s hurricane season – that one was obvious. School is back in session, the kids have traded summer camp for homework, leaves are beginning to turn and pumpkin spice you-name-it will soon be available from retailers everywhere.

There’s something about the cooler air that signals change in just about everything.

Pathfinder Planning is no exception. We’ve been serving clients for over seven years now, and it’s time to make a few changes of our own. Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, as David Bowie says.

Here’s a rundown of what’s been happening both in front and behind the scenes at Pathfinder Planning.

New Dog

Holly was a great new addition to our family earlier this year. She is a lab-mix, rescue dog who is so sweet that she’s hard not to love. Although my new carpet is taking a beating, the boys are all happy she is here.

Here at the office, Holly serves as a ‘Personal Trainer’ of sorts. Her job is to make sure I get up and exercise during the day, and believe me she is very good at it! So if we are on a call and you hear random barking, it’s just Holly saying hello.

New Website

The Pathfinder Planning site was ahead of its time when it was originally created – seven years ago. The problem: that’s an eternity in internet years, so it became apparent that we were long overdue for a refresh.

It was important for us to provide you with a professional, easy to navigate, and attractive website that you would be happy to visit time and time again – and I’m probably biased, but I think that’s exactly what we did!

Our new website now allows you to:

Our goal was to create an online presence that gets visitors excited from the second they open the website. We really wanted to stand out as different, and we are proud to have a modern website that is functional with an updated look and feel!

New Online College Course

Your kids learn a lot in school, and some of it comes from a book. Much of what they need to know to be successful comes from what they learn at home.

If it’s been a while since you’ve stepped foot on a college campus, chances are you could use a little help in preparing your son or daughter for college life.

Not to worry, though…Your Financial Mom has got you covered.

We’ve designed an online course to take your high school grad from being accepted to the college of their dreams, to navigating their new world. Each lesson is crafted to teach the practical, personal, and even financial skills that they’ll need to know to thrive in their new environment.

But don’t just take my word for it…have your current (or future grad) try a free lesson for themselves. If they like what they see, sign them up for the full-course and use YFM2017 at checkout to receive 40% off. Good through the end of the year!

New Investment Management Providers

Pathfinder Planning has always maintained a planning first focus. We don’t sell mutual funds or insurance. However, many clients want help with their investments so we’ve put together a great group of resources that are great for the busy life of working families. We are looking forward to expanding our investment management services throughout the coming year with additional portfolios and services to help you save and invest.

Betterment for Advisors – A great online resource for beginning and experienced investors. As an advisor, Pathfinder Planning is able to get preferred platform pricing and lower your investment management fees, while continuing to keep in contact and help manage your overall financial planning.

First Ascent Asset Management – Larger account with different goals? First Ascent’s “Core and Satellite” models use the power of their investment committee and online resources to deliver low-cost portfolio planning. Flat fees are a hallmark of this customer-focused provider.

TD Ameritrade – Have an unusual investment? Need a different resource? With our TD Ameritrade relationship, we can manage almost any type of investment for you. As an industry leader, TD Ameritrade provides us, and you, with easy account opening, professional account management, and economic and industry education.

New Team Member – Aaron Salmon, CFP®

We saved the best for last! Aaron Salmon has joined Pathfinder Planning as our Senior Wealth Strategist. Now that we have these great new investment resources, we also have someone to help champion them as well. Aaron fits right in with our organization. He’s been a stay-at-home dad for several years, so he understands just what working families are faced with when it comes to investing.

If you haven’t already checked out Aaron’s bio on our ‘Meet the Team’ page, you should! Not only is he an investment guru, he’s also been known to batch a mean home brew and has led mission trips to El Salvador to build houses for those in need.

Aaron is a great all-around person and I’m excited to have him as a member of the Pathfinder Planning team!

I know you’re probably thinking, ‘that’s a lot of change’. And you’re right!

One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is our focus on who we serve. We’re still here to continue serving working families with personal financial planning advice and asset management for a simple fee.

We hope you’ll like the upgrades.

So head on over to the new site and putter around a bit. Let us know what you think and be sure to leave some feedback on what else you’d like to see online.

Pamela J. Horack, CFP® of Pathfinder Planning LLC provides personal financial planning advice and asset management for a simple fee to young adults and working families in North and South Carolina through group classes, one-on-one planning, and ongoing advice.