A NEW KIND OF ASSET FOR THE NOT-SO-RICH AND FAMOUS

Financial Advisor Abandons Commissions and Account Size Minimums, Gears
Services to Average Americans with Simple Hourly Fee-Only Structure

After 23 years of operation, Wayne Blanchard, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER practitioner, has announced Money Professionals Group has become an hourly fee-only financial planning firm and he has joined The Garrett Planning Network. Money Professionals Group is aimed at helping people “from all walks of life,” according to the former Army Officer and Banker. “In our previous role, I was unable to help the majority of people in the community because they didn’t meet the minimums we had set for our services. You had to be rich to get good, individual advice. After reflecting on how I’d like to obtain financial advice myself, I decided to make some changes to help people just like my family and friends. I have friends in the military and federal civilian community, the medical arena, seniors, and small business employers up to a hundred employees,” stated the Mr. Blanchard.

“Money Professionals Group will specialize in helping people make better benefit choices, college funding and retirement planning decisions,” continues Blanchard. “Mutual fund selection, asset allocation decisions, portfolio construction and second opinions on all types of financial matters are core competencies. People will also be able to get help with their health insurance paperwork problems. We are committed to finding ways to save them money, reduce their stress levels and foster peace of mind,” he says.

As a Member of The Garrett Planning Network (www.GarrettPlanningNetwork.com), Mr. Blanchard has aligned himself with a nationwide network of independent planners who focus on serving Middle America. “Hourly, As-Needed Financial Planning and Advice for Everyday Life … The New Choice for Smart Consumers” is the network’s trademarked tagline. The network has garnered much media attention, including mentions in/on the Today Show, MSN MoneyCentral, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, Smart Money, Washington Post, Newsweek and Time magazine. Mr. Blanchard and fellow GPN Members do not accept commissions or any other form of third-party compensation.

“We are compensated solely by the client, on a pure hourly-fee basis,” says the Brevard County resident. “In the beginning, it may be hard for some people to understand they will have to pay for advice they thought they were getting for free,” said Mr. Blanchard. “But these days everyone knows there is no free lunch, and more and more people are becoming aware of the fact that the big companies price hidden profits inside financial products. “Free advice” is generally biased toward the recommendation of investment products and money management through that particular firm. The consumer does not have full information nor the complete range of choices available.”

The Money Professionals Group model is similar to a dental practice, according to Mr. Blanchard. “Clients call us when they recognize the need for advice or assistance. Checkups are encouraged, but are generally initiated by the client. My dentist operates the same way. This service model works well for people who want to take personal responsibility for their financial well-being. Interested individuals may wish to visit our website, www.MoneyProfessionals.com, for helpful information in all areas of personal finance,” he concludes.

Tips to Make 2010 a Better Year

We all know the last couple of years have been very difficult. No one knows what will happen this year. Predictions are all over the board...so if you have an opinion, I am sure there is someone who agrees with you!

Some things work in all types of situations, so why not work on some of those areas to improve your financial life. Here is a list....now you can get to work!

1. GET OUT OF DEBT...or at least start getting out of debt!!!

It is time to get that debt level under control. First, make a list of everything you owe. Next come up with a plan to pay everything off. Think it is to difficult, or even impossible? It's not. You CAN do it. If you are paying all of your bills right now, you can probably get out of debt faster than you ever imagined. But before you get too far along here, check the next tip.

2. Establish an Emergency Fund

If your get out of debt plan gets started BEFORE you have a decent emergency fund, it will fail. Most of the debt we are talking about with clients is credit card debt. In order to get out of the clutches of that type of debt, you have to stop using the cards! I realize that sounds simplistic, but real life says that if you don't have an adequate emergency fund you WILL use the credit card for your next 'emergency'. How much should the fund be? It depends on your lifestyle. A fully funded emergency fund would include 6 months of your family expenses. Depending on your situation you may start with less.

3. Check your Credit Report

You should check your credit reports at the three major credit reporting agencies on a regular basis. It costs you nothing. Federal law entitles consumers to a free copy of their credit reports from each of the three credit bureaus once every 12 months. Head to AnnualCreditReport.com and simply rotate the agency every four months to get a new credit report.


4. Review ALL of your spending


Check everything. All of your insurance policies....auto, homeowners, life, health...you know the ones. Don't forget your telephone and cable bills, your utilities, and your recreation and dining habits. Recently I met with a client and we found about $1,000 per month she could save by simply changing the way she did some things--with no change to her lifestyle!

Maybe it's time for some professional help...

All the leading financial publications say that if you need professional help you should seek out an hourly, on demand financial planner. Maybe you don't need a full time financial planner, maybe you don't want to turn your money over to someone else, or maybe you just want a second opinion.

I am here to help. I am a Certified Financial Planner and have been helping people with their money for over 30 years. From 30 minutes to complete wealth management services using WealthCare, I have a financial solution for YOU. My rates start as low as $100 for 30 minutes and we can discuss any topic you would like.