Comprehensive financial planning should involve these areas and these specific questions.

ESTATE PLANNING

*How can you accumulate a sizable estate to pass on as a family legacy? *How will your hard-earned assets be distributed after your death? *How can you minimize federal estate taxes and state inheritance taxes? *How can you best provide for your surviving spouse and children? *Whom do you want to carry out your wishes?

RETIREMENT PLANNING

*How can you accumulate enough in retirement savings and pension benefits to enjoy a comfortable retirement free of financial worry and not be a burden to your family? *How much (or little) can you expect to receive from Social Security? *How can you coordinate your IRA, 401k, pension, Social Security, and other retirement benefits for maximum effectiveness? *At what age can you really afford to retire, especially if you have children to send to college?

TAX PLANNING

*Are you taking full advantage of tax laws so that you are not paying more than necessary? *Are there changes you could make in your business structure that would reduce your income taxes? *Do you have access to changes in tax law that affect you?

RISK MANAGEMENT

*How are you protected against unpleasant and potentially catastrophic losses associated with natural disasters, illness or accident, disability, property loss, personal liability, and premature death? *Is your business protected against these potential losses? *How would your business be affected if your key people were no longer able to function?

INVESTMENT STRATEGY

For individuals three types of IRA's will normally come under consideration.

The Traditional or Regular IRA The Education IRA The Roth IRA

Education IRA is now called Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA).

Education IRAs allow you to save for qualified higher educational expenses for a beneficiary. Parents and guardians are allowed to make nondeductible contributions to an education IRA for a child under age of 18.

Contributions are allowed prior to beneficiary turning 18, and contributions may not exceed $2,000 per beneficiary per year.

Contributions are made with after-tax dollars. There is NO deduction for contribution. Withdrawals, however, are tax- and penalty-free when adhering to certain rules.

The traditional IRA allows you to contribute an amount and take a current deduction for contribution. Withdrawal minimums must begin at a certain age and all withdrawals are taxable at rate applicable when withdrawals are made. The main benefit is that any growth or gains remain free from taxation up to point of withdrawal. Thus you would be getting tax-free accumulation.

The Roth IRA is perhaps simplest - and potentially most effective - sheltered account available.

Roth IRA has a tax structure different from any other IRA: contributions are after-tax (no deduction is available) but growth is tax-free; AND once you put your money in you NEVER pay taxes again.