Not everyone wants or needs an ongoing relationship with a financial advisor. Many people feel confident managing their own investments or prefer to take a hands-on approach to their finances but would still benefit from professional guidance along the way. That’s where our One-Time Financial Plans come in. 

This service is designed for individuals and couples who want a comprehensive financial roadmap without committing to ongoing management fees. Think of it as a second set of eyes on your financial situation—someone to confirm what you’re doing well, identify gaps or risks you may not have considered, and give you clear, actionable recommendations so you can move forward with confidence. 

With a one-time plan, we take a deep dive into your finances, looking at areas such as: 

• Retirement planning – Are you saving enough to retire when and how you want? 

• Investment strategy – Is your portfolio aligned with your goals, time horizons, and risk tolerance? 

• Cash flow and budgeting – Are you using your income as effectively as possible? 

• Debt management – How can you best reduce or eliminate debt while still saving for the future? 

• Insurance needs – Do you have the right protection in place for your family and lifestyle? 

• Taxes and estate planning – Are there opportunities to reduce your tax liability or better prepare for transferring wealth? 

This process results in a personalized financial plan tailored specifically to you. The plan not only provides clarity on where you currently stand but also gives you step-by-step guidance on how to get to where you want to be. And unlike generic financial advice you might find online, this plan is built around your goals, your numbers, and your timeline. 

A one-time plan can be particularly helpful during major life transitions. For example: 

• If you’re starting a family, we can help you plan for childcare costs, college savings, and life insurance. 

• If you’re changing jobs, we can guide you through what to do with your old retirement accounts, new benefits, and salary adjustments. 

• If you’re nearing retirement, we can run projections to help you determine when you can retire, how much you’ll need, and how to best draw down your savings. 

• If you’ve received an inheritance or sold a business, we can help you understand how to invest and protect those assets in a way that supports your long-term goals. 

And because life is constantly changing, you’re not locked into a static plan. We offer “tune-ups” as needed, so if a few years down the road you buy a home, switch careers, or welcome a new child, you can come back for an update. This keeps your plan relevant without requiring you to pay for ongoing advisory services you don’t necessarily need. 

A Real-World Example: Growing Family 

Consider Mark and Emily, a couple in their mid-30s. They both had stable careers and were diligently saving into their retirement accounts, but they often wondered: Are we saving enough? Are we invested the right way? And how do we balance retirement savings with other goals, like buying a bigger home and saving for college for our two young kids? 

Mark enjoyed handling their day-to-day investments and didn’t want to give that up. But they also felt uncertain about whether their financial decisions were setting them up for long-term success. That’s when they decided to come in for a one-time financial plan. 

We analyzed their full financial picture—retirement accounts, cash flow, savings goals, and insurance coverage—and created a plan that gave them clarity. They discovered they were saving enough for retirement, but their investments were more conservative than necessary. By adjusting their allocation, they were able to keep risk low without sacrificing growth. We also showed them how to balance their retirement contributions with a dedicated college savings plan, so they could pursue both goals at once. 

The best part? Mark and Emily left with a clear roadmap they could implement on their own, along with the reassurance that they were on the right track. A year later, when Emily received a job offer with a new benefits package, they came back for a quick “tune-up” to make sure the transition fit smoothly into their plan. 

A Real-World Example: Nearing Retirement 

Now let’s look at Susan, age 60, who was starting to think seriously about retirement. She had spent decades saving into her 401(k) and IRA, had a small pension, and planned to claim Social Security at some point. But the questions kept piling up: Do I have enough to retire? When should I claim Social Security? How do I make sure my savings last as long as I do? 

Susan didn’t want to hand over her investments to someone else, but she did want a clear retirement strategy. Through the one-time financial planning process, we ran retirement income projections, mapped out her ideal retirement age, and developed a Social Security claiming strategy that maximized her lifetime benefit. We also showed her how to create a withdrawal strategy from her accounts that minimized taxes and gave her peace of mind. 

With her plan in hand, Susan knew not only that retirement was possible but also how to get there without second-guessing herself. She left our meeting with confidence and the flexibility to continue managing her accounts independently, knowing she could come back for a tune-up if her circumstances changed. 

Summary 

Ultimately, a one-time financial plan is about giving you the best of both worlds: the expertise of a professional fiduciary advisor combined with the freedom to manage your own finances on your own terms. Whether you’re a young family juggling competing goals, a do-it-yourself investor looking for reassurance, or someone on the cusp of retirement seeking clarity, this flexible option provides the insight you need, when you need it. 

If you’re ready to take the guesswork out of your finances, contact Schuler Wealth Planning today to schedule your One-Time Financial Plan. As a fee-only fiduciary financial planner, we provide transparent, objective advice tailored to your unique situation. You’ll walk away with clarity, confidence, and a strategy built just for you, without the pressure of ongoing fees or sales pitches.  

Whether you’re local to Columbus and Central Ohio or connecting with us virtually, our goal is the same: to help you create a financial roadmap that supports the life you want to live.