Melissa Ellis and Sapphire Wealth Planning: A Custom Approach to Wealth Management

The time to start planning for retirement is not a few years before you decide to enjoy your golden years. A successful strategy should begin decades before that big date, including the various steps to achieve that goal and all of the other life milestones you’ll hit along the way. Certified Financial Planner™ Melissa Ellis saw too many adults realize retirement was just around the corner and scramble for a solution.

“Years go by and then they realize that their financial choices may not have been the right ones,” remarked Melissa. “Unfortunately, they’ve lost valuable time and maybe even investment opportunities.” She decided to target her efforts on younger clients, helping them begin their financial plan much earlier in life and specializing in college planning and student loan debt management.

Individualized Look and Plan
“My clients range in age from 30 to 60 years old. I’m really focused on bringing financial planning to Millennials and Gen Xers, assisting them with the management of their own student loan debt while planning for their children’s education,” noted Melissa. “I believe in a customized approach for financial planning and investment management. Everyone’s situation is different, and your plan should be tailored to your needs. I focus on what’s happening in your life now, while keeping an eye on your future.”

To fully set her sights on assisting this wave of adults, Melissa opened Sapphire Wealth Planning, located in Corporate Woods, Overland Park, Kansas, with the goal of helping her clients understand their financial situation and how it can be improved and maintained. She concentrates on helping them through major financial decisions by offering a one-stop shop for anything that’s related to finances.

Serving the Client First
Enhancing that good work is the fact that Sapphire Wealth Planning is a fee-only comprehensive financial planning firm. The term fee-only means Melissa is compensated solely by the fees paid to her by the clients she serves. They know exactly how much they’re paying for her financial advice. Most importantly, she’s not interested in pushing you into an unnecessary product just to reap her own personal financial rewards.

“As a fee-only certified financial planner, I’m required by the CFP Board to ensure the client’s interest is put first and foremost. I don’t sell financial products at Sapphire Wealth Planning, so I’m not influenced by the commissions offered with those products,” noted Melissa. “Upholding the fiduciary standard means I will put your interests before my own. I’m not influenced by sales contests or pressure to meet product sales goals.”

Detailed Analysis
Developing this personal financial strategy is a comprehensive process for Melissa. Her first meeting with you is complimentary as you discuss your needs and how she can help you. If you decide to go forward, your second meeting requires you to bring various financial documents such as your tax returns, pay stubs, employee benefits plans and current investment statements. At that time, you’ll have a deeper conversation about your goals and what you want to accomplish.

For your third meeting, Melissa will analyze your financial information and present a comprehensive plan, including various reports generated to assist her in creating your strategy. Each financial plan includes a balance sheet, cash flow analysis, income tax projection, investment management, insurance review and estate plan review. The first three meetings will occur during a four- to six-week window. Then quarterly meetings will be scheduled to assess your plan.

Education for Goal Setting
“I often hear from working families that they don’t know how to balance saving for a new home, college for the kids and retirement,” she shared. To that end, Melissa offers complimentary educational workshops to the general public. The current topics are Six Ways to Cut College Costs and An Inside Look at Qualifying for Financial Aid.

Melissa’s passion is focused on helping others with their financial planning. She offers these three basic guidelines to help you get the most from your financial strategy. If your company offers a 401(k) plan with an employer match, you must defer at least the percentage to realize the full match. Set up an emergency savings fund for unexpected expenses. Recommendations call for six months of your income socked away for automobile repairs, unexpected household expenses or the loss of a job. Finally, she advises you should clearly define your financial goals, including paying for your child’s education and funding your retirement.

“Having your financial goals laid out in a long-term strategy that’s reviewed on a regular basis is absolutely critical,” remarked Melissa. “Unfortunately, many Americans don’t have a plan. Others have somewhat of a plan, but it lacks the detail required to be successful. Either way, you may not be able to attain your financial milestones in life or retire when you want. Adults of all ages need to get a handle on their financial success.” ■

Visit the website at sapphirewealthplanning.com or call 913-735-0797.