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Impact Advisors Group | Duxbury Massachusetts | Warrington Pennsylvania
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Protection First: The Missing Piece of Your Financial Plan

When I sit down with a new client, one of the first things I explain is this: before we talk about investments, returns, or markets, we need to make sure your financial plan can survive real life.

Markets fluctuate. Life is unpredictable. And a plan that isn’t protected doesn’t get the chance to succeed. That’s why I start with what I call protection-first planning.

I’m Matt Williams, a Certified Financial Advisor, and this is the order I teach my clients when they start consulting with me.

It ensures your plan has a strong foundation before we focus on growth or long-term goals. And Today, you are going to learn it here and now.

Here’s the framework I use: One: Manage major risks. Two: Build and grow wealth. Three: Plan for distribution and legacy

Now, let’s break it down more.

Step 1: Identify and protect your most important asset.

For most people, the most valuable financial asset isn’t their portfolio—it’s their ability to earn an income. Your income supports everything else: your savings, your lifestyle, your family, and your long-term goals.

If that income were interrupted by death, disability, or serious illness, the impact could be devastinhg. My role is to help make sure that risk is addressed. Tools like life insurance and disability income insurance protect your income and your family, so your financial plan doesn’t collapse if the unexpected happens.

Step 2: Avoid forced financial decisions at the worst times.

One of the biggest risks I see isn’t market volatility—it’s being forced to make financial decisions at the wrong time. Without adequate protection, unexpected events often lead to:

  • Early withdrawals from retirement accounts.
  • Selling investments during market downturns.
  • Taking on unnecessary debt.

By addressing protection first, we create a buffer. That buffer allows your long-term investments to stay invested and aligned with your strategy, even when life throws a curveball.

Step 3: Build a solid foundation before pursuing growth.

As a CFP professional, I have a fiduciary responsibility to look at the full picture—not just growth opportunities, but also risks that could derail your plan. We have a saying here at Impact Advisors Group: “We are going to protect against things that can go wrong, so we can invest in the things that can go right.” Ignoring foreseeable and insurable risks exposes you to unnecessary downside. Before recommending investment or tax strategies, I want to ensure the foundation is secure.

Protection-first planning isn’t about selling products—it’s about making sure your financial strategy is built on solid ground. Clients who know their income and family are protected tend to feel more confident in their plan. That confidence helps you stay disciplined during market volatility and reduces the temptation to react emotionally when markets are unpredictable.

Step 4: Consider estate and legacy planning.

Protection also plays a key role in estate and legacy planning. Life insurance can provide liquidity, help cover estate taxes, equalize inheritances, or support business succession plans. Without proper protection, even a well-structured estate plan can be disrupted by timing or liquidity issues. My goal is to help ensure your wishes are carried out efficiently and with as little financial stress on your family as possible.

Outro

You can’t build lasting wealth unless it’s protected first. That’s why protection isn’t an afterthought in my process—it’s where the plan begins.

If you want to make sure your plan is truly protected, schedule a time to talk with me and we’ll start building your foundation today.

Impact Advisors Group LLC (“[IAG]”) is a registered investment advisor offering advisory services in the State of Massachusetts and in other jurisdictions where exempted. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The information on this site is not intended as tax, accounting or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. This information should not be relied upon as the sole factor in an investment making decision. Past performance is no indication of future results. Investment in securities involves significant risk and has the potential for partial or complete loss of funds invested. It should not be assumed that any recommendations made will be profitable or equal any performance noted on this site. The information on this site is provided “AS IS” and without warranties of any kind either express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible pursuant to applicable laws, Impact Advisors Group disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, non-infringement, and suitability for a particular purpose. IAG does not warrant that the information on this site will be free from error. Your use of the information is at your sole risk. Under no circumstances shall IAG be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the information provided on this site, even if IAG or a IAG authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Information contained on this site should not be considered a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any security in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation, or recommendation would be unlawful or unauthorized.