The Professional Team you need for your Financial Plan: Completing the Professional Team Section in your Financial Plan Organizer
How to Build and Coordinate Your Professional Team for Retirement Confidence
When the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team (better known as the "Dream Team") hit the court, it wasn’t just the talent that amazed the world. It was the coordination.
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird didn’t just play well individually.
They played better together.
That’s what you want from your financial plan, too.
You might already have great individual professionals such as an accountant, an attorney, a financial advisor, but are they working together like a championship team? Or are they acting more like a pickup game at the YMCA?
Retirement isn’t just numbers and statements. It’s a transition that demands coordination across legal, tax, investment, and personal matters. And one of the most overlooked factors in that equation? Your professional team.
In this post, we’ll break down how to build the right team for your financial future, using the Professional Team section of the Financial Plan Organizer as your playbook.
Why Your Team Matters
Think of your retirement like building a championship team. You’ve got great players like your CPA, your wealth manager, your estate attorney but unless they’re working from the same game plan, you’re not playing to win.
You are the coach.
The Financial Plan Organizer is your playbook.
It’s how you design the strategy, clarify everyone’s role, and make sure your professionals are working together. Not just doing their own thing in separate silos.
Here’s who to add, how to use that playbook to build and manage a team that works in sync, supports your goals, and shows up when it matters most.
Step 1: Build Your Foundation Trio
Start with three core professionals who form the backbone of your plan:
Wealth Manager / Financial Planner
Guides your overall strategy, aligns investments with goals, and keeps your long-term vision on track. Look for a qualified professional who has a designation such as the CFP® such as myself. You could consider this person the quarterback or point guard of your team because they will be working with you all year and not just when it’s time to file taxes or update documents.CPA or Tax Professional
Ensures your plan is tax-efficient, not just this year, but over the next decade or two. They should work closely with your CFP® to ensure all tax strategies are the best for your plan.Estate Planning Attorney
Puts the right legal documents in place to protect your assets and your legacy. You should meet with your estate planning attorney at least one every two to three years or when there has been a significant life event that would impact your plan.
💡 Pro Tip: Great professionals often recommend each other BUT choose advisors who refer based on chemistry, not commission. More on that below.
Step 2: Add the Right Supporting Cast
Your core team won’t do everything. That’s why this section of the organizer helps you identify other essential players:
Insurance Brokers (not captive agents)
Independent brokers help you shop for life, disability, and long-term care policies without being tied to one carrier.Banking Contacts
Especially important for business owners or those considering private lending relationships.Specialized Attorneys
Business, real estate, or family law professionals depending on your needs. There are many attorneys with varying skillsets and they are all good at networking. Ask your estate planning attorney to help you find one for your specific needs.Special Tax Advisors
For those with multi-state income, complex business structures, or upcoming liquidity events such as selling your business.
Your Financial Plan Organizer helps track these names and roles, so you’re not scrambling during a crisis.
Step 3: Document Situation-Specific Experts
No two families or businesses are alike. Some examples of specialists worth documenting:
M&A advisors or business brokers
Trustees or successor trustees
Retirement plan consultants
Property managers or commercial real estate agents
Therapists or family wealth consultants (especially when legacy and emotions intersect)
If you’re planning a business exit or retirement within the next few years, this list becomes even more critical. It’s much easier to bring the right people into a strategy meeting when their names and contact details are already at your fingertips.
Step 4: Don't Forget the Personal Network
This isn’t just about money. Your personal network matters, too:
Doctors and Caregivers
Daycare or School Contacts
Guardians or POAs
When something happens, these individuals may be the first people your family or executor needs to contact.
Include them in your organizer to reduce confusion and stress when time is short. Documenting them now can save your loved ones hours of uncertainty later.
Step 5: Team Coordination Is Everything
This is where most financial plans fall short and where the Dream Team analogy really matters.
Having great players is one thing. Having them work together is what wins championships.
Here’s how to bring your financial Dream Team to life:
Choose professionals who already collaborate well.
When your wealth manager, CPA, and estate attorney have experience working together, and actually like working together, everything runs smoother. Look for natural chemistry, not referral arrangements.Ask how your professionals communicate.
Does your CPA talk to your advisor at tax time? Does your attorney know your business is for sale? Coordination avoids costly mistakes.Schedule a “team huddle.”
Once a year (or at major transitions), host a brief call with your key professionals. It doesn’t have to be a full meeting, just enough to align everyone on your goals and timelines.Keep backups.
What if your CPA retires or your business attorney moves firms? Having secondary options documented is essential.Document everything.
Use your organizer to write down meeting notes, next steps, and who’s responsible for what. Future-you will be glad you did. and this turns your organizer into a roadmap your executor, spouse, or future self can follow with confidence.
One Big Mistake to Avoid: Professional Loyalty Syndrome
The most common trap? It’s when people stick with an advisor, attorney, or accountant because they’ve “always worked with them”. Even if they’ve outgrown their skill set.
If the attorney who set up your LLC in 2003 hasn’t handled a business sale in years, they may not be the best person to guide you through a seven-figure exit today.
Loyalty matters. But outcomes matter more. Your needs evolve and your team should too.
Want to Start Building Your Team the Right Way?
Request a copy of the Financial Plan Organizer. It’s free, and it will guide you through exactly what to document and how.
Or, watch the full video on YouTube to walk through this step-by-step. I explain how to think about each section, avoid common mistakes, and coordinate your dream team for retirement.
If you need help or want to talk through your situation, reach out. I'm based in Charlotte and regularly work with clients throughout the Carolinas to build confident retirement strategies backed by coordinated professionals.
Download your copy of the Financial Plan Organizer and begin building the team that helps your future self succeed.
Questions or need help?
Our Fiduciary Mission:
At Integritas Financial, we specialize in helping small business owners navigate the complexities of their financial lives, providing fee-only financial planning services with a fiduciary responsibility. Our mission is to serve as your trusted partner, offering personalized guidance that aligns with your unique goals and the demands of running a business.
We work closely with business owners to address critical financial areas, including business exit strategies, tax planning, retirement planning, asset protection, estate planning, and coordinating with your team of professional advisors. Whether you’re preparing for a business sale, planning for succession, or balancing personal and professional financial priorities, we help you build a comprehensive strategy tailored to your needs.
At Integritas, your financial success is at the heart of everything we do. As a fiduciary firm, we are committed to acting in your best interests, providing transparent advice without the pressure of commissions or product sales. We believe in empowering you to make informed decisions by simplifying complex financial matters and delivering solutions designed to support your long-term prosperity.
Whether you’re in the early stages of growing your business or preparing for a major transition, Integritas Financial is here to help you manage the intersection of business and personal finance with confidence. Let us partner with you to create a roadmap for your success, so you can focus on what you do best—running your business.
Integritas Financial is lead by Ryan Kaysen, a certified financial planner™ based in Charlotte, NC.
The information contained herein is intended to be used for educational purposes only and is not exhaustive. Diversification and/or any strategy that may be discussed does not guarantee against investment losses but are intended to help manage risk and return. If applicable, historical discussions and/or opinions are not predictive of future events. The content is presented in good faith and has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable. The content is not intended to be legal, tax or financial advice. Please consult a legal, tax or financial professional for information specific to your individual situation.
This content not reviewed by FINRA