What do you want? Is it a wonderful life of spiritual and material abundance, or just to accomplish one mega goal?
Whatever it may be, you need to retain - in your mind's eye - a clearly defined financial destination. A competent planner can be an invaluable asset in helping you 'see' that goal. And, if you let him, he will be your scout, guide and confidante, all rolled into one.
So, establish a sound relationship with your planner.
Once you've found a planner that you trust, like, and sense you can forge a long-term relationship with, then discuss and document your respective responsibilities. This must include how your planner is going to be remunerated and how his usefulness is to be measured.
All this, if done correctly, will set the tone for the five remaining steps.
