Our Podcast Library
Tune in to Gatewood’s podcasts for financial insights from our experienced team.
Listen Now →
Investment Guide
What Is Goals-Based Planning?
Most people hold their assets in one undifferentiated pile and try to set a single risk level across all of it. Goals-based planning sorts them instead by what each dollar is for.
This guide walks through the three-bucket approach the CFA Institute pioneered: a cash bucket for near-term needs, a retirement bucket funding the life you have planned, and an aspirational bucket for legacy and philanthropic goals. Each carries a different level of risk on purpose. Download your free copy below.
Sneak Peek
What's Inside the Guide
Goals-based planning is an approach that sorts assets by the goal each one funds, then matches the level of risk to that goal rather than applying one risk tolerance across everything. It was pioneered by the CFA Institute.
The guide explains the three buckets:
- Personal Risk — the Cash Bucket. Liquidity for near-term needs.
- Market Risk — the Retirement Bucket. Capital funding the life you have planned.
- Aspirational Risk — the Future Bucket. Legacy goals, philanthropy, and concentrated positions.
It also covers managing a concentrated position in company stock or a closely held business, how behavioral coaching fits in, and a worked example.
