Financial Wallet Category Organization
My mom became a financial advisor in 1977 and helped me start my career in the early 1990s. In the early 2000s, she worked with us at Atlantic Financial. She would begin each meeting by asking investors the simple question: “What is this money for?” This is basic but overlooked. Each wallet or bucket of funds you have has its own purpose and its own time frame and risk tolerance. It’s key to break down these categories and how they fit into your overall plan.- Bruce Fenton
What is Wallet Categorization?
Wallet categorization is the Atlantic Financial method for giving you a single picture of your overall holdings, with its purpose in mind. This is part of the treasury of your financial Citadel.
Liquid Spending Wallet
The portion of your assets used for ongoing expenses. This could be taxes and liquid cash needs. This is often a bank account or brokerage with money market and debit card or checking account capabilities.
Do you have ready access to money to pay for your day-to-day needs? Is moving funds a hassle?
Atlantic Financial helps our clients ensure that income and investment proceeds may go directly to this account or wallet. We will work with you to ensure you have enough funds to cover your needs.
Retirement/ Future Income Wallet
Many people will have a time in the future when we will need to systematically draw on our savings. It could be the day you retire. It could be for major purchases. The funds in this wallet are meant to grow. Preferably they will grow in a tax-advantaged way.
Have you considered how each account acting as your savings is invested to best take advantage of taxes now and taxes later?
Do you have a consolidated way of seeing all your savings?
Non Retirement/ Investment Wallet
Your investment wallet is for a future need, but it is singular in focus.
Are you looking at a land purchase?
Are you building to invest in a company or joint venture?
Are you earning enough on those savings?
Real Estate Wallet
Not everyone thinks of their property in terms of a wallet, but, as part of your estate, it is a critical asset to manage and keep organized. Ensuring your titling is correct and helping you with buying and selling property in the right way keeps this wallet organized.
Do you have property you would like to sell, but not pay taxes on?
Are you wanting to diversify your holdings into real estate, but not sure how to get started?
Loved one / Family Wallets
Assets set aside for children, family or other loved ones to provide for their present and future. This wallet consolidates funds for meaningful family commitments—such as gifting to children or grandchildren as well as funding milestone events like weddings or legacy planning.
Are you prepared to support your family’s milestones without disrupting your financial stability?
Do you have a clear plan for transferring wealth to the next generation in a tax-efficient way?
Atlantic Financial works with you to structure your family wallet to meet both immediate and long-term commitments.
Education
This wallet is to cover all things education. Whether that is your own, or for your kids and grandkids. Setting money aside to help your kids or grandkids obtain the education they need to achieve great things is a top goal for many of our clients. There are great ways to go about funding that education and we help guide you to efficient methods. But, there are great ways to go about funding that education and then there are inefficient methods.
Are you looking at just college or will certifications also be necessary for their career?
Will other training and life skills benefit your child or grandchild that could warrant funding outside of cash flow?
Special goals wallet
A bucket of money set aside for special goals, spending, maybe a luxury purchase. This wallet can be used to receive windfall funds or investment proceeds and is designed for special one off or unusual purchases.
Do you have a big dream purchase you are saving for?
Are you unsure if you have the income or savings to buy that beach house?
Crypto Wallets
This wallet holds your digital assets, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies, designed for both investment growth and secure storage. It encompasses funds in crypto exchanges, hardware wallets, or other blockchain-based platforms, tailored to your risk tolerance and financial goals.
Are your crypto holdings diversified and aligned with your overall investment strategy?
Do you have a secure and accessible way to manage and track your digital assets?
Charity Wallet
This wallet is meant to organize all your charitable spending and initiatives. We all have areas where we would like to give back. We all have things we would like to fund to better our community and world. Many organizations have probably even approached you for help. This wallet ensures all funds are used to truly establish your goals.
Do you currently have a foundation or have you thought about creating one?
Do you currently use a Donor Advised Fund and have you structured it in a way that your children can participate?
These financial buckets or wallets each serve a specific goal and are designed to help you mentally categorize your investments.