Are you prepared for the road ahead? Let's Talk Retirement


We’re here to help you feel confident in your financial future.

Denney Apfel
Denney Apfel
a month ago
I had been with Fidelity my entire working life, and always assumed that was the best option. That changed after I attended a retirement seminar, where my conversation with Sound Planning Group (SPG) began. From our first meeting, it was clear they were different—they listened to me. Imagine that! I met with CJ Lovsted, and he has been absolutely amazing to work with. He put together a comprehensive financial plan that truly reflected my needs and goals. Just to compare, I called Fidelity and told them I was thinking of leaving. They said they could do the same thing, so I gave them a chance—but what they delivered didn’t even come close to what CJ and SPG had done. With CJ and the team at SPG, I didn’t just get an advisor—I got a team of experts who actively monitor my financial future and are always there when I need them. They’re responsive, proactive, and incredibly knowledgeable. The results have been outstanding. I recommend CJ Lovsted and Sound Planning Group to everyone I know. My only regret is not doing this sooner.
Barbara Ierokomos
Barbara Ierokomos
a month ago
I attended a free financial seminar/talk at Bellevue college presented by SPG. It was purely informational, rather helpful. I later attended one for Medicare to help myself prepare. They were so inspirational that i contacted SPG and met with them. One of the best moves of my life. Cody, CJ & Caitlyn are so helpful (and friendly)-explaining everything & following through at every step. No other investment group has done better for us (financially) or given us really great options as well as making us feel comfortable and in control. And their extended resources (like Victoria for Medicare help) is invaluable. You don't just get signed up & ignored, either. You have continued support. How many people can say their financial group actually cares about them? I can say mine does.
Wayne Pace
Wayne Pace
3 months ago
I have had nothing but extremely positive experiences with Sound Planning Group. I have a great investment plan that they constantly review. Very personalized plans for each investor, nothing cookie cutter about it. I feel they truly care for their clients. They have helped me through planning for retirement and now being able to enjoy my life without worrying about finances. They helped me navigate Social Security an Medicare as well. My advisor, Gretchen, has been amazing in answering any questions that I have ever had, and always following up on all our conversations. I would highly recommend Sound Planning to any and all that ask!
Paul Copenhaver
Paul Copenhaver
3 months ago
SPG provides a safe harbor for my ship of financial concern. The atmosphere in their office is warm, friendly, kind and patient. With their assistance I now have a solid retirement plan, tailored to my needs and risk tolerance, that is anchored in the cumulative knowledge of a team of experts. My advisor, Joe, keeps me up to date on changes and patiently listens and responds to my concerns.
Michael and Susan Becker
Michael and Susan Becker
2 months ago
We have been clients of Loren Downs and his team at SPG for the past seven years, and our experience has been nothing short of exceptional. The team is incredibly competent and responsive, always addressing our concerns promptly and effectively. Their high level of integrity and extensive knowledge of financial planning have consistently impressed us. What sets them apart is their personable approach and genuine interest in our specific financial goals and needs. They take the time to listen and provide tailored options that have led to positive outcomes for our financial future. We highly recommend Loren and his team at SPG to anyone seeking reliable and personalized financial planning services.
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For full disclosures on each review, please navigate to our Google Reviews page. The reviews shown on this page are randomly selected, are not based on any criteria, and are updated every hour. The reviewer may or may not be a current client of SPG and has not been compensated for this review. No material conflicts of interest exist with this reviewer to the best of our knowledge. This testimonial may not be representative of the experience of other clients, and no guarantee of future performance or success is implied. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This review has been published with the reviewer’s consent for marketing purposes.

The 7-Step R.E.T.I.R.E. Process:

At Sound Planning Group, we have a 7-step process for building a financial strategy that gives you a firm foundation for pursuing your goals. We call it the R.E.T.I.R.E process, which stands for Retirement Education with a Time-tested, Independent, Rational Evaluation - something that we consider indispensable to every retiree.

The 7 steps of the RETIRE process are:

  • 1. Income Planning

    Our goal is to help maximize income sources like Social Security so that your lifestyle can be funded with reliability and predictability for the rest of your life.

  • 2. Investment Planning

    We’ll talk risk tolerance, portfolio fees (and how we may be able to reduce them), and volatility control through our proprietary CPR (Cash, Protection, Risk) planning process and focused money management approach.

  • 3. Tax Planning

    The passing of TCJA has created the single greatest opportunity in our lifetime to reduce or eliminate taxes in retirement. We’ll look at the taxable nature of your current assets and potential ways to include tax-deferred or tax-free money in your financial plan.

  • 4. Health Care & Long-Term Planning

    We’ll look at Medicare Parts A, B, C and D, and how to pay for care that insurance doesn’t cover in order to address rising health care costs and that best fit your needs.

  • 5. Real Estate

    Whether you’re looking at downsizing, what to do about a mortgage, or you have highly appreciated rental property that you are not sure whether to hold or sell, we’ll work with you on strategies that are intentionally designed to seek to maximize your investment(s).

  • 6. Family

    Together with qualified professionals, we’ll help create a plan with legal documents designed to make sure that your hard-earned assets go to your beneficiaries in the most tax-efficient manner.

  • 7. C.A.R.E.

    C.A.R.E stands for Client Asset Review Evaluation. Give yourself peace of mind knowing that you have a clearly written, sound retirement plan in place, that will give you control and help you navigate your future.

Sound Planning Solutions Built for You

Our team of professionals can help you create a well-thought-out strategy that will address your financial needs and concerns.

Final Growth Preservation Transp

Growth & Preservation

Final Medicare Transp

Health Care & LTC

final income transp

Income Planning

Final Taxes Transp

Tax-Forward Planning

Final Legacy Transp

Legacy

Final Real Estate Transp

Real Estate

We can also refer you to professionals who provide the following services: Trusts, Probate, Estate Planning, and Charitable Giving.

Ready to Take The Next Step?

Ready to Take The Next Step?

For more information about any of our products and services, schedule a meeting today.

Or give us a call at 425.821.9442.