Mary Lacey Gibson, CFP®

Hello. My name is Mary Lacy Gibson and I have the great fortune to be associated with the Garrett Planning Network as the Small Business Coach. In this capacity I work with members by helping them develop a working business plan.

As financial planners we recognize the value that a financial plan has for the successful future of our clients. As entrepreneurs, Garrett Planning members understand the value that a business plan has for the successful future of their businesses. The old axiom is that small businesses that succeed are run like big businesses. Business planning is a core process for the success of big businesses.

We have developed a set of tools for members to create a dynamic working business plan specific to their business needs. These include the Garrett Business Planning Guide, the sample business plans, and we offer monthly business coaching teleconferences and webinars and a business planning discussion forum on the Garrett Knowledge Bank.

Writing and maintaining a business plan can be intimidating at first. The monthly teleconferences that I host are designed to make the process easier. Along with the information I present, individual members often ask questions and get a great deal of support from the other members on the call. One of the greatest benefits to members is that all calls and webinars are recorded so that they can be accessed at anytime for review, so you can refer to them more than once while developing your business plan. I also often include time management tips as part of the monthly call.

As Small Business Coach for the Network I monitor the Garrett Knowledge Bank discussion forums that have to do with business planning. Members post individual questions and receive answers and solutions, not only from myself but from all the other practicing members as well.

I must include one of the biggest business planning aides that would be available to you as a Garrett Planning member… and that’s the other members. I’ve already mentioned their participation on the monthly calls and Knowledge Bank. In addition, members seek other members to be accountability partners. In that way they help keep themselves on track while completing their business plan.

Oh yes, my association with the Garrett Network is not only as the Small Business Coach but as a practicing financial planner member since 2001. This gives me a unique insight into the business planning needs specific to the Garrett Planning Network members.

I really look forward to working with you and helping you develop your business plan for your Fee-Only financial planning business as a Garrett Planning Network member.

Thanks a lot. Bye-bye.