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FEE-ONLY, TAX FOCUSED, FINANCIAL PLANNING AND WEALTH MANAGEMENT

ABOUT US


The Practical Planner, LLC is an independent, Fee-Only financial planning firm that provides comprehensive, tax-focused financial advice and wealth management.

As Fee-Only Certified Financial Planners™, clients pay directly for our professional advice and are not sold products. Our only compensation is the fee you pay us. 

As a Registered Investment Advisor, we customize strategies to meet the diverse investment objectives of our clients. Whether it’s legacy low basis investments that are difficult to divest, large holdings in employer stock or held-away investment accounts, our goal is to tailor our strategies to your unique investment needs, risk tolerance and tax situation.

As Enrolled Agents, we prepare our clients tax returns and understand tax laws. Our recommendations are made with the consideration for their tax impact and we work with our clients throughout the year to take advantage of all applicable tax saving strategies to avoid the mistake of overpaying taxes.


The Practical Planner ACP Massachusetts affiliated
NAPFA affiliated
Dimensional Fund Advisors affiliated

You Will Have a Trusted Partner to Help You Make the Best Financial Decisions 

Using a life-integrated approach, we will identify your life goals, and then integrate them into all areas of your finances—taxes, investments, estate planning, risk management, education planning, retirement, and more—so that those goals are supported. 


You Will Save on Taxes

Paying more than you owe in taxes is a sure way to impede your financial progress. As personal income tax specialists, we include tax planning and tax preparation services in our plans, and evaluate every recommendation we make for tax implications as well.


You will Save on Fees

We use no-load, low cost mutual funds and exchange trades funds. 

As an ACP Member, we pledge to be:

Holistic in outlook. We will consider all of your circumstances, family needs, goals, values, and aspirations when making comprehensive financial planning recommendations. 

Professional in conduct. We will protect your privacy. We will strive to maintain the highest ethical standards possible in our work and life. We will continually enhance our skills and credentials through continuing education, and will refer you to other professionals when you need help in an area outside our expertise.

Educational in nature. We will guide you through your options and explain them clearly to help you make the best choices. We will always take the time to make sure you understand our advice.

Independent in compensation. We will never sell you a product nor will we take a commission or a referral fee from another professional. You will receive objective, unbiased advice from us.

Committed to your success. Holistic financial planning is a process, not an event, and we commit to adjusting your plan as your life goals change. 

 

The Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) is a non-profit organization of Fee-Only, tax-focused financial planners across the country.

GUIDING YOU TOWARDS FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

OUR SERVICES


We work with clients through a transparent and comprehensive Annual Retainer.


What the Comprehensive Financial Planning Retainer Includes


Goal Setting
We will help to clarify your goals, identify what is needed to achieve them, and develop realistic timelines for their accomplishment. Everything else we do will relate to your goals.


Net Worth & Investment Advisory Services

When developing an effective investment strategy, we take time to understand your risk tolerance, tax bracket, and goals. Your investment strategy will provide diversification to hedge against extreme economic cycles and enable you to reduce your portfolio risk while substantially enhancing your return on investments.


Tax Planning & Preparation

Your individual federal and state tax returns will be prepared, and you will receive professional advice year-round. You will learn lawful strategies to reduce your tax liability, which will often offset your annual retainer and give you more dollars to put toward your goals.  


Employee Benefits

We provide strategies for exercising stock options, and maximizing employer provided accounts, including non-qualified deferred compensation plans and supplemental executive retirement plans, always with the goal of minimizing taxes. 


Retirement Planning and Financial Independence

Whether you are planning for retirement, starting your own business, or enjoying retirement, we will advise you every step of the way.


Insurance

After reviewing your current policies, we give you unbiased recommendations on how to keep yourself, your property, and loved ones protected.


Estate Planning

You will be guided through the process of deciding how your family is taken care of and how you want your assets divided. The focus is on simplicity for your heirs, avoiding probate, and reducing estate taxes. 


Contact us to schedule a no-cost initial telephone consultation to learn more about the difference a holistic personal financial plan can make. Clients find that this program delivers savings and peace of mind that far exceed its cost. Our minimum fee for comprehensive financial planning and investment management is $2500/quarter. Click here to view our complete fee schedule.

an Advisor You Can Trust

As a Fee-Only firm, we do not sell products or receive commissions for any recommendation we give. This is because we don’t represent any company, we represent you. We always act in the best interest of our clients, operating in an objective, unbiased manner while eliminating or disclosing any conflicts of interest. Doing this truly allows us to act as your fiduciary.

 

The Practical Planner, LLC is Your Fiduciary

A fiduciary is required, by law, to always act in the best interest of the client. They must always operate in an objective, unbiased manner and eliminate or disclose any conflicts of interest. Because there are no third-party influences to color the financial and investment recommendations rendered, Fee-Only planners can concentrate on providing the highest level of personalized service and offer professional, independent, unbiased advice.

YOUR TEAM

JOHN H. KONETZNY, CFP® EA Photo JOHN H. KONETZNY, CFP® EA Hover Photo

JOHN H. KONETZNY, CFP® EA

Partner

John is a Certified Financial Planner™, an Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service and an Advisor and Partner at The Practical Planner, LLC. He received his degree in Economics from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Prior to joining The Practical Planner, LLC, John was a financial advisor at Fidelity Investments.

John is a member of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP), where he serves as the chairman of the training committee. He is also a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), The National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) and the Fee-Only Network. As a NAPFA- Registered financial advisor, he is required to meet the most stringent continuing educational requirements in the industry.  

John resides in the quintessential New England town of Groton, Massachusetts with his wife, and favorite employee, Beth and their four young kids. He serves as a trustee/treasurer of the Groton Public Library Endowment, a member of the Groton Business Association and as an Eagle Scout, is a merit badge counselor with the Boy Scout troop in Groton. In his spare time, John enjoys morning workouts before the kids wake up and vacationing at their cottage in Marshfield.


PATRICIA A. KONETZNY, CFP® EA Photo PATRICIA A. KONETZNY, CFP® EA Hover Photo

PATRICIA A. KONETZNY, CFP® EA

Partner

Pat founded The Practical Planner, LLC in 1999. She is a Certified Financial Planner™, Registered Investment Advisor and an Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service bringing over 30 years of experience to the practice. 

Pat is a founding and past board member of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP), a premier fee-only financial planning organization and a previous member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and the National Association of Tax Practitioners (NATP).

Pat is originally from Miami, Florida and earned her degree in Economics from Assumption College in Worcester, MA where she met her husband, Tom. She fell in love with New England and now resides in Maynard, Massachusetts. In her free time, she loves spending time with her young daughter and 8 grandchildren, gardening, hiking and vacationing at their cottage on the south shore or remote cabin in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. 

Pat has been quoted for articles in The Wall Street Journal, Wall Street Journal Online, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Fidelity Investment’s Stages magazine and E-News and Investment Advisor magazine. She was also a source for the Parents magazine article, “Can You Afford to Quit Work?” and the magazine column about investment strategy for saving versus pre-paying college loans.

ELIZABETH A. KONETZNY Photo ELIZABETH A. KONETZNY Hover Photo

ELIZABETH A. KONETZNY

Operations Manager

Beth is the Operations Manager and organizational mastermind at The Practical Planner, LLC. She received her business degree from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she met her husband, John.

Beth joined the family business in 2017 after years of working as an Executive Assistant at a consulting firm. As an integral member of The Practical Planner team, Beth keeps the office running smoothly. She’s the self-proclaimed friendly face at The Practical Planner and strives to foster long, successful relationships with each client.

Beth resides in the quaint town of Groton, Massachusetts with her husband, John, and their four kids. Beth is an avid foodie and loves cooking meals for her family. She always tries to stay one step ahead and organized - although very challenging with four kids!

CLIENT RESOURCES



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CONTACT

Need more information? Have further questions? We are happy to discuss your particular needs and see if we might be a good fit to work together. 

Phone

978-448-3403

Email

info@practicalplanner.com

Address

GROTON OFFICE
274 Main Street
Groton, Massachusetts 01450

Our virtual meeting software allows us to work with clients throughout the country.


STEP 1 - SCHEDULE AN INTRODUCTION

Contact us to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation phone introduction. Learn more about our planning process and determine if our services match your needs.