A cornerstone is “the chief foundation on which something is constructed or developed.” It is both “essential” and “indispensable,” according to dictionary.com. Without solid cornerstones that are well-grounded and thoughtfully-designed to support both fundamental needs and visionary aspirations, the buildings that shelter, house, comfort and inspire us would soon show cracks. In time, they would likely come to disappoint – if not endanger – us. We believe ongoing planning advice that is similarly well-grounded and thoughtfully-designed to be fundamental to achieving your life’s goals and enhancing its quality, for your well-being and that of the people and causes you care most about. At Cornerstone, we don’t do ‘paint-by-numbers’ planning. We also don’t give advice based on ‘how-it’s-always-been-done-before.’ That’s because such analyses and rules-of-thumb are often either based on decades-old research or fail to consider how human behavior impacts the outcomes calculated by a software program. How does this matter? It can mean telling a client she has to work five more years to achieve her financial security when, based on empirical research, she really doesn’t. Or that a couple can’t afford to travel as they wish in their early retirement years when, in fact, they can. This is what we mean when we say that employing our nationally-recognized expertise and offering thoughtful advice with care and attention to each individual client can make all the difference. Our planning, advisory and wealth management services are designed to reflect these beliefs.