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Financial Values Statement

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FINANCIAL VALUES STATEMENT

Client Information

Client Name:

Financial Snapshot (Most recent estimate)

Total Liquid Assets: $

Estimated Net Worth: $

Income, Expenses & Liquidity

Investment Objectives & Risk Tolerance

Primary objectives (check all that apply):

Values, Restrictions & Preferences

Please indicate industries, sectors or practices you wish to exclude from your portfolio (check all that apply):

Time Horizon & Special Considerations

Intended investment time horizon (years):

Attestation, Authorization & Important Notices

I certify that the financial information and preferences stated in this Financial Values Statement are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that this Statement is provided to inform investment strategy and does not, by itself, constitute investment advice or create a fiduciary relationship unless set forth in a separate written agreement.

I authorize my financial advisor and their designated representatives to rely upon the values, restrictions and objective selections herein for purposes of recommending and implementing investment strategies consistent with these instructions. I agree to promptly notify my advisor in writing of any material changes to the information provided.

I acknowledge that exclusions and preferences may limit available investment opportunities and that there may be trade-offs between aligning investments with stated values and achieving certain financial objectives. I accept responsibility to review this Statement periodically and to request updates as my circumstances or priorities change.

Supplemental Notes

Client Name:

Signature:

Date:

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What a Financial Values Statement Is and When It’s Used

A Financial Values Statement is a concise, written declaration that describes an individual’s or organization’s principles, priorities, and rules governing financial decisions and stewardship. It typically covers goals, risk tolerance, ethical standards, spending and saving priorities, investment guidelines, and giving or legacy intentions. Organizations use it to align stakeholders and guide policy; individuals use it to inform family members, advisors, and fiduciaries. When completed clearly, the statement supports consistent decisions, clarifies trade-offs, and documents intent for advisors, successors, or oversight bodies during planning or transition events.

Why a Financial Values Statement Matters

A Financial Values Statement clarifies priorities, reduces ambiguity during transitions, and documents intent that advisors and fiduciaries can rely on. It promotes consistent decision-making and helps avoid disputes when financial choices affect multiple stakeholders.

Why a Financial Values Statement Matters

Who Typically Prepares and Uses This Statement

Primary users include individuals planning estates, family offices, nonprofit boards, financial advisors, and corporate governance committees seeking documented decision frameworks.

  • Individuals and Families — Households preparing legacy plans, communicating spending and giving priorities to heirs and advisors.
  • Financial Advisors and Planners — Professionals using the statement to align investment strategy and client recommendations.
  • Nonprofit Boards and Executives — Organizations documenting funding priorities, reserve policies, and ethical constraints.

The document is a communication and governance tool rather than a legally dispositive instrument, but it can guide legally binding documents and fiduciary actions when referenced.

Core Sections to Include in a Professional Statement

A complete Financial Values Statement contains definitional and operational sections that make intent actionable and clear to other parties.

Mission and Purpose

A short declaration of why financial decisions exist and what they should achieve for stakeholders.

Priorities and Trade-offs

Ranked list of spending, saving, investing, philanthropy, and debt management priorities to guide choices.

Risk Tolerance

Qualitative and quantitative risk preferences that inform asset allocation and liquidity needs.

Governance Rules

Decision authorities, escalation paths, and review cadence for financial actions and investments.

Ethical Constraints

Prohibited investments or activities and screening criteria tied to values or regulatory compliance.

Succession and Communication

Who is informed, how to access documents, and instructions for legacy transfers or advisor handoff.

Essential Information to Capture

Statement Title: Formal name and version.
Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY date of adoption.
Owner / Author: Name and role of primary author.
Contact Details: Phone, email, and advisor contacts.
Approval: Signatures or attestations.
Revision History: Record of updates and dates.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete a Financial Values Statement

Follow these steps to produce a clear, actionable statement that advisors and successors can rely on.

  • 01
    Draft Content: Assemble mission, priorities, risk and governance language.
  • 02
    Review with Advisors: Have counsel and financial advisor check legal and tax implications.
  • 03
    Finalize and Sign: Obtain signatures from owners and named approvers.
  • 04
    Distribute Copies: Share with custodian, advisor, and designated successors.

How to Configure an Online Completion Workflow

Configure a digital workflow to collect, verify, and store signed statements securely and with an auditable trail.

Field Configuration
Signature Require signer name, date, and signature field
Authentication Email link or SMS code; consider 2FA for advisors
Attachments Allow upload of supporting docs (IDs, POAs)
Retention Set automatic retention per policy

Where to Send or File the Completed Statement

Identify authoritative recipients and repositories so the statement is discoverable and actionable when needed.

  • Primary Custodian: Deliver to the financial institution or trust administrator holding assets.
  • Advisor Retention: Provide a signed copy to the registered investment advisor or planner.
  • Executor/Trustee: Place a copy with estate executor or successor trustee.
  • Personal Records: Keep final signed copy with wills and durable powers of attorney.

Digital Signing and Secure Distribution Options

Use platforms that provide authenticated eSignatures, tamper-evident PDFs, and secure storage to preserve legal value.

  • File Formats: PDF, DOCX supported
  • Integrations: CRM and cloud storage integrations available
  • Security: TLS in transit, AES-256 at rest

Platforms with audit trails and configurable signer authentication reduce disputes and help meet ESIGN/UETA record retention and attribution requirements.

Timing: Recommended Review and Update Intervals

Maintain a schedule for review and updates to ensure the statement reflects current circumstances, tax rules, and legal status.

Initial Adoption:

Adopt upon major life events or policy creation

Annual Review:

Review at least once per year

Trigger-Based Update:

Update after marriage, divorce, major inheritance, or tax law changes

Advisor Checkpoint:

Coordinate review with annual financial plan

Revision Effective Date:

Record MM/DD/YYYY when changes take effect

Key Milestones in Creating and Implementing the Statement

A sequential view of important actions from drafting to long-term retention.

01

Drafting

Create initial text and priorities for review.

02

Professional Review

Have counsel or tax advisor verify legal implications.

03

Execution

Sign and date; capture electronic audit trail.

04

Distribution

Share with custodians, advisors, and successors.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Vague Priorities — Using imprecise language like 'as needed' leaves too much discretion and can cause disputes among decision makers.
  • Outdated Contact Info — Failing to update advisor or successor contact details can delay access during urgent transitions.
  • No Versioning — Not tracking revisions by date or version number makes it hard to know which statement governs current decisions.
  • Missing Signatures — Leaving signature blocks unsigned or using initials only can weaken reliance by institutions and advisors.

Risks and Potential Consequences of an Incorrect Statement

Misguided Decisions: Conflicting guidance may cause fiduciaries to misallocate assets.
Legal Challenge: Ambiguity can invite disputes or litigation.
Tax Exposure: Incorrect tax instructions can trigger liabilities or filings errors.
Delayed Access: Missing approvals may prevent timely distributions.
Loss of Credibility: Inconsistent statements reduce trust with advisors.
Document Rejection: Institutions may refuse ambiguous or unsigned statements.

Real-World Examples of How Statements Are Used

Examples illustrate practical outcomes when a Financial Values Statement is used alongside advisors and custodians.

Optica Ventures — Client Alignment

Optica drafted a concise values statement to guide investment selection and philanthropic giving

  • Aligned portfolio with stated ESG constraints
  • The document reduced advisor ambiguity, sped decision approval, and provided a clear handoff during leadership transition, helping preserve intended charitable distributions.

Martin Properties — Succession

A family real estate owner used a statement to document reinvestment and distribution priorities

  • Prevented drift during property sales
  • Having explicit priorities and successor contact details reduced family disputes and supported faster approvals by property managers and lenders.

Representative eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison

Compare base pricing and common feature criteria across popular eSignature vendors to help select a platform for executing Financial Values Statements.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Practical Tips for Clear, Useful Statements

Follow these practices to make the statement unambiguous, actionable, and easy to implement for advisors and successors.

Be Specific
Use ranked priorities, numeric allocation ranges, and concrete examples rather than vague phrases.
Coordinate with Advisors
Have legal and tax professionals review language that affects estate plans or taxable events.
Version Control
Include version number and effective date on every page to avoid confusion.
Secure Distribution
Store signed copies with custodians and secure cloud storage; ensure access instructions are documented.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about execution, validity, digital signing, and what to do when things go wrong.


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