5 Claude Prompts for Financial Planning Documentation

You are a financial planning documentation specialist. Write a comprehensive financial plan summary for a de-identified client based on the planning data below. Write in plain language that a non-financial professional can understand. Address the client in second person ("your").

<client-profile>
- Client: Married couple, both age 48, dual income ($210K combined)
- Primary goals: Retire at 60, fund two children's college (ages 14 and 16), maximize estate for heirs
- Current retirement assets: $620K (combined 401k and IRA accounts)
- Taxable investments: $150K
- Home equity: $400K (mortgage $220K remaining at 3.75%)
- Annual savings rate: 18% of gross income
- Risk tolerance: Moderate-aggressive
- Insurance: Term life ($750K each, expires at age 65), disability through employer, no LTC
- Estate plan: Basic wills from 10 years ago, no trust
- Social Security estimates: $2,600/month (him at 67), $2,100/month (her at 67)
</client-profile>

<planning-results>
- Monte Carlo success rate: 82% for retirement at 60, 94% at 62
- Projected retirement income need: $120K/year (today's dollars)
- College funding gap: $45K per child based on current 529 balance of $35K each
- Estate tax exposure: None at current levels, but growth could create exposure
- Key risks identified: Healthcare costs age 60-65 (pre-Medicare), sequence of returns risk in early retirement, no LTC coverage
</planning-results>

<instructions>
Structure the summary as:
1. Executive Summary (2-3 paragraphs, plain language overview)
2. Goals and Progress (each goal with timeline, current status, gap analysis)
3. Recommended Strategy (investment approach, tax planning, insurance, estate)
4. Key Risks and How We Address Them
5. Action Steps (6-8 specific next steps with timeframes)

Keep the tone warm, confident, and empowering. The client should finish reading this and feel they have a clear path forward.
Target: 800-1000 words total.
</instructions>

Write a retirement income strategy memo for a de-identified client who is 2 years from retirement. This document will serve as both a client deliverable and a planning file record.

<client-situation>
- Client: Single female, age 63, planning to retire at 65
- Current income: $145K salary
- Retirement assets: Traditional IRA $480K, Roth IRA $120K, 401(k) $350K (will roll to IRA)
- Taxable accounts: $180K
- Social Security: $2,450/month at 67, $3,100/month at 70
- Pension: $1,200/month starting at 65 (no COLA)
- Monthly spending need: $7,500 ($90K/year)
- Health: Good, family history of longevity
- Risk tolerance: Moderate — preservation focus as retirement approaches
- Tax filing: Single, currently in 24% bracket
</client-situation>

<instructions>
Structure the memo as:
1. Income Sources and Timeline (when each source starts, amounts, and any decisions required)
2. Withdrawal Strategy (which accounts to draw from in which order, with tax rationale)
3. Social Security Timing Recommendation (with analysis of claiming at 67 vs. 70)
4. Tax Bracket Management Strategy (Roth conversions, capital gains harvesting)
5. Contingency Plan (what happens if markets drop 30% in year one of retirement)
6. Annual Review Checkpoints

Use clear language. Include the reasoning behind each recommendation so the client understands the "why," not just the "what."
</instructions>

Write an education funding analysis for a de-identified client with children approaching college age. This will be delivered as part of the financial plan.

<education-details>
- Child 1: Age 16, starting college in 2 years
  - 529 balance: $62K
  - Target school type: State university (estimated $28K/year x 4 = $112K total)
  - Funding gap: $50K
- Child 2: Age 13, starting college in 5 years
  - 529 balance: $38K
  - Target school type: Private university (estimated $55K/year x 4 = $220K total)
  - Family contribution expected: 50% ($110K family responsibility)
  - Funding gap: $72K
- Parents' financial context: Household income $195K, moderate savings capacity beyond current 529 contributions of $500/month total
- Other resources: Grandparent willing to contribute up to $20K per child
</education-details>

<instructions>
Structure as:
1. Current Position Summary (what's saved, what's needed, gap for each child)
2. Funding Strategy Options (prioritized recommendations)
3. 529 Investment Strategy Adjustment (shift to more conservative as enrollment approaches)
4. Impact on Parents' Retirement Plan (can they fund education without derailing retirement?)
5. Financial Aid Considerations (how assets affect expected family contribution)
6. Action Items with timeline

Be specific about dollar amounts and monthly contribution changes needed.
</instructions>

Write a risk assessment and insurance review section for a financial plan. This should identify coverage gaps and make specific recommendations.

<client-insurance-data>
- Client: Married couple, ages 45 and 43, two children (ages 8 and 11)
- Combined income: $225K ($140K him, $85K her)
- Total debt: Mortgage $380K, auto loans $35K
- Total assets: $520K retirement, $80K taxable, $400K home equity
- Current insurance:
  - Life: Group term $280K (him, 2x salary through employer), none on her
  - Disability: Short-term through employer (him only), no long-term disability
  - Health: Employer-provided PPO, family plan
  - Umbrella: None
  - Home/Auto: Standard coverage, $1K deductibles
- Self-employed status: She is a 1099 contractor, no employer benefits
</client-insurance-data>

<instructions>
Structure as:
1. Current Coverage Summary (organized by risk type)
2. Gap Analysis (specific vulnerabilities identified)
3. Recommendations (prioritized, with estimated costs)
4. Implementation Priority (what to do first, second, third)

Be direct about the risks. Clients need to understand what could happen without adequate coverage, not just that "insurance is important."
</instructions>

Write an annual financial plan update comparing this year's position to last year's. This will be presented at the annual review meeting and left with the client as a summary document.

<year-over-year-data>
- Client: Married couple, ages 56 and 54
- Last year's total portfolio: $1.15M
- This year's total portfolio: $1.32M (+$170K, including $48K contributions and $122K growth)
- Portfolio return: +10.6% (benchmark 60/40: +9.2%)
- Retirement goal: $1.8M by age 62 (6 years away)
- Last year's Monte Carlo: 85% success at 62
- This year's Monte Carlo: 89% success at 62
- Key changes this year: Increased 401k contributions to max ($30,500 with catch-up), completed Roth conversion of $40K, updated estate plan with revocable trust
- Remaining action items from last year: LTC insurance quotes (still pending), beneficiary updates (completed), emergency fund increase to 6 months (completed)
- New issues to address: His company may be acquired — potential severance and rollover decisions, her mother's health declining — possible eldercare financial impact
</year-over-year-data>

<instructions>
Structure as:
1. Year in Review (2-3 paragraph narrative of progress)
2. Scorecard (at-a-glance comparison table: last year vs. this year)
3. Goals Progress (each goal with updated status)
4. Action Items Completed (celebrate the wins)
5. Outstanding and New Items (what's next)
6. Updated Recommendations

Tone: Celebratory where appropriate — they made real progress. But honest about what still needs attention.
</instructions>