A financial plan should address your goals in the areas of cash accumulation, education of kiddos, business acquisition, and retirement (pre or post). A planner should peruse your taxes for a couple of years and should know what you spend each month. A financial plan should address the cost of dying and warn you about disability and long term care costs. A financial planner should look at your wills and powers of attorney; there may be some special areas of asset protection or estate reduction addressed. Financial planning is a process not a product.