Financial Planning is seen as a service however seeing Financial Planning as such limits its value-added capabilities. Financial Planning creates products that help people maximize wealth. There are two products created from Financial Planning for this task.

The first product is a budget. A budget expresses thoughts. Thoughts can be expressed about revenues earned. Thoughts can be expressed about expenses incurred. Thoughts can be expressed about assets acquired. Thoughts can be expressed about liabilities and equity positions. Thoughts can be expressed about cash receipts and cash disbursements.

The second product is a forecast. A forecast expresses predictions. Predictions can be expressed about revenues earned. Predictions can be expressed about expenses incurred.  Predictions can be expressed about assets acquired. Predictions can be expressed about liabilities and equity positions. Predictions can be expressed about cash receipts and cash disbursements.

A budget and a forecast may look similar but are different. A budget focuses on courses of action while a forecast focuses on the future. The courses of action that a budget focuses on are the delivery of products or services, the acquisition of resources, and the receipt and disbursement of cash. The future that a forecast focuses on is an existence based on income and cash flows. A budget therefore emphasizes processes while a forecast emphasizes outcomes.  As a result a budget and forecast can be used separately or together. They can used separately to help people understand what to do or achieve and they can be used together for people to understand what their work is supposed to accomplish.    

People should see what they receive. People should see more than the characteristics of financial planners, people should see the products of Financial Planning. By seeing the products of Financial Planning, a budget and a forecast, people receive reference material to help them move closer toward their goals.