In the implementation phase of the financial planning process, which item is not a responsibility of the planner?

• A. Mutually defining goals and objectives that are realistic and achievable
• B. Coordinating with other professionals
• C. Sharing information as authorized
• D. Determining the division of activities between the financial planner and the client

Answer: (A)

The implementation phase is about executing the plan and coordinating actions to carry it out. It focuses on making the agreed steps happen, which includes working with other professionals as needed, sharing information with proper authorization to enable actions, and clearly defining who handles which tasks between the planner and the client. Mutually defining goals and objectives, however, is done earlier in the process during the planning phase, when the client and planner establish realistic, achievable targets that guide the plan. Those goals set the direction for implementation but aren’t created during the execution of the plan. Therefore, mutual definition of goals and objectives does not belong to the implementation phase.