Because life moves pretty fast.
At Plan Forward Finance, we help you slow down, get organized, and take confident steps forward with your financial life and estate planning.
We provide compassionate, personal, and affordable financial life and estate planning support so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or revisiting an old plan, we make the process feel calm, manageable, and supportive.
To make financial life and estate planning more accessible by removing the confusion, pressure, and overwhelm.
We also make it more affordable by offering flat-fee, project-based, or hourly services. Everything is agreed on upfront, so you always know what to expect with no pressure and no surprises.
We’re here to help you make meaningful progress for yourself and the people you care about most, with clarity, care, and confidence.
We serve people who don’t want or need a traditional, high-cost financial advisor or estate attorney.
Our services are designed for individuals and families looking for practical, approachable guidance. Whether you’re organizing your finances, creating or updating an estate plan, or simply looking for clarity, we meet you where you are and help you move forward at your own pace.
Hi! I’m Marla, founder of Plan Forward Finance. As a first-generation U.S. citizen who spent 17 years in the tech industry and navigated major life changes, including losing both of my parents in my twenties and rebuilding after divorce, I understand how overwhelming financial and estate planning can feel.
I created this service to offer clear and compassionate support that meets people where they are. My approach is thoughtful and step by step, designed to help you take meaningful action with clarity and confidence.
At Plan Forward Finance, we provide compassionate, personalized support to help you get organized, clarify your goals, and take confident steps forward with your financial life and estate planning.
Support may include:
Starting, updating, or completing your estate plan
Clarifying your values and setting short- and long-term goals
Evaluating cash flow, spending, and savings strategies
Navigating job changes, compensation packages, or career transitions
Understanding equity compensation (ISOs, RSUs, NSOs, ESPPs)
Exploring insurance and education planning topics
Organizing financial documents and outlining next steps
Creating personalized action steps based on your priorities
Our services are available on a fee-based, project-based, or hourly basis, with everything agreed on upfront. You’ll always know what to expect, with no pressure and no surprises.
Please note: These services do not include investment, tax, or legal advice unless provided through a Registered Investment Advisor under a separate Advisory Agreement.
You probably already know why financial planning is important. But estate planning? You might be wondering if it applies to you.
Here’s the truth: estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy. It’s for anyone who wants to:
Make their wishes known
Protect their loved ones
Avoid unnecessary legal delays or court decisions
Without a plan, the state decides what happens. With a plan, you decide and we help you make those decisions with clarity and care.
Estate planning allows you to:
Name guardians for your children
Clarify your medical and financial wishes
Decide what happens to your property
Avoid unnecessary stress and legal costs for the people you care about most
We partner with EncorEstates, a secure, attorney-backed platform, to help you complete your estate plan efficiently and confidently.
Ready to take the next step or want to learn more?
Taking that first step can feel like the hardest part, but we make it easy. We begin with a free, no-pressure conversation so you can explore what kind of support might help and whether we’re the right fit. From there, we guide you through a clear, thoughtful process designed to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
This 30-minute virtual meeting is your space to talk through what’s on your mind, ask questions, and explore what kind of support might be most helpful. We’ll listen closely, reflect back what we hear, and offer honest guidance.
If it feels like a good fit, we’ll walk you through next steps. Our services are available on a fee-based, project-based, or hourly basis, with everything agreed on upfront. You’ll always know what to expect, with no pressure and no surprises.
If it turns out we’re not the right fit, that’s okay too. We’ll gladly point you toward other helpful resources. Either way, you’ll leave the call with more clarity and support.
If we mutually agree that it makes sense to move forward and work together, here’s what the process looks like:
We’ll gather the details about your situation and your goals. Then we’ll help you prioritize, clarify your options, and break things down into a clear, customized plan.
We’ll walk through your plan together, answer questions, and adjust anything that needs refining. You’ll leave with a written summary and a clear, personalized list of next steps and action items.
This is where we put your plan into motion. We’ll walk through your action items together, one step at a time, so nothing feels overwhelming or left unfinished.
If you’re working on an estate plan, we’ll help you complete your documents, fund your trust, update your beneficiaries, and make sure everything reflects your wishes. You’ll finish this stage with a fully executed plan and the peace of mind that comes from knowing it’s done right.
By the end, you’ll feel clear, confident, and organized with a plan you can trust and peace of mind that it’s done right.
We're here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Our goal is to give you peace of mind and help you make meaningful progress for yourself and the people you care about most.
Take A Moment
Take A Moment is a light, fun, and occasionally nerdy collection of things worth thinking about. You’ll find financial tips, interesting facts, random inspirations, and little reminders to pause and enjoy life while you’re planning for the future.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller