This is such an important part of our role we have incorporated the word "strategies" into our name. 

We believe it is important for clients to be clear about their goals and ambitions, but planning needs to be based on achievable and reliable steps, that are carefully matched to clients circumstances and abilities.

While such steps within plans, and the plans themselves, are not always set down in writing, commitment to such plans and the monitoring of the progress of the steps are best obtained when the plans and the steps are documented.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Budgets (including for profit, cashflow, capital, investment, etc), and the measuring of results against those budgets, are a significant part of the process of achieving planned goals.

Those steps are better described as strategies.  The plans might be business plans or personal financial plans.