Final answer:
Sharon's recommendation for the client to add emerging market securities is part of the Planning stage, where investment strategies are formulated to meet the client's revised objectives. Option number d is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Sharon recommends that her client, who has welcomed the birth of a new daughter and subsequently increased her return objective, add emerging market securities to her portfolio, this recommendation is most likely a part of the Planning stage.
The planning stage is where investment objectives and strategies are formulated based on the client's needs and circumstances. It involves creating a blueprint for the construction of the portfolio, which may include the introduction of new asset classes, like emerging market securities, to meet the revised investment objectives.