When seeking out the services of a Financial Advisor, there are some key rules of thumb you may want to follow. Today, we wanted to give more insight and helpful considerations to consider as you are deciding on if working with a financial advisor is right for you and how to choose. Listed below are 3 tips that can provide you with some guidance.
Before Scheduling a Meeting
1. Ask yourself some questions. Can I clearly articulate what my financial needs are? When is the last time I did an assessment of my personal finances? Do I have business finances to consider? It might be helpful to list the reasons why you are seeking the counsel and representation of a financial advisor. If you have a spouse, create this list together.
2. Decide on how you will find a financial advisor. Is this advisor being recommended to you by a friend? Is there a trusted resource where you can find a financial advisor? We recommend visiting a reputable website such as www.napfa.org where you can find a series of educational videos that are helpful.
3. Have the financial scandals over the past 10-15 years made you concerned about properly vetting your advisor? If so, you can review pertinent information about financial advisors who carry the RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) designation. All RIAs are required to publicly disclose details about their business. These details get posted at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. If you are interviewing multiple advisor, review their details on the site in advance to get a clear idea of how they operate.
Remember, when it’s all said and done, there must be a mutual trust between you and the advisor you choose. After all, this person is representing your wealth and protection for you, your spouse, or your family.
As always, your welcome to contact our team with any additional questions about choosing a financial advisor.
