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| Nine Issues to Consider When Selecting a Financial Planner |
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| Written by Hank Brock |
| Sunday, 01 March 2009 09:50 |
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First, is the financial planner experienced? Years of education will do little if your advisor doesn't have the applied experience necessary. You should ask them about the breadth of the problems that they have solved, their existing clients, and their depth of experience. You may not consider your questions to be complicated, but you are likely unaware of the myriad of strategies the advisor could pursue in your behalf. It often takes years of apprenticeship for the planner to be prepared to approach the issues that you may face. This can be especially true in the areas of estate and tax planning. There are many novices out there presenting seminars with only a basic understanding of the principals they are teaching. Second, what is your advisors educational background? You'll want to look for genuine credentials such as Chartered Financial Consultant, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Life Underwriter, Juris Doctor, or other legitimate credentials. These indicate an educational background in finance, business, insurance, law, accounting, etc. and require years of experience and/or comprehensive examinations from accredited institutions. Beware of quickie course designations such as the CSA, which only require a two-day course and minimal knowledge of planning topics. Third, does the advisor have a commitment to high ethical standards? Look for membership in at least one industry association (such as NAIFA, Society of FSP, FPA, IBCFP, etc.) that enforces a code of ethics. Of particular concern in ethics are those that not-so-subtly use their church affiliation in advertising. Fourth, does your financial planner have a commitment to continued education? The financial industry is constantly changing. How much of the advisor's time is spent sharpening skills and keeping up to date to changing laws and environments? What level are the continuing education training hours? Fifth, does the advisor handle the services you need? Consider whether you need comprehensive financial planning, tax planning, or investment advice. Will you need help with securities, or simply need someone to give tax advice? Is the planner simply an insurance salesman? Find the consultant that specializes in the services that you need. Sixth, what is your advisor's support structure? Is he a solo-practitioner, or is he part of team of specialists that can strategize on the various issues? Is the firm large enough to have the resources to provide the services that you require? Seventh, what is the advisor's average client like? Do you fall into the range of his typical client, and if not, will you receive the attention that you need? Would someone else at the firm give you better attention? What is the general demographic that the advisor primarily works with (seniors, pre-retirees, young couples, etc.)? You want to make sure that your unique needs will be met. Eighth, how is the advisor compensated? Is he/she paid by fees only, commissions, or both? More about planner compensation in an upcoming article. Finally, is your advisor a professional? Be wary of persons who are merely part-timers working out of the trunk of their car, lack membership in professional societies, omit commitment to continuing professional education, and criticize others who do commit to high standards. Often they will downplay the need for education, or boast they "know more about estate planning than most attorney's out there." Smooth salespeople are often very charming, and may even present a charismatic public seminar-but they may also be dangerous because they don't know what they don't know. About the Author: Hank Brock is president of Brock and Associates, LLC, a firm specializing in retirement, estate, tax, and business planning. Be sure to check out Hank's article on finding a financial advisor for more extensive information. Kindly provided by LJ-Marketing.dk You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include the link just before this text. |
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