Selecting An Advisor
Before establishing a relationship with a financial planner you will want to interview several people to make sure they’re the right match for you. Here are 10 important questions to ask before selecting a financial planner, plus seven key traits to expect from a good advisor. All CFP® professionals will know the answers to these questions, and exemplify these key traits.
TEN KEY QUESTIONS
What experience do you have? Ask for a brief description of the financial planner’s work experience and how it relates to their current practice. CFP® professionals must have a minimum of three years planning experience. Check and verify their background.
What are your qualifications? Ask about the credentials your planner holds, and learn how she stays up to date with current changes and developments in the financial planning field. CFP® professionals expand their knowledge and stay up-to-date through mandatory continuing education courses.
What financial planning services do you offer? Credentials, licenses and areas of experience are all factors that determine the services a financial planner can offer. Generally, financial planners cannot sell insurance, or securities products such as mutual funds or stocks, without proper licenses. And they cannot give investment advice unless registered with state or federal authorities.
What is your approach to financial planning? Make sure the planner's investing philosophy isn't too cautious or overly aggressive for your needs. Learn how he will carry out recommendations or refer tasks to others.
What types of clients do you typically work with? Some financial planners prefer to work with clients whose assets fall within a particular range, so it's important to make sure the planner is a good fit for your individual financial situation. Keep in mind that some planners require you to have a certain net worth before offering services. When you search for a CFP® on this site, you can specify your investable asset range to find a financial planner whose services best match your needs.
Will you be the only financial planner working with me? Some financial planners work with their clients directly, and others have a team of people that work with them. Ask who will handle your account, meet them, and ask whether the planner works with professionals outside his own practice, such as attorneys, insurance agents or tax specialists. If yes, get a list of their names to check on their backgrounds.
How will I pay for your financial planning services? Planners can be paid in several ways: through fees, commissions, or a combination of both. As part of your written agreement, your financial planner should make it clear how they will be paid for the services to be provided.
How much do you typically charge? Although what you pay will depend on your particular needs, the planner should be able to provide you with an estimate of possible costs based on the work to be performed. Costs should include the planner's hourly rates or flat fees, or the percentage of commission received on products you may purchase.
Do others stand to gain from the financial advice you give me? Ask the planner to provide you with a description of his conflicts of interest in writing. For example, financial planners who sell insurance policies, securities or mutual funds will have a business relationship with the companies that provide these financial products. CFP® professionals agree to abide by a strict code of professional conduct and have an ethical obligation to put your needs above their own.
Have you ever been publicly disciplined for any unlawful or unethical actions in your career? The CFP® Board, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and your state insurance and securities departments each keep records on the disciplinary history of financial planners and advisors. Ask which organizations the planner is regulated by and contact these groups to conduct a background check. CFP® professionals are subject to disciplinary action if they violate CFP® Board standards.
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