Financial Planning
Choosing Your Financial Advisor

THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT DECISION YOU'LL EVER MAKE

How much time do you take to plan your vacation?  How much planning went into deciding where to live, and whether to rent or buy, and what type of furniture, appliances or stereo equipment you needed?  Everything in life requires some kind of planning.  so why do so many of us expect our finances to plan themselves?  Actually, we most likely procrastinate because, when we do decide to get our financial house in order the task seems too monumental and overwhelming.  Where on Earth do we start?

The best way to start is by seeking professional help.  You go to a doctor when you are sick, you take your car to a mechanic when it is time for routine maintenance, and when you want to renovate your home, you call in a carpenter.  It's the same with your financial future.

A professional financial advisor can help you determine which investments are best suited to achieve your financial goals, establish a savings program to build your assets, and explain potential risks and rewards of different investments.

Probably the most important contribution an independent financial advisor can make is to help you stick to your plan.  He or she can be instrumental in encouraging you to keep going over the long term when every other instinct you have is telling you to quit.  Actual research has shown that investors who deal with a financial advisor rather than invest on their own, do hold their funds longer and earn greater returns over the long term.

Finding a personal financial advisor is no different from finding a doctor, dentist, lawyer, or other professional.  Happy clients are always willing to give a good reference, so ask your friends and relatives for recommendations.

When you interview the advisor you think you would like to deal with, be sure to ask about his or her experience, track record, services provided, investment approach and educational credentials.  Remember, it's your money and your future.  If the person you are considering makes you feel like you are wasting his or her time with all these questions, chances are you'll be wasting your money.  A competent, service-oriented advisor welcomes any and all questions.  You want a financial advisor who is willing to spend the time you need, who can interpret the financial jargon into layman's terms so that you always know what you're getting into, and who is able to understand your investment style and risk tolerance.

So now that you've decided to put your financial house in order, start by investing in professional help.  Ultimately, seeking out a financial advisor is the most important investment you ever make.