| Choosing to work with a financial planner can often | | | | protecting your family's well-being in the event of |
| be a very wise investment strategy on its own. A | | | | your death, or a mutual fund to help you build wealth |
| financial planner can offer a tremendous amount of | | | | so that you may retire), knowing the difference |
| current and relevant advice and can provide | | | | between a planner who wants to sell versus one |
| individuals with access to investments that they | | | | who wants to help you achieve your financial goals is |
| would otherwise not have access to, let alone fully | | | | quite important. Sign up with the wrong one and you |
| understand. | | | | will forever regret it because those smooth-talking |
| However, finding a financial planner that you are | | | | financial salespeople are not only good at |
| comfortable with is not always an easy task. And for | | | | consumating the sale but at keeping you coming back |
| some, identifying whether the planner in question will | | | | for more, even when you want out! |
| be able to meet your financial goals appropriately is | | | | 3. What kind of recommendations can the planner |
| actually a difficult task. | | | | give me? While it is unlikely that the financial planner |
| The following tips provide regular investors with | | | | can provide you with the names of satisfied clients |
| some areas of focus when interviewing potential | | | | (as it could breach privacy protocol) understanding |
| financial planners: | | | | what the planner does for the community (e.g. |
| 1. Does the planner understand my goals? The point | | | | coaching little league, volunteering, etc.) and |
| of any relationship with a professional, whether it is a | | | | profession (e.g. articles in the local paper, in industry |
| doctor or lawyer or especially your financial planner is | | | | publications, seminars, etc.) can help you get a quick |
| to determine whether that person understands what | | | | snapshot of what is important to the planner. And if |
| you need and want. A good financial planner will be | | | | the planner's objectives do not align with your own, |
| able to translate material needs and wants into dollar | | | | consider moving on. |
| terms and then present solutions that will help you, | | | | Again, it often makes sense to work with a financial |
| financially, achieve the material goals you expressed. | | | | planner. In most cases, working with a professional |
| 2. Does the planner want to sell me something? While | | | | can help you keep your financial goals and objectives |
| it is inevitable that you will need to purchase | | | | on track for success and can also provide you with a |
| "something" from the planner (whether it is a life | | | | wealth of information about specific investment |
| insurance policy to help you reach your goal of | | | | opportunities. |