Let’s face it, no one likes to get the wool pulled over their eyes. When it comes to investing your money, you’ve got to make sure you are partnering with someone who is trustworthy and honorable. Over the years, I’ve heard horror story after horror story from clients who have learned the hard way. What if you could learn from their mistakes and avoid similar situations? 

I’ve compiled a helpful resource that empowers people like you to make the best decision for their families and their future. These aren’t just some random factors to consider, the financial planning and advising industry is highly regulated and for a good reason. Make sure you have pen and paper handy for this informative episode - you are going to need it! 

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You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• How to stay away from bad financial advisors [0:45]
• Are there any disclosures or complaints against your financial advisor? [3:00] 
• Why it can be helpful to connect with a financial planning specialist. [8:00]
• Do you know what your financial planner's investment philosophy is? [11:00] 
• Why you should stay in contact with your financial planner. [14:00] 
• Closing thoughts [17:00] 

Why it matters

When you place a lot of pride and effort into your profession you really want to make sure that you are doing your part to ensure that the public has confidence in your industry. Unfortunately, most people only know the financial planners who abused their power by name, those who follow the rules don’t get the publicity and notoriety. I’ve recently seen a few instances of financial fraud committed by peers in my industry so I wanted to make sure there was a helpful resource available to people who are looking to stay informed. 

10 Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor 

To equip responsible consumers like you, I’ve created a helpful list that will give you the tools you need to make the right choice when it comes to hiring a financial advisor. 

1. Are you a Fiduciary and a fee-only firm?
2. Do you have any disclosures or complaints?
3. Do you have any specific certifications?
4. Do you have any specialties and what services do you offer?
5. How are you compensated for your services?
6. What other costs will I be charged?
7. What investment philosophy do you follow?
8. Where do you keep my money and how can I see it?
9. How often will we communicate?
10. How long has your longest client been with you and how many clients do you advise?

By no means is this an exhaustive or perfect list, this is merely meant as a tool that will get you started in the right direction. It is my hope that this will help you avoid common mistakes when it comes to assessing which financial advisor to enlist. If you’d like these questions addressed in fuller detail, please make sure to check out the link to my post in the resources section at the end of this post. 

Resources & People Mentioned

• www.cfp.net
• 10 Interview Questions When Hiring a Financial Advisor