How To Interview A Financial Advisor
One you have been put in touch with a group of financial advisors, it's time to narrow the list further by conducting an interview with each advisor separately. An interview between a financial advisor and a potential client is more of a mutual conversation, and it is as important for him to know about you as it is for you to be aware of everything about him. Ask about his educational qualifications. He should have a college degree. Apart from this, he should have the necessary credentials from professional financial organizations. Some credentials to look for include the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors- Registered Financial Advisor, and the Certified Personal Planner. Inquire about his experience giving financial advice to clients. He should also be able to refer to you a list of current and past clients. If the financial advisor works in a partnership with another advisor, ask about who will be responsible for your portfolio. If the associate will be responsible for handling your account, then he needs to have just as much experience. Ask if he has ever been cited for disciplinary action by any regulatory body. Inquire about the range of services he offers. Does he include estate planning and insurance plans in his services, for instance? Bear in mind that the more extensive the services, the greater the fee. Does he assist with the purchase of products, or does he recommend these? Will he help with non investment related financial concerns of yours? Does he help with taxes? What kind of fee system does he prefer -- a hourly rate, a fixed fee basis, or commission on financial products sold?
The interview will be taken as an opportunity to get to know you better by the financial advisor too. He needs to know what your goals and aspiration are, and you should be able to articulate these to him loud and clear without any doubts. For this purpose, spend some time before you meet with the financial advisor, defining your long term and short term goals. Your long term goals could be more funds-intensive like buying a house, or traveling after your retirement. Your short term goals could be expanding you business in the near future. The more the financial advisor knows about your goals, the better he is able to determine the sort of advice and commitment that you're looking for. Be prepared to give him well thought out and fleshed out answers that give him the right picture of what you want your post retirement life to look at. Saying, "I want to be able to secure my future" doesn't say a lot.
A financial advisor in these uncertain economic times is not a luxury, but a necessary part of your investment. Money is easy to earn; it's retaining and keeping it that's the hard part. All it takes to fill out our financial advisor search from is two minutes of your time. In return, you will have the opportunity to meet with independent financial advisors who will help you secure your future. Make this investment right now!