| If you want to make sure that you have secured your future as much as you can, you will want to find someone who can give you intelligent, unbiased personal financial advice. There are many people around who claim they are financial advisors but you want to be careful who you hire. You have to not only be able to trust them but you also want to be able to like them so you can work closely with them.
When you first start your search you should probably ask for a recommendation right at your local bank or credit union. More than likely they can give you a referral. One word of warning though, they will likely have many of their own products that they will try to sell to you. That may not be bad but in order to make an informed decision make sure you ask a lot of questions and don't buy any product or service, unless you're sure it's a perfect fit for what you are trying to accomplish financially.
Asking friends, family, and co-workers is another way you can get a referral to a good financial advisor. You may be surprised at how many people you know actually enlist the aid of an advisor. Many people mistakenly believe that only the rich have advisors. A good advisor will be able to help you protect the assets you already have as well as find ways you can potentially grow those assets.
Once you've got a few recommendations go around to them and start 'interviewing' them. Again, it's your money you have the right to ask a lot of questions of whoever you're considering asking to manage your money. Make sure you check the credentials of any advisors you are considering hiring.
Also find out if they are 'tied' or independent. A tied agent is one who can only sell the products and services of one company. They can still help you but it's important that you know that they do have limitations of which products they can sell to you. That way you can make sure that the product they are selling you is the best product to help you achieve your goals and not just the best product their company has for achieving your goals. There is a big difference.
An independent agent may sound like a better choice, but it can have it's landmines too. For example, even though an independent agent can sell products from many companies they will often push a product from the company that offers them the highest commission, not necessarily the best product for you and your needs.
Knowledge is power, so now that you know what the potential issue can be for both a tied and independent agent you can ask questions and avoid them.
If you want to make sure you protect your future, hiring someone who can provide you with top notch personal financial advice can really help. There are many elements to your money. Everything from insurance to estate planning. Make the most of your money by finding a professional to help you navigate all the resources available to you. |