Questions To Ask When Choosing A Financial Planner



Many folks hire financial planners to help them meet their financial goals. Whether you are a newbie investor with very little experience or whether you have a fair knowledge and skills of financial planning areas, a financial planner can be an effective asset when preparing for your financial goals. One advantage of employing a financial advisor is the added incentive you'll have to achieve your financial goals.

A financial planner can support with several financial questions and goals, including checking your investments to make sure they are ideal to meet your goals, preparing a retirement projection to show you if you are on the right way to retire at your desired age or not, checking your tax returns to ensure you're receiving all of the tax benefits you are eligible, or even a comprehensive financial program which covers all aspects of your financial life.

There are numerous types of financial advisors (including stock brokers, investment supervisors and fee only financial planners), and most are paid differently and work uniquely than other advisors, so it's useful to do your homework while you hire a financial professional.

Listed below are some questions you should ask when interviewing a financial professional:

- How long have you been providing financial advice?

- How are you paid? Do you demand a commission for items you recommend (sell) or do you earn a fee according to your time?

- What are your experiences? Do you have any licenses (CFP, CPA), or are you associated with any professional organizations (NAPFA, FPA, etc.)?

- Who are your usual clients? Do you have any clients like me?

- Do you have a specialization, i.e., tax planning, retirement planning, dealing with baby boomers?

- How often will you supervise my financial program? Do you automatically monitor my investments or is it up to me to consult you when I need an update?

- How many customers do you have? Will I be working with you or any of your associates?

While asking friends, family and business partners for referrals for financial planners is a decent idea, you should do your own due diligence equally. Read up on the various types of financial advisors (stick with reputable financial publications and websites such as the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's Magazine, etc.) before you start your search. Once you learn what type of advisor you want to work with, you should interview a number of potential advisors to determine which one will best match your needs, personality and targets.

Beacon Financial Advisors is one of many financial advisors in Kansas City who provides hourly, fee-only financial advice, including advice on investments, retirement, taxes, insurance and more.

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