Hiring a financial advisor can help you plan and achieve your short-term and long-term goals. Whether you aim to have a comfortable retirement, buy a house or find your child’s college fees, it is nothing a financial advisor cannot help you with. However, these professionals are not one-size-fits-all, and it is critical to find someone who best suits your situation.
You might be mistaken if you think you do not need help managing money. Unless you have a degree in financial planning and years of experience, you may lose thousands of dollars without knowing it. Speak with the GLP financial group.
Top tips for finding the best financial advisor
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Decide what you need help with.
Before you set out to find a financial advisor, determine which area you need help with. When you sit for your consultation session with your advisor, you will need to explain your money management needs to them.
If your financial needs are complex, you may need extra assistance. Not all financial advisors are experts in every field and can provide you with all of the financial services. Decide which services you need before you hire one.
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Review a financial advisor’s credentials.
It is important to look at a financial advisor’s credentials before you decide to hire them. This can be difficult and complex to achieve since multiple certifications or licenses exist. To make sure your financial advisor is who they say they are, look for the following certifications:
- CFP®,
- CFA,
- or CIMA.
You can usually find their credentials in their resume or look them up online.
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Check the fee structure.
Financial advisors do not come for cheap. But that does not mean you should not hire one. The key is to find someone offering payment structures that best suit your situation. If your financial advisor says they do not charge a fee, they may be working on commissions. Some charge a flat fee, while others charge according to the number of assets they manage. Sit with your advisor and discuss the fee structure.
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Ask questions.
Before you hire a financial advisor, you want to ask them a few questions about themself and their work. Their responses will tell you whether they are the right person to hire. Following are some good questions to start with:
- Are you a fiduciary?
- How do you make your money?
- What kind of clients do you normally work with?
- Do you have any account minimums?
- How many times and how often will we meet?
- What is your approach to financial planning?