Choosing A Financial Planner
Your financial planner should be qualified and a professional. Look for certification from reputable certifying bodies. The Certified Financial Planner is one such certification, and the Certified Public Accountant-Personal Financial Specialist is another qualification that can be used as a determiner of a person's qualifications. Your financial planner should be active in trade organizations in his field, and should be up to date on all changes and developments in his field.
Besides being qualified, your financial planner should have experience handling your sort of financial planning needs. The number of years he has been in the business is less important than the experience he has had dealing with clients with your needs. This will help him design a plan that addresses all your requirements. For instance, if you have a low risk tolerance, then you don’t need a financial planner who invests in penny stocks. An experienced financial planner will obviously have a list of satisfied clients that he can provide as references.
Above all, it helps when you’re choosing a financial planner if you have some idea of what the various terms and phrases mean. If you’re absolutely clueless, you will not be able to have a fruitful discussion with your advisor. It also helps if you are very clear about your objectives. A broad “I want financial planning for retirement” doesn’t tell your planner much. Spell out what you hope your retirement will look like to help make it easy for him to design a pan for you.