How Do You Choose A Financial Planner?
Are you on the lookout for someone to advise you on financial issues that go beyond basic investing? The right person may be a financial planner. Planners come in all types. Some focus on investments; others work in planning insurance, budgeting, estate and related issues. But as with almost anything in the world of money, caveat emptor. Be clear on what your life goals and objectives are when searching for a suitable planner. Do you want a comfortable retirement, a college education, a vacation home, capital to finance a career change or something else? Decide whether you need the resources of a full-service national firm or if a local office will be sufficient. National firms have big-name investment researchers and analysts on board to generate their own opinions. Generally, the more services available, the higher the overhead a firm has to cover and the higher the fees charged to its clients. In many cases, access to research information more than makes up for the added fees, but b
