“Interviewing a succession of advisors can help you clarify your goals and needs. The best partnership will be one in which you and your advisor talk as often as needed to take care of your financial future.” - Harry S. Dent, Jr.

Finding the financial advisor that’s right for you involves three steps: evaluating your own financial and lifestyle goals, finding a group of likely prospects, and interviewing each one.

Choosing one advisor from among your prospects is the beginning of a long-term business partnership, one that may last the rest of your life. You are welcome to use the Financial Advisor search available on our website to find an advisor that best suits your need. Since you will be entrusting your advisor with personal information and relying on his or her expert advice countless times, carefully interview each candidate using the list of questions below as a guide.

Do you specialize in working with clients like me?

To answer this question, the prospective advisor is going to need to know a lot about you, so you must have already evaluated your financial and lifestyle goals. Notice what kinds of questions the advisor asks you and how well she listens. Is the advisor adept at eliciting information and clarifying issues? In an ideal interview, you will continue to learn about yourself, too, which is valuable information to take to the next interview.

Do you represent the investment products you sell, or do you represent me?

Find out whose investment products the advisor sells, why, and how he is compensated. Does the advisor offer only the investment products his company sells or is he free to pick from the best? Does he make a commission (loads) on investment products or are clients charged a management fee? Are the fees lower for more valuable (higher asset) clients?

How long have you been in business and what are your credentials?

Ask for a copy of the advisor’s resume or curriculum vitae for a summary view of her education and experience. Find out how many clients the advisor has, what their average assets are, and ask for several referrals. You might also ask the advisor to describe their greatest successes, their greatest mistakes and what he or she learned from them.

Will I get the type and quality of service I need from you?

Find out whether or not you will be a priority account for this advisor, how frequently he expects to be in contact with you and by what means in person, by phone, email or fax and how he plans to keep you informed about market events that affect your portfolio. It’s also important to see samples of the kind of reports the advisor will prepare for you and to talk about the strategy he will use to rebalance your portfolio periodically. Will this advisor be able to integrate all of your financial needs into a comprehensive plan? If he lacks expertise in a few areas, does he have a team of specialists he consults to give you the best possible service?

What is your outlook for the future of investments and why?

Find out what this advisor thinks of long-term economic trends and how she arrives at this view. If she relies on experts, ask about their credentials and track record. Find out how she adjusts her investment strategies to accommodate long-term trends and how such adjustments might affect your portfolio and tax planning strategies.