• How Do Investment Professionals Get Paid?
• Has Your Investment Professional Passed the Test?
• Interviewing an Investment Professional

Tools and Calculators

• College Calculator
• Retirement Calculator
• IRA vs Employee
• Asset Allocation
• Paycheck Impact

How to Choose an Investment Professional

Let’s face it − talking about your financial needs isn't always easy. So it’s important to choose an investment or insurance professional you feel comfortable with.

You’ll also want to make sure their knowledge and experience is a good match for your needs − now and in the future. After all, this person will be helping you make decisions about your finances.

Ready to begin?

Start by getting recommendations from family, friends and coworkers. Who do they trust with their financial needs − and why?

Other sources for recommendations:

• Your bank, attorney or tax planner
• Internet or phone directory listings for financial services
• Brokerage firms

 Plan to talk to several candidates to find the one who’s right for you.

Research your choices

Once you've got a list of candidates:

• Interview the contenders. Meet with your candidates to ask questions, and to see if your personalities click. Learn about interviewing an investment or insurance professional.
  
  
• Look for competence. Certification doesn't guarantee competence, but professional licenses do take time and effort to achieve. Find out if your investment professional passed the tests for specialty designations.
  
  
• Confirm credentials. Call the professional associations your candidates mention. Verify they’re members in good standing and ask if there are any complaints against them.
  
  
• Ask for references. Asking the candidates you talk to for references from others they work with − like accountants, attorneys or insurance agents.
  
  
• Ask how they're compensated. Typically, they’re paid through fees, by commissions or a combination of the two. Learn how investment professionals are paid.
  
  
• Get it in writing. Ask for a contract that lists the services they’ll provide and what you'll pay for them.

Build a relationship

Once you've found a qualified professional that suits your needs, you can start taking steps to plan for your financial future.

The professional right for you will work with you to develop a clear picture of your current financial situation and help you work toward your financial goals. By building a relationship with them over time, you’ll also be able to request annual checkups so they’ll know when your needs change and adjustments should be made.