It’s hard to find a financial advisor you can trust. Designations, fee structures, and jargon confuse most consumers. Here’s how to find a good financial advisor.
Fiduciary
Look for a fiduciary first. They are required by law to put your interest first. Therefore, fiduciaries recommend the best available planning option, even if they make less money doing it.
Some advisors are not required to put your interest first. They may be required to put their employer’s interest first. As a result, high-cost annuities and life insurance products are often the staples of their plans.
Fee-Only
Find a fee-only planner. Fee-only means more transparency and fewer conflicts. You know what you pay your advisor, so you can decide if they’re worth it or not. If you don’t know what you’re paying your advisor, ask them. If they can’t give you a dollar amount, it might be time to move on.
Certified Financial Plannerâ„¢
CFP® or Certified Financial Planners™ have met rigorous experience and educational requirements necessary to be a CFP®. As of October 1st, 2019, they are required to always be Fiduciaries under their new standards.
NAPFA Registered Financial Advisor
NAPFA Registered Financial Advisors are actually where I’d look first. Fiduciaries since the 1980s, NAPFA advisors offer comprehensive financial planning on a fee-only basis. NAPFA requires 60 hours of education every 2 years, double that of a CFP®. They are the best of the best.
Here is where I’d look for an advisor online in order of preference:
- https://www.napfa.org/find-an-
advisor - http://www.letsmakeaplan.org
- https://www.xyplanningnetwork.
com/consumer/find–advisor/ - https://www.
garrettplanningnetwork.com/Â These guys are hourly
Takeaway
It’s hard to find a good financial advisor. If you’re looking for an advisor, find a Fiduciary first. A transparent fee-only structure allows you to know if the advisor is worth it. NAPFA CFPs are the first place I’d look for an advisor.
To learn more about choosing an advisor check out:
