SmartCheck Your Advisor
No one cares as much about your money as you do! That's a simple fact, and to believe otherwise is to also believe in the tooth fairy. While you may like or respect an investment professional's advice , the ultimate responsibility for handling your money belongs to you.
That responsibility means you must be an active participant in the money management process, doing your homework not only about the investment but about the provider of investment advice and products. Upcoming "fiduciary rules" will help - but you can't legislate morality.
Here 's how to protect yourself when receiving financial advice.
1. Check the background of the advisor/salesperson. That's much easier to do these days, thanks to a new resource called SmartCheck.gov. It combines search engines from various oversight agencies (including FINRA's BrokerCheck search engine). SmartCheck.gov lets you easily check the backgrounds of not only brokers and investment advisors, but commodity advisors, and professionals ranging from accountants to insurance professionals.
Created under the Dodd-Frank mandate, and supervised by the CFTC (which has oversight of commodities), www.SmartCheck.gov is by far the most thorough way to check disciplinary histories of financial professionals. CFTC officials say they are now working with state agencies to include their registrants for various professional certifications.
2. Get a Second Opinion There is no investment so urgent that you can't take time to get a second opinion. There are many slick salespeople out there who present a good case for why you have to "get in now" on this great deal. The herd instinct is the most dangerous aspect of investing, and it is based on both ignorance and greed. Take a step back before going over this cliff, and get an opinion from a knowledgeable person with no interest in selling this product.
3. Consider the Motivation Why is someone letting you in on this good deal - whether it is investment management or sale of a product or service? There has to be a reason - and typically that reason is a fee or commission. ASK - yes, ask for disclosure of any and all fees in writing by the salesperson, with his or her signature on the paper - and not in the form of fine print in a sales contract.
There are plenty of no-fee companies offering less expensive products. But you have to go their websites or toll-free numbers and make the effort to learn more about investment choices. That's how Fidelity and Vanguard and T. Rowe Price keep costs down - and put more of your money to work.
There's nothing wrong with paying for good advice. But how will you know the advice is good without doing your own homework?
4. There is no free lunch - or dinner! Why do you keep getting invitations to a special lunch or dinner where a product or service - ranging from life insurance to annuities to estate planning - will be "explained" to you? Because that's how salespeople get clients. It works! Rarely do you go home mulling the education you receive. Instead you sign on the line to get the process going. And there goes your money!
5. Never give away your power. Never, ever give away your power of approval on ALL investments. An advisor may ask you to sign a "discretionary power of attorney" so he or she can make all decisions, without "bothering" you. Run away from any advisor who asks for that power. And never be afraid to question anything on your account statement that you don't understand. It's your money!
Blind trust in an investment professional is a sure recipe for financial disaster. Respecting your advisor is critical. But respect must be based on knowledge - your knowledge. That requires doing your homework. And that's The Savage Truth.
That responsibility means you must be an active participant in the money management process, doing your homework not only about the investment but about the provider of investment advice and products. Upcoming "fiduciary rules" will help - but you can't legislate morality.
Here 's how to protect yourself when receiving financial advice.
1. Check the background of the advisor/salesperson. That's much easier to do these days, thanks to a new resource called SmartCheck.gov. It combines search engines from various oversight agencies (including FINRA's BrokerCheck search engine). SmartCheck.gov lets you easily check the backgrounds of not only brokers and investment advisors, but commodity advisors, and professionals ranging from accountants to insurance professionals.
Created under the Dodd-Frank mandate, and supervised by the CFTC (which has oversight of commodities), www.SmartCheck.gov is by far the most thorough way to check disciplinary histories of financial professionals. CFTC officials say they are now working with state agencies to include their registrants for various professional certifications.
2. Get a Second Opinion There is no investment so urgent that you can't take time to get a second opinion. There are many slick salespeople out there who present a good case for why you have to "get in now" on this great deal. The herd instinct is the most dangerous aspect of investing, and it is based on both ignorance and greed. Take a step back before going over this cliff, and get an opinion from a knowledgeable person with no interest in selling this product.
3. Consider the Motivation Why is someone letting you in on this good deal - whether it is investment management or sale of a product or service? There has to be a reason - and typically that reason is a fee or commission. ASK - yes, ask for disclosure of any and all fees in writing by the salesperson, with his or her signature on the paper - and not in the form of fine print in a sales contract.
There are plenty of no-fee companies offering less expensive products. But you have to go their websites or toll-free numbers and make the effort to learn more about investment choices. That's how Fidelity and Vanguard and T. Rowe Price keep costs down - and put more of your money to work.
There's nothing wrong with paying for good advice. But how will you know the advice is good without doing your own homework?
4. There is no free lunch - or dinner! Why do you keep getting invitations to a special lunch or dinner where a product or service - ranging from life insurance to annuities to estate planning - will be "explained" to you? Because that's how salespeople get clients. It works! Rarely do you go home mulling the education you receive. Instead you sign on the line to get the process going. And there goes your money!
5. Never give away your power. Never, ever give away your power of approval on ALL investments. An advisor may ask you to sign a "discretionary power of attorney" so he or she can make all decisions, without "bothering" you. Run away from any advisor who asks for that power. And never be afraid to question anything on your account statement that you don't understand. It's your money!
Blind trust in an investment professional is a sure recipe for financial disaster. Respecting your advisor is critical. But respect must be based on knowledge - your knowledge. That requires doing your homework. And that's The Savage Truth.
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