Sometimes it's helpful to get an extra set of eyes to look over your financial documents. You want to make sure you enlist the best set of eyes possible and for that you have to dig a little to find your perfect financial adviser match.
"Financial planning is not an event. You don't just come in and do it once. It's a long term relationship," Barry Malone a certified financial planner said.
So you want to make sure you find the best match. For this search let your family play cupid.
"The best way to usually find a good financial planner is to talk to your friends and family first to see if they've had any experience dealing with a financial planner," Malone said.
Make sure to find one with all the necessary certifications.
"Probably some of the primary certifications you should be looking for is a certified financial planner, a chartered financial consultant. Both have the same curricular studies," Malone explained.
After you make a list of potential advisers search for them on CFP.net for any potential red flags.
"You look for where people have made complaints or unethical behavior or if they've been disciplined for criminal actions or unethical behavior in the past," Malone described.
When you find the best fit be prepared for that first meeting.
"Understand that that meeting with financial advisers is probably going to be pretty probative," Malone said. "The financial adviser is going to ask you questions about what you're trying to accomplish and it should be a two way street. What is their philosophy or beliefs? What is their intention? They need to be asking you what you're trying to accomplish. It needs to be a two way street so they get proper information."
Malone said advisers want to get the full view of your investment goals so you get the best results.
