What Is a Financial Planner?
A financial planner is a qualified investment professional who helps
individuals and corporations meet their long-term financial objectives. Financial planners do their work by consulting with clients to analyze their goals, risk tolerance, and life or corporate stages, then identify a suitable class of investments for them. From there they may set up a program to help the client meet those goals by distributing their available savings into a diversified collection of investments designed to grow or provide income, as desired.
Financial planners must have sufficient education, training, and experience for clients to place trust in their recommendations. As evidence of these qualifications, a practitioner may earn and carry one or more professional designations.
Choosing the Right Financial Planner
- What are your credentials?
- Can you provide references?
- What do you charge?
- What is your area of expertise?
- Will you act as my fiduciary?
- What services can I expect?
- How will we settle disputes?