3 Things to Do to Find a Good Investment Advisor

You may be at a time in your life when you want to more actively participate in financial investments, perhaps to set your sights on retirement or to give yourself a chance at more financial stability in the future. When it comes to retirement, one should be careful while choosing a retirement planning advisor. For instance, if you are a federal employee, you may be eligible for certain retirement benefits. In such scenarios, choosing an advisor that specializes or has knowledge about the federal employee retirement system (otherwise known as FERS) could be wise as they can allocate your special benefits in order to get maximum value. Similarly, for investment purposes, hiring an investment advisor is not something you should do haphazardly. Taking a methodical approach to finding an investment professional that is right for you could lead to a more fruitful partnership.

1. Read Reviews of Investment Advisors

It can become a bit time-consuming to research potential investment advisors independently. However, reviews of investment advisors from people who have taken the time to look into the respective companies and offer insights about a company’s leadership, how it operates, and how the fees compare to other options could be instrumental in helping you make a well-informed decision about which investment company to choose to meet your needs.  

As you look for reviews of the investment advisors that are on your shortlist, screen for bits of information that relate to your situation. For example, a satisfied customer of an investment advisor might tell a background story that mirrors your own. Then, you might determine that it’s smart to become even more interested in that particular advisor. 

2. Narrow Down Your Needs and Expectations

When you first start interacting with potential investment advisors, they’ll likely ask you to explain your current situation and the events that made you decide that you need an investment advisor. One of the most common reasons people realize that it’s time to hire investment advisors is that they have a growing amount of wealth and know that more wealth provides more options for what to do with it. 

As such, you may work with an investment advisor because you want a person who can help you manage your money in an ongoing way. That person can field questions that arise and give the advice that helps you work through any financial-related situations that crop up through the duration of your relationship.

On the other hand, you may prefer to only hire a financial advisor for relatively time-based needs, such as to help you pick the stocks for your first foray into the stock market. In that case, an hourly consultation may be more suitable.

Keep in mind, though, that if you’re aiming to get favorable returns from investments over a prolonged period of time, having consistent access to a professional usually makes that outcome more likely to happen than if you try and do things on your own. Investing well can be tricky, and an investment advisor can apply their years of experience to help you make decisions with more confidence. 

3. Select Someone With Verifiable Credentials

Before you visit a dentist, there are steps you can take to check that the person received the appropriate amount of dental training. However, according to some sources, financial advisors are not as tightly regulated as some other professions. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck for finding someone with credentials, though. For example, you might look for someone who’s a certified financial planner. 

A person who earned that designation had to go through a minimum amount of training and pass an exam to show competency. So, if a person says they are a financial planner or a financial advisor, that’s a good sign, but you should also investigate further to see if they hold credentials that you can check. 

Don’t just take their word for it. Ask for enough details so that you have the information needed to verify the information on your own time. 

These three steps should help you move through the all-important process of finding a suitable investment advisor. The timeframe for doing so may not be as brief as you hope for or expect, but remember that when it comes to things concerning your money, showing patience when finding the right professional help is essential.