If I chose to use a Financial Advisor, how do I find one?

This is probably the biggest question for people who feel they need assistance.  You can come in contact with a Financial Advisor through a couple of methods: 

1.) the Referral. Ask your friends if they use one and if so ask if they are happy and would recommend them.  This is the easiest way; however, some people feel that if they recommend someone and you have a bad experience then somehow it will have a negative impact on your relationship, so they may be hesitant.  To avoid this, let them know that you are interviewing new advisors and want to have as many good candidates as possible.  This will give the referring friend the comfort of knowing that any decision you make is based on your own findings and not their opinion (you will find they may give you the names of a couple of other advisors that they may have considered or are considering as well.)  2.) The next source to find a potential advisor is the world wide web.  There are several reputable organizations that have directories of advisors across the country.  The CFP board's website (www.cfp-board.org) list all of the Certified Financial Planners in your area. The CFP® is the premier designation in the financial planning community and should probably be one criteria for your new advisor.  Some other websites include The Financial Planning Association (www.fpanet.org) and The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (www.naifa.org).  These are both organizations that have a strong code of ethics and offer their members ongoing continuing education.  3.) Send a request to us and we will assemble a list of advisors in your area to help you get started.

IMPORTANT:  Regardless of your source to find a new advisor we strongly recommend that you interview at least three, to find someone that you feel comfortable with and that you feel will best handle your situation.