A: A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ or CFP® professionals must pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Examination, pass CFP Board's Fitness Standards for Candidates and Professionals Eligible for Reinstatement, agree to abide by CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Rules of Conduct which put clients' interests first and comply with the Financial Planning Practice Standards which spell out what clients should be able to reasonably expect from the financial planning engagement.
The CFP® certification process, administered by CFP Board, identifies to the public that those individuals who have been authorized to use the CFP® certification marks in the United States have met rigorous professional standards and have agreed to adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism and diligence when dealing with clients.
A: The initial meeting is a time for us to get to know each other. It’s important that you find an advisor that you like and trust. It’s also important for your advisor to truly understand your current financial situation. You will likely be asked to share some personal information such as:
- Your age
- Your present income level and projected future income
- Your current spending needs
- Any projected expenses
- Your assets and liabilities
- The number of dependents for whom you are responsible
- Any possible health or external issues that may impact your finances
A: It’s important to understand how your advisor gets paid. Basically there are two primary methods in which advisors are compensated: How Do Advisors Get Paid?
A. We love flexibility and choices, so we can put a plan together that’s perfect for you. We have the option to use any of the methods mentioned under the previous question. It depends on your account size, needs and personal preferences. Whenever recommending a particular product or service, we will describe how we are paid in detail, so you can make an educated decision.
A. We understand that investments can be complicated, overwhelming and confusing. That’s why you hire a professional. Just like you would hire a personal trainer to improve your fitness, you hire a financial advisor to improve your financial situation. No matter what your level of knowledge, we will work with you to help you improve your situation. We strive to educate you on the basics of finance so you can avoid some of the common mistakes that can threaten a comfortable retirement. We also offer regular educational workshops for clients who want to learn even more.