Getting Help from an Investment Professional

If you don’t have the time or inclination to handle investing on your own, seeking assistance from an investment professional can provide peace of mind, and, in some cases, greater financial security. Here are some steps you can take to find an investment professional who meets your financial needs:

• Think about your objectives and know the type of financial services you need. Do you want help with investment planning and selection, retirement planning, college planning?



• Ask friends, neighbors, family, or business colleagues for referrals.



• Talk with several professionals. Meet them in their offices, if possible. Ask each of them about their areas of specialization, investment experience, products, and services.



• Ask how you will pay them for their services. Investment professionals are typically paid in one (or more than one) of the following ways:
  
  
  • An hourly fee
  
  
  
  • A flat fee
  
  
  
  • A commission on the investment products they sell you
  
  
  
  • A combination of fees and commissions
  
  
  
• Find out if the investment professionals and their firms are properly registered. Most investment professionals need to register as investment advisers, investment adviser representatives, or brokers (registered representatives). Others may only be licensed to sell insurance. FINRA BrokerCheck or your state securities regulator can help you find the information you need.



• If the investment professional will sell you investment products, ask if the firm they work for is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). SIPC provides limited customer protection if a firm becomes insolvent. It does not insure against losses attributable to a decline in the market value of your securities.

Part of making the right investment decision is finding the right investment professional. There’s no need to rush. Do your background investigation. Resist investment professionals who urge you to immediately hire them.