The process of selecting a financial planner to work with you and your family in pursuit of your goals can be difficult.  The main issue is that people often do not know what questions to ask up front.  Before digging into the services being offer and investment strategy, there are few things that should be known.

1.    Is the firm registered with the state or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)?
       a.    Generally, firms are required to have $100 million in assets under management to qualify for SEC registration.
2.    Has the firm or individual been disciplined by a state regulator, SEC, or other organization?
       a.    Disciplinary history will provide insight into how the firm and/or individual conducts business. 
3.    Has there been any arbitration awards filed against the firm or individual?
       a.    Arbitration awards are the result of settled client complaints.
4.    What training and experience does the individual have?
       a.    This will help in the assessment of their ability to meet the needs of you and your family.
5.    How does the individual get paid? Do they charge commissions, fees on assets under management, or something else? 
       a.    Commissions are charged on a transaction by transaction basis whereas fees on assets under management are charged at an agreed upon rate and schedule regardless of the number of transactions.

These questions will help you better understand the firm and financial planner.  All financial planners should be willing to answer these questions for you.  If you find that is not the case, consider other options.    

This commentary on this website reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints and analyses of the Gainplan LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Gainplan LLC or performance returns of any Gainplan LLC Investments client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing on this website constitutes investment advice, performance data or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. Gainplan LLC manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.