How to hire a financial advisor

Radio Transcript, 60 seconds, for use during week of April 21.

This is an Invest Wisely minute brought to you by Iowa State University Extension.

If you don’t have the time, knowledge, or motivation to manage your investments, hiring a financial advisor may be your best strategy.

The first step is to think about your objectives.  Writing these down will help you clarify for youself what you want, so you can find a good fit for an advisor.  Do you want a stockbroker to recommend and then buy and sell securities?  Or a financial planner to look at your overall financial life?

Ask friends and family for recommendations.  You can also check with professional organizations such as the Financial Planning Association.  They can provide names of members in your area.

Invest Wisely comes from Iowa State University Extension through a grant from the Investor Protection Trust providing investor education on the web at investorprotection.org.