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Can you trust the Certified Financial Planner designation?

An investigation by The Wall Street Journal revealed that “thousands of advisers with the coveted Certified Financial Planner designation listed in the group’s public directory as having clean records had histories of customer complaints, bankruptcies, regulatory problems or criminal records.” “The CFP Board had been relying solely on planners to self-report red flags in their…

How does your financial adviser get paid? And why does it matter?

“With markets in turmoil, investors need financial advice more than ever. Unfortunately, figuring out where to get it and how to pay for it just got a little harder” according to Jason Zweig writing for The Wall Street Journal. Until recently you could find this information about Certified Financial Planners from Letsmakeaplan.org. But the CFP…

Hundreds of financial professionals pose a risk to their clients!

“A proposed rule from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority that would impose restrictions on firms employing high-risk registered representatives and financial advisers may apply to 61 financial-services companies, said FINRA CEO Robert Cook. John Salerno, who manages the high-risk representative program, said hundreds of individuals have been identified as presenting risk to clients.“https://www.investmentnews.com/article/20190517/FREE/190519929/finra-makes-its-list-to-target-hundreds-of-rogue-individuals ALWAYS ask a…

Maybe your financial "adviser" has been taking advantage of you

“The Securities and Exchange Commission’s program to persuade investment firms to self-report conflicts of interest has led to a settlement under which 79 firms return $125 million in fees to clients. The firms placed clients in share classes with expenses higher than those in other share classes available without disclosing that fact.” (Retirement Security SmartBrief)…

How much are you paying your financial advisor? How much are they earning in commissions?

Now that the Trump administration has nixed the fiduciary standard which would have required financial advisors to hold the best interests of their retirement clients above their own pocketbooks. The Obama administration’s Labor Department had proposed a rule that financial sales people/brokers/advisors who deal with retirement accounts and clients would have to follow a fiduciary…

Three Ways to Protect Your 401(k) If Trump Kills the Fiduciary Rule

“A new move by President Donald Trump may mean higher costs for individual investors and retirement plans, especially 401(k)s offered by small businesses. The good news, though, is that you can protect yourself against his order, which delays and reconsiders the so-called fiduciary rule, if you ask the right questions.”“Brokers often get incentives to steer clients into…