{"id":1158,"date":"2023-03-29T21:49:23","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T18:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/?p=1158"},"modified":"2025-06-09T15:37:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T12:37:11","slug":"20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Financial Advisor Take into Account the Assets You Don&#8217;t Manage?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fpm_start\"><\/div>\n\n<p>Understanding the key questions to <strong>ask a financial advisor<\/strong> during your first meeting will help you avoid making mistakes when choosing your expert. Managing <strong>personal finances<\/strong> is one of the most challenging tasks for most people. That&#8217;s why many prefer not to solve it on their own, but to turn to <strong>financial advisors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the United States, there are no strict restrictions on who is entitled to call themselves by this term. Different financial advisors can provide a completely different range of services. An even more confusing point is the remuneration scheme. The following 20 questions will help clarify whether the financial advisor&#8217;s skills, investment style, and payment expectations are appropriate for the client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_45_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#1_Who_is_your_custodian\" title=\"1. Who is your custodian?\">1. Who is your custodian?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#2_Whats_your_investment_philosophy\" title=\"2. What&#8217;s your investment philosophy?\">2. What&#8217;s your investment philosophy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#3_What_are_my_all-in_costs\" title=\"3. What are my all-in costs?\">3. What are my all-in costs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#4_What_tax_hit_do_I_face_if_I_invest_with_you\" title=\"4. What tax hit do I face if I invest with you?\">4. What tax hit do I face if I invest with you?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#5_Are_you_a_fiduciary\" title=\"5. Are you a fiduciary?\">5. Are you a fiduciary?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#6_What_investment_benchmarks_do_you_use\" title=\"6. What investment benchmarks do you use?\">6. What investment benchmarks do you use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#7_What_are_your_qualifications\" title=\"7. What are your qualifications?\">7. What are your qualifications?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#8_What_asset_allocation_will_you_use\" title=\"8. What asset allocation will you use?\">8. What asset allocation will you use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#9_How_do_you_get_paid\" title=\"9. How do you get paid?\">9. How do you get paid?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#10_How_will_our_relationship_work\" title=\"10. How will our relationship work?\">10. How will our relationship work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#11_How_will_you_track_my_investment_performance\" title=\"11. How will you track my investment performance?\">11. How will you track my investment performance?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#12_How_will_you_communicate_with_me_and_how_often\" title=\"12. How will you communicate with me, and how often?\">12. How will you communicate with me, and how often?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#13_How_will_you_take_into_account_my_assets_you_arent_directly_managing\" title=\"13. How will you take into account my assets you aren&#8217;t directly managing?\">13. How will you take into account my assets you aren&#8217;t directly managing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#14_Do_you_work_with_CPAs_or_Attorneys\" title=\"14. Do you work with CPAs or Attorneys?\">14. Do you work with CPAs or Attorneys?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#15_What_resources_will_I_have_when_working_with_you\" title=\"15. What resources will I have when working with you?\">15. What resources will I have when working with you?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#16_What_Extra_Costs_Should_I_Be_Aware_Of\" title=\"16. What Extra Costs Should I Be Aware Of?\">16. What Extra Costs Should I Be Aware Of?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#17_Will_You_Sign_an_AgreementOath\" title=\"17. Will You Sign an Agreement\/Oath?\">17. Will You Sign an Agreement\/Oath?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#18_Who_Will_Have_Access_to_My_Information\" title=\"18. Who Will Have Access to My Information?\">18. Who Will Have Access to My Information?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#19_What_Resources_Will_I_Have_Access_to_Through_You\" title=\"19. What Resources Will I Have Access to Through You?\">19. What Resources Will I Have Access to Through You?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#20_What_is_my_total_cost_to_work_with_you\" title=\"20. What is my total cost to work with you?\">20. What is my total cost to work with you?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#Tips_for_Choosing_a_Financial_Advisor\" title=\"Tips for Choosing a Financial Advisor\">Tips for Choosing a Financial Advisor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#Why_Should_You_Use_a_Financial_Advisor\" title=\"Why Should You Use a Financial Advisor?\">Why Should You Use a Financial Advisor?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#You_Might_Also_Like\" title=\"You Might Also Like\">You Might Also Like<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Who_is_your_custodian\"><\/span>1. Who is your custodian?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is recommended to work with a <strong>financial advisor<\/strong> with an independent company to hold clients&#8217; assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Otherwise, there is a risk of an investor receiving unreliable information about her\/his bank account status. It is impossible when using the services of an independent custodian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FDIC and SIPC insurance is another advantage of a financial advisor working with a third-party custodian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Whats_your_investment_philosophy\"><\/span>2. What&#8217;s your investment philosophy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To make a person trust <strong>a financial advisor<\/strong>, he\/she should choose an expert with similar values and <strong>investment philosophy<\/strong>. It would be helpful to discuss whether the expert and the client have the same views on the following statements before starting the relationship:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>long-term investments, there is no point in trying to catch small <strong>stock market <\/strong>movements;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>diversification is the main principle of money management;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>financial discipline is the key to success.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no point in starting a partnership without trust. <strong>The best financial advisor<\/strong> is not someone who can provide <strong>aggressive<\/strong> asset <strong>growth<\/strong> for a short period of time, &nbsp; but the one who can choose a portfolio that matches the client&#8217;s <strong>risk tolerance<\/strong> and persuades the investor not to sell securities during the bear market phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_What_are_my_all-in_costs\"><\/span>3. What are my all-in costs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are extra costs associated with investing. This includes, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>transaction fee<\/strong> for security transactions;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fee for custody of an investor&#8217;s assets;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>portfolio management fee<\/strong> held by <strong>mutual funds<\/strong> whose securities are included in a portfolio, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When consulting with a<strong> potential advisor<\/strong> for the first time, it is necessary to clarify not only fees for the services, but also the amount of additional and <strong>ongoing fees<\/strong> that an investor will face when working with an advisor.<\/p><script data-noptimize>fpm_start( \"true\" )<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it appears at first glance that all of the above takes away a fraction of a percent, over the decades&#8217; horizon a 0.5% increase in expenses per year results in a capital difference of tens of percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, it is advisable to optimize an investor&#8217;s <strong>financial plan<\/strong> to minimize costs. For example, out of two collective investment instruments with the same index, it is worth choosing the one with lower <strong>fund fees<\/strong> for management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/CXIkU4ncGyEOnUPLxuGJu3O8vV8u0vRwFQtDNXeGDV3PH0rTenPIH_aO_kj1AGYdDUHL3BH5YnGHblq2xIVcKWl5J6CdLbKAjqYtfmxfsDlTGIOir8_ionlgscL3Eps-kXRv4Mq2dkx8LO3oWi_SExQ\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_What_tax_hit_do_I_face_if_I_invest_with_you\"><\/span>4. What tax hit do I face if I invest with you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When formulating a <strong>financial plan<\/strong>, one should not forget about taxation issues. <strong>The right financial advisor<\/strong> must have a strategy for minimizing expenses and taxes. If he is not prepared to explain its principles, there is a risk that <strong>investment management<\/strong> will be &#8220;intuitive&#8221; rather than based on academic theory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Neglecting tax optimization results in an investor&#8217;s <strong>tax bill<\/strong> substantially reducing his profits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Are_you_a_fiduciary\"><\/span>5. Are you a fiduciary?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The SEC prescribes that a registered<strong> financial advisor<\/strong> must comply with<strong> fiduciary duties<\/strong> when selecting <strong>financial products<\/strong> for its clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that an <strong>investment adviser<\/strong> must put the investor&#8217;s interests (e.g., in minimizing commission costs) above its own interests (e.g., in receiving a fee for selling mutual fund shares).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before making a final decision about whether to see a <strong>fiduciary financial advisor<\/strong>, you need to know where the boundaries of his or her <strong>fiduciary duties<\/strong> lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Many financial advisors<\/strong> don&#8217;t act as a fiduciary 100% of the time. They also have the right to offer assets with additional commissions if they benefit from selling them. The SEC rules do not prohibit conflicts of interest. But potential clients must be made aware of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, as opposed to <strong>advisors<\/strong> who receive a <strong>fee only<\/strong> from a client, there are fee based advisors. These are salespersons in investment and brokerage companies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are not fiduciaries and do not have to put clients&#8217; interests first, but they can also call themselves financial advisors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_What_investment_benchmarks_do_you_use\"><\/span>6. What investment benchmarks do you use?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The results that an <strong>investment strategy<\/strong> produces need to be compared to some kind of benchmark. It is important to <strong>ask a financial advisor<\/strong> what benchmarks he or she uses before starting to collaborate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, it could be the SP500 index, etc. However, one has to make sure that the risk\/return ratio is maintained. If the <strong>financial products<\/strong> used by the <strong>investment advisor<\/strong> include not only large-cap US stocks, but also more risky assets, the returns should be higher. At this point, slightly outpacing the growth rate of the SP500 is clearly not an achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_What_are_your_qualifications\"><\/span>7. What are your qualifications?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several qualification levels for <strong>financial advisors<\/strong>. Each of them implies different educational requirements. In addition,<strong> financial planning<\/strong> strategies are constantly changing. Thus, in order to prove their <strong>professional certifications<\/strong>, an advisor must be constantly learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main types of financial professionals who are authorized to give <strong>investment advice<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Certified Financial Planner<\/strong> <strong>Board <\/strong>(CFP). A person must complete a specific educational program, followed by a comprehensive exam. There are also past performance experience requirements. Every 2 years, 30 hours of continuing education courses must be taken.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certified Financial Analyst (CFA). The status implies higher educational requirements than that of a <strong>Certified Financial Planner<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Personal Financial Advisor<\/strong>, NAPFA member. Among the requirements for this level of qualification is to spend a minimum of 60 hours of additional education every 2 years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certified Public Accountant (CPA). To maintain this <strong>professional status<\/strong>, one must complete a minimum of 120 hours of professional training every 3 years.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_What_asset_allocation_will_you_use\"><\/span>8. What asset allocation will you use?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the main questions to <strong>ask a financial advisor <\/strong>about is what assets that advisor uses to diversify a client&#8217;s investment portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If an advisor invests only in large-cap U.S. stocks, then the services can be replaced by the purchase of an ETF on the SP500. It only makes sense to pay for consulting to someone who works with a wide range of assets, including foreign securities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of diversification is to minimize portfolio drawdown during crises. For example, commodities rose in value when inflation was high and bonds were more profitable than stocks during a bear market. Yet, certainly, past performance is no guarantee of future performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It should also be made clear whether the person is a <strong>financial planner<\/strong> in general or deals only in securities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the first case, <strong>financial advisors<\/strong> provide comprehensive services and take full responsibility for the client&#8217;s <strong>financial life<\/strong>. In addition to securities, they can deal with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>investing in real estate;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>retirement planning<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tax optimization;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>charity donation accounting;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>insurance matters, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In the second option, your advisor focuses only on the client&#8217;s securities and does not take into account the investor&#8217;s global<strong> financial goals<\/strong> or other available resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_How_do_you_get_paid\"><\/span>9. How do you get paid?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A financial planner<\/strong> can offer different ways to pay for the services:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Flat fee<\/strong>. Generally does not depend on the <strong>financial situation<\/strong> of the client and equals a few thousand dollars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hourly fee<\/strong>. If one uses this method of calculating the advisor&#8217;s fee, the final amount depends on how much time the <strong>financial advisor<\/strong> dedicates to the client, and therefore indirectly on the size of the client&#8217;s capital. The average <strong>hourly rate<\/strong> is $200-500.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Annual fee<\/strong>. <strong>Financial planners<\/strong> retain a percentage of the <strong>net worth<\/strong> of their regular clients. The standard rate is about 1% per year. It may increase if there are additional services or if the portfolio is too small.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>It is preferable to choose <strong>financial advisors<\/strong> who receive <strong>fees only<\/strong> from clients. It is the <strong>best interest<\/strong> for them to minimize the investor&#8217;s commission costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it is necessary to <strong>ask your financial advisor<\/strong> about the <strong>fee structure <\/strong>in advance, so that you do not get an unexpected bill for the services at the end of the month or year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A financial planner<\/strong> may work for a fee to sell annuities, mutual funds, or be a <strong>chartered life underwriter<\/strong>. In that case, he or she would have an interest in imposing these products. This is why an advisor who receives <strong>fees only<\/strong> from clients is considered to be more honest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the cost of a <strong>fee-only advisor<\/strong> seems excessive, you can reduce the cost of investing by choosing a robo-advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/XupkIJPuySpg3_JtBEbgDudKKGLCM7K4HoKWxoF7SUCPjCd32TFIuTTs5vBO5-D9Ju_aIJr3HPcGenhEsdGSF4fcdUYBI6_oFiE-_pqMHDKTgt8zSXoYYUNccNRWtC1T5fQKRJ20hG1o5_OD0cMjfpw\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_How_will_our_relationship_work\"><\/span>10. How will our relationship work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is essential to ask a <strong>financial advisor<\/strong> before you start working relationships:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>what is discussed during meetings;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>what the <strong>financial planning <\/strong>looks like;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>how changes in the client&#8217;s <strong>financial goals<\/strong> are taken into account;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>who will perform the duties of the chosen advisor in the event of lengthy illness, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s also good to know what type of clients your <strong>financial planner<\/strong> predominantly works with. Some<strong> financial advisors <\/strong>specialize in family wealth management for wealthy clients, others have extensive experience in finding appropriate <strong>financial decisions<\/strong> for small businesses, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_How_will_you_track_my_investment_performance\"><\/span>11. How will you track my investment performance?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to<strong> ask your financial advisor<\/strong> about the<strong> investment strategy<\/strong> he or she uses. The <strong>financial decisions<\/strong> you make must be consistent with your long-term goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, for example, <strong>retirement funds<\/strong> reduce the level of risky assets in favor of bonds as they approach their payback period. A <strong>financial planner<\/strong> should do the same. Trying to chase maximum returns at the current moment in time can lead to a negative result by the time of return on investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, it is crucial to <strong>ask a financial advisor<\/strong> how he or she rebalances investor portfolios when approaching a financial goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_How_will_you_communicate_with_me_and_how_often\"><\/span>12. How will you communicate with me, and how often?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <strong>working relationship<\/strong> with a financial advisor involves regular meetings. They include adjustments to the investor&#8217;s portfolio. The recommended minimum frequency is once a year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is also vital to <strong>ask a financial advisor <\/strong>whether he\/she is prepared to hold unscheduled meetings in case of client&#8217;s questions, sudden changes in the stock market situation, and how such service will be paid for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_How_will_you_take_into_account_my_assets_you_arent_directly_managing\"><\/span>13. How will you take into account my assets you aren&#8217;t directly managing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An investor&#8217;s personal finances may include additional assets beyond those managed by a <strong>certified financial planner<\/strong>. For instance, a client may have an employer-sponsored retirement plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is necessary to <strong>ask a financial advisor<\/strong> if he or she takes such assets into consideration when making <strong>financial plans<\/strong> for his or her clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_Do_you_work_with_CPAs_or_Attorneys\"><\/span>14. Do you work with CPAs or Attorneys?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An investor with a complex capital structure (the owner of a business or a large amount of real estate) may require comprehensive services. It may be that the person who develops the <strong>financial plan<\/strong> can make recommendations in these areas as well, or be willing to collaborate with other professionals involved in wealth management previously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_What_resources_will_I_have_when_working_with_you\"><\/span>15. What resources will I have when working with you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the questions to ask a financial advisor about before signing a cooperation agreement also include the technical aspects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>whether there is a remote communication option (via email, phone, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whether there are tools to track the status of your portfolio online;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whether the advisor provides financial news and training materials to the clients.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"16_What_Extra_Costs_Should_I_Be_Aware_Of\"><\/span>16. What Extra Costs Should I Be Aware Of?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to <strong>ask your financial advisor<\/strong> about the cost of additional services. The fee structure can be tricky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, some financial advisors state only the recommendations for securities as the main financial planning services they provide to clients in a<strong> personalized financial advice<\/strong>. The purchase of these assets itself is considered an additional service and is paid for separately, as are subsequent portfolio rebalances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Financial advisor<\/strong> must provide an answer to the question of costs in the form of two documents &#8211; an ADV form and a CRS form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"17_Will_You_Sign_an_AgreementOath\"><\/span>17. Will You Sign an Agreement\/Oath?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the experience of many investors, a <strong>successful relationship<\/strong> and long-term cooperation is only possible with a financial advisor who is ready to provide all information about the <strong>all in costs<\/strong> in a written form.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same applies to fiduciary duties. They should not only be declared in words, but also documented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"18_Who_Will_Have_Access_to_My_Information\"><\/span>18. Who Will Have Access to My Information?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year the issue of information security becomes more and more acute. The list of <strong>financial advisor questions<\/strong> should include an item on how he or she maintains the privacy of his or her clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"19_What_Resources_Will_I_Have_Access_to_Through_You\"><\/span>19. What Resources Will I Have Access to Through You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do your own research to see if the financial advisor chosen for cooperation provides full information about the advisor&#8217;s interest in selling certain products in the financial services industry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to gather information about whether the advisor himself or the firm employing him has been held liable for violating the obligation to act in the<strong> best interests<\/strong> of clients or misleading them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make sure that the advisor answers this question honestly in the interview, you need to examine the ADV form of the selected company yourself. This can be done online using the SEC&#8217;s investment advisor search tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is also useful to find out what recommendations are given to the advisor by current clients and what their total number is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"20_What_is_my_total_cost_to_work_with_you\"><\/span>20. What is my total cost to work with you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many experts, who are remunerated as a percentage of the total value of assets under their management, set a minimum amount of capital they are prepared to work with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Failure to deposit the stated amount could result in higher <strong>hourly fees<\/strong>, an increase in the interest charged for asset management, or other additional costs. Therefore, it is essential to<strong> ask a financial <\/strong>advisor if there are capital requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_for_Choosing_a_Financial_Advisor\"><\/span>Tips for Choosing a Financial Advisor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A person who is thinking about finding an personal finance assistant in the matter of managing <strong>personal finances<\/strong>, it will be useful to act according to the following scheme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Identify your<strong> financial health<\/strong> problems. At the first meeting, the investor&#8217;s task is to clearly outline his or her needs and expectations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose which type of specialist you want to contact (one who deals only with securities, one who provides a full range of services, including real estate management, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Determine your financial solvency. On this basis, decide whether to contact an expert or use a robo-advisor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decide your willingness to go to a professional who works for a fee only, or one who earns commissions as well.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find several financial advisors of the right type and ask them key questions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>A variety of online services can help you make an initial screening of advisors on basic conditions. But they are no substitute for your <strong>own research<\/strong> based on the questions above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the U.S., there are no legal restrictions on who can call themselves a financial advisor. If a person claims to specialize in this field, it does not mean that he or she complies with fiduciary duties and has the appropriate professional status. Due to the lack of regulation, an investor should exercise maximum vigilance when choosing an advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to questions about experience, method of payment, and assets used, when comparing<strong> financial advisors<\/strong>, you should also consider how comfortable the client feels communicating with the specialist. After the interview there should be no unclear points. The expert should be able to speak in clear language and convey his message to a non-professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Should_You_Use_a_Financial_Advisor\"><\/span>Why Should You Use a Financial Advisor?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The main advantage of using the services of a financial advisor or automated adviser is that, by resorting to them, one stops simply reacting to changes in the situation and takes responsibility for one&#8217;s <strong>personal finance.<\/strong> With this approach and advance planning, the choice of options becomes wider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is an opinion that you can make financial plans on your own, especially with a little capital. This is true, but a financial advisor devotes all his time to studying various investment assets and tracking changes in the stock market. It is unlikely that a person who has chosen another profession can achieve the same level of knowledge and understanding.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People who find it difficult to make financial decisions and follow a plan will especially benefit from consulting a financial planner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding a financial advisor is one of the main challenges an investor faces. Awareness of one&#8217;s goals, understanding of the key requirements the expert must meet, and a list of questions prepared in advance is the key to making the right choice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A good financial advisor will be ready to answer any questions. Therefore, you should not hesitate to touch on uncomfortable topics, especially those related to the expert&#8217;s remuneration and the suitability of his or her experience to the client&#8217;s requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_Might_Also_Like\"><\/span>You Might Also Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/how-to-calculate-dividends\/\">Dividend Formula<\/a> Explained: How to Find Dividends Easily<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>7 Most <a href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/7-best-undervalued-dividend-stocks\/\">Undervalued Dividend Stocks<\/a> Right Now<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/what-is-a-deposit-dividend\/\">What Does &#8216;Credit Dividend&#8217; Mean?<\/a> A Simple Guide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div class=\"fpm_end\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/\" class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Top 20 questions to ask a financial advisor \u2753Learn here what criteria you should use to choose an investment advisor \ud83d\udcb0 What pitfalls there could be \ud83d\udcc9<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1161,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,21],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.12 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Will Financial Advisor Take into Account the Assets You Don&#039;t Manage?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Top 20 questions to ask a financial advisor.Learn here what criteria you should use to choose an investment advisor. 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What pitfalls there could be.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Will Financial Advisor Take into Account the Assets You Don't Manage?","og_description":"Top 20 questions to ask a financial advisor.Learn here what criteria you should use to choose an investment advisor. What pitfalls there could be.","og_url":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/","og_site_name":"Beatmarket Blog","article_published_time":"2023-03-29T18:49:23+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-06-09T12:37:11+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1440,"url":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/6306486-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"CEO BeatMarket","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"CEO BeatMarket","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/","url":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/","name":"Will Financial Advisor Take into Account the Assets You Don't Manage?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-03-29T18:49:23+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-09T12:37:11+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/bc0e7ca6eb01313260aba2b3843c0caa"},"description":"Top 20 questions to ask a financial advisor.Learn here what criteria you should use to choose an investment advisor. What pitfalls there could be.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/20-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-financial-advisor\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"BeatMarket","item":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Will Financial Advisor Take into Account the Assets You Don&#8217;t Manage?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/","name":"Beatmarket Blog","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/bc0e7ca6eb01313260aba2b3843c0caa","name":"CEO BeatMarket","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b0eb19c196c9dacd545533e150aeefe6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b0eb19c196c9dacd545533e150aeefe6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"CEO BeatMarket"},"description":"Hello, my name is Max and I am the founder of BeatMarket. Let me tell you a few words about our philosophy. BeatMarket is a safe space for long-term investors who want to develop healthy investing habits. BeatMarket is created for people who ignore trades of the day, most active stocks signals, and speculation trading courses. Beginner investors will find a special set of BeatMarket tools that helps avoid common mistakes at the start of their investment journey. The platform makes stock research and portfolio Welcome to the community of professionals! Yours sincerely, CEO BeatMarket, investor, entrepreneur, Max Dividends About the Author Max Dividends Seasoned entrepreneur, dedicated father of three, and private investor specializing in high-yield dividend growth stocks.\u200b Professional Background \u2022 Entrepreneurial Ventures: Founded and managed over 10 successful businesses across IT, media, and retail sectors.\u200b \u2022 Investment Experience: Over 15 years of experience in investments, with a portfolio surpassing $1.5 million.\u200b Investment Journey \u2022 From Risk to Reliability: Max started his investing career more than 15 years ago like many\u2014chasing high returns through risky bets, speculative plays, and market timing. After hard-earned lessons and financial losses, he pivoted to a long-term strategy grounded in fundamentals, discipline, and compounding. \u2022 Current Portfolios: Today, Max manages several well-diversified dividend portfolios across U.S. and international markets, focused on high-yield stocks with a track record of annual dividend growth. His primary portfolio is valued at over $1.5 million and generates five figures in annual passive income. \u2022 Dividend-First Strategy: Max\u2019s core focus is building sustainable income through quality businesses\u2014think wide moats, strong free cash flow, and shareholder-friendly management. He follows strict rules around payout ratios, dividend consistency, and sector diversification. \u2022 Personal Milestones: - Fully living off dividends since his early 40s - Reinvests 100% of excess cash flow - Built an \u201cInflation-Proof Income Engine\u201d to withstand economic cycles \u2022 Goals: Max is on a mission to reach complete financial independence and retire before age 50. His broader goal? Help thousands of other investors achieve the same through no-BS education and timeless dividend principles. MaxDividends Strategy \u2022 Objective: To build a reliable passive income stream through strategic dividend investments, aiming for financial independence and early retirement.\u200b \u2022 Achievements: Began living off dividends by age 40, with plans to retire before 50.\u200b Publications \u2022 \ud83d\udcd8 I Love Dividends Why dividend investing isn\u2019t just smart \u2014 it\u2019s addictive. \u2022 \ud83d\udcd7 The 5 Rules of Timeless Dividend Investing A practical, no-fluff guide to building long-term wealth through dividends. \u2022 \ud83d\udcf0 MaxDividends on Substack Max's flagship publication where he shares deep dives, monthly income reports, and stock breakdowns. Read by thousands of serious dividend investors around the world.","sameAs":["http:\/\/91.232.105.158:8000"],"url":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1158"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1158"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2889,"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1158\/revisions\/2889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beatmarket.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}