Can a financial advisor see your debt?
Your adviser probably will not pull a credit report on you and other family members, but the adviser almost certainly will assess your debt and paint an accurate personal financial picture for you. Make sure your financial adviser promises to respond to your changing needs and goals.
The services provided by financial advisors will vary based on the type of advisor, but generally speaking, a financial advisor will assess your current financial situation — including your assets, debts and expenses — identify areas for improvement, and help you create a financial plan.
Regardless of whether they work for a bank or a financial planning firm, your financial advisor cannot access your account without your permission.
It is risky to give your bank account login ID or password to a financial advisor or anybody else. Note that your advisor might be able to see your checking account and routing (ABA) numbers when you establish online transfers.
Financial advisors can offer a variety of services, including help with debt. They can offer advice beyond what you may get from a credit counselor or debt management company. If you've tried to make a dent in your debt but haven't made much progress, seeking out a financial advisor could be worth your time and money.
It might come as a surprise, but your financial professional—whether they're a banker, planner or advisor—wants to know more about you than how much money you can invest. They can best help you achieve your goals when they know more about your job, your family and your passions.
An advisor who believes in having a long-term relationship with you—and not merely a series of commission-generating transactions—can be considered trustworthy. Ask for referrals and then run a background check on the advisors that you narrow down such as from FINRA's free BrokerCheck service.
A financial advisor can help you develop a holistic financial plan and serve as a trusted counselor as you implement and amend your strategy over the long term. This guidance can create a smoother financial journey, and help you better manage life's inevitable ups and downs.
Ultimately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer — some people, like those who tend to be more experienced, knowledgeable and disciplined might work better with an hourly fee adviser while others are probably better off having a pro mind the shop.
Visit FINRA BrokerCheck or call FINRA at (800) 289-9999. Or, visit the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website. Also, contact your state securities regulator. Check SEC Action Lookup tool for formal actions that the SEC has brought against individuals.
Will my financial advisor judge me?
"No one is perfect, people do make mistakes, your planner is not there to judge you but to help you, and that — as with your doctor — it's important to face and move past your self-consciousness about this, or you risk giving your planner incomplete information that makes it impossible to provide a proper ...
Only the account holder has the right to access their bank account. If you have a joint bank account, you both own the account and have access to the funds. But in the case of a personal bank account, your spouse has no legal right to access it.
A reputable credit counseling organization can give you advice on managing your money and debts, help you develop a budget, offer you free educational materials and workshops, and help you make a plan to repay your debt.
50 - Consider allocating no more than 50 percent of take-home pay to essential expenses. 15 - Try to save 15 percent of pretax income (including employer contributions) for retirement. 5 - Save for the unexpected by keeping 5 percent of take-home pay in short-term savings for unplanned expenses.
The short answer is yes—if your financial advisor has acted negligently or fraudulently, then it may be possible to sue them for damages resulting from their advice or actions. Advisors are held at a high standard, so any breach of trust or duty can be grounds for a lawsuit.
Red Flag #1: They're not a fiduciary.
You be surprised to learn that not all financial advisors act in their clients' best interest. In fact, only financial advisors that hold themselves to a fiduciary standard of care must legally put your interests ahead of theirs.
In most cases, you simply have to send a signed letter to your advisor to terminate the contract. In some instances, you may have to pay a termination fee.
There are definite risks involved in getting too friendly with a financial advisor, or hiring a friend who is a financial advisor. "It's a good idea for everyone to take a more proactive approach with their own investments," says Vic Patel, a professional trader and founder of Forex Training Group.
Poor performance, high fees, strained communication and stagnant advice are among the reasons to look for a new advisor. Kevin Voigt is a former staff writer for NerdWallet covering investing.
Financial advisors that throw jargon your way but can't explain in laymen's terms what's going on should throw up a red flag with you. Either the financial advisor doesn't want to or can't give you the necessary information on your investments. Either way, it's not good for you and your financial well-being.
How much money should you have to consider a financial advisor?
Generally, having between $50,000 and $500,000 of liquid assets to invest can be a good point to start looking at hiring a financial advisor. Some advisors have minimum asset thresholds. This could be a relatively low figure, like $25,000, but it could $500,000, $1 million or even more.
Significant loss threats include advisor death or disability, key person loss, an unexpected disaster (natural or otherwise), lawsuits, and failure to plan for business succession.
While you don't have to inform your advisor of your intention to leave technically, it's a courteous gesture. Reach out in any way you feel comfortable. Whether you send an email, place a call, or set up an in-person meeting, make sure to communicate your desire to end the relationship clearly.
Key takeaway: It's no coincidence that most American millionaires use a financial advisor.
The wealthy also trust and work with financial advisors at a far greater rate. The study found that 70% of millionaires versus 37% of the general population work with a financial advisor.
