What to Look for in a Financial Planner

Finding the right financial professional to guide you through your decision making  should be a top priority for most people, but is commonly overlooked by many for short term options

When Should You Consider a Financial Planner?


The simple answer: Yesterday!  Let's face it, not everyone can afford to be a financial expert. However, managing one's household and personal finances becomes more important as you mature.


For many people, the option is to do it themselves, which becomes increasingly challenging as your life evolves.  There are more pieces to consider, and you end up doing research as your needs become more complicated.


Another option is to rely on the advice of product providers or carriers.  Some of these individuals may have titles of financial advisor or financial representative, but are largely licensed and educated as a minimum standard to sell products.


The terms "financial advisor" and "financial planner" are often used interchangeably or misused. These terms do not necessarily mean that someone has particular qualifications, expertise, or certifications. In the past, anyone could be called a "financial advisor" or "financial planner" outside of Quebec.

However, a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) is now "title protected" (no different from a doctor or lawyer) as a designated individual who has demonstrated at least 3 years of qualifying work experience AND passed an education program with multiple national exams.


Does this necessarily mean a CFP® is particularly better than licensed professionals in a specific area such as investments, insurance, or lending?  No, but it is a simple criteria to look for given the number of representatives that are available, and you may want some broader advice.


The benefit of working with a qualified financial planner outweighs any of the negatives.  If you're planning to use ANY financial products, in many cases, using an accredited professional is not going to cost more because of their designations.

What to Expect from Professional Help?


As a minimum, every advisor, planner, and many other professionals will ask and do the same thing:


Identify your goals, collect information, analyze, make an assessment, implement and review your solution or plan.


There may be a different process to collect and convey this information, but generally everyone will be doing the same (some with more "flair" than others).  The analysis onward is how professionals tend to differentiate themselves and show their true value.


What are the key factors to look for in order to have long-term success from your advisor?

Transparency

Experience

Knowledge

Qualified

At  Modern Vision Planning, our goal is to help clients understand their options and make informed decisions.  As an  independent financial planner, we are in a position to provide a level of transparency many other advisors cannot provide due to their contractual obligation to an employer or company.



The experience and knowledge offered through our core services is the result of over a decade of personal experience with large financial institutions in varying roles within the industry.  In addition, The MVP Edge, highlights our commitment to teamwork and collaboration, by helping clients achieve their goals through the  coordinated effort of our team.

Interested in our services? We’re here to help!

We want to know your needs exactly so that we can provide the perfect solution. Let us know what you want and we’ll do our best to help. 
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