Any HR professional will tell you that fit–both in terms of technical ability and shared values–is critical to hiring right for your business. The same rule applies to hiring an investment advisor.
While there isn’t necessarily a simple test you can administer to determine fit, there are a few key areas you should address to help you find the right advisor for you.
- Start by understanding yourself, who you are, what you are looking for, your time horizon and what type of risk you are willing to take. For example, if you are 75 years of age, you will likely need an investment advisor who can build a portfolio for you that will generate income throughout your retirement. You don’t necessarily want to work with an advisor who is in essence a high-frequency trader.
- Look for an investment advisor who matches your investing philosophy. For example, are you looking for value investments or hot stocks?
- What do you want from the relationship? Are you handing over the reins or do you prefer to be an active partner? It’s important that you are clear on your expectations and how your investment advisor operates.
- How do you like to communicate? Do you prefer face-to-face meetings, formal reports or is an email OK? And how often do you want to hear from your advisor?
- Do you prefer to deal directly with the person managing your portfolio, or are you alright meeting with a licensed associate?
At the end of the day, this is about partnering with someone who is knowledgeable about the markets with a proven track record and has a clear understanding of what you want to achieve and how. At its core, the relationship has to be based on trust and honesty.
Call Me or Email Me
My approach to investing is straightforward. I help my clients find good quality investments that will help them meet their goals. I build custom portfolios for each client.
I’m currently offering a complimentary portfolio review where we sit down together to review your portfolio in an introductory meeting that focuses on five main things: Where are you today? Where do you want to be tomorrow? What’s your timeline? What’s your risk tolerance? There also will be a discussion of strategies that could give you a better plan to secure and grow your portfolio. It’s a great opportunity to get to know each other. I welcome you to call me at 416-332-3863 or email me at allan@allansmall.com.