CHOOSING A
401K ADVISOR FOR RETIREMENT PLANNING ADVICE TIPS GUIDE
INVESTING STRATEGY PRACTICAL FINANCIAL PLAN IDEAS EDUCATION FREE ARTICLE
INFORMATION
Make
sure your retirement plan and advisor is right
for you.
RETIREMENT PLANNING: QUICK GUIDE TO CHOOSING A
401K ADVISOR
For most
people, retirement planning is about as much fun
as, say, poking a stick in their eye. It can
also feel overwhelming if you’re not well versed
in financial matters.
That’s why
it’s very important for you to feel not only
that your retirement planner or 401(k) is
knowledgeable and experienced, but that you feel
comfortable with him or her and that they have
your best interests at heart.
Here is some
helpful information about retirement planning
and choosing a 401(k) advisor.
CHOOSING
A 401K ADVISOR
So one of the first things you want to
do is to make sure to do when you begin retirement planning and start
speaking with any 401(k) advisor is to be upfront about your retirement
goals and needs. He or she should be open to these things and not pressure
you or try to hard sell you in any way.
Your Advisor's Background
Another thing you want to do is ask about
the 401(k) advisor’s background. A chief question to ask is how much of his job
is directly related to retirement planning. You also want to know how many
years’ experience he or she has. The more experience they have in retirement
planning and as a 401(k) advisor, the better. This ensures that they’ll likely
know the ins and outs better than someone just starting out.
Check the Credentials
You also want to know they’re credentials.
Certified financial planners generally are able to offer the best retirement
planning advice and 401(k) strategies. And watch out for investment advisors,
particularly registered ones. They’re advise on investments could be biased,
and with so many excellent financial planners out there, why risk it?
Understand the Fees
Knowing how a retirement planner or 401(k)
advisor will be paid is also important to know. As a general rule, his or her
fee should not vary according to the funds you select for your 401(k). If it
varies accordingly, it’s probably a good indication that the retirement
planner/401(k) advisor may not be as objective as you need them to be when it
comes to helping you choose the right investments for you.
Stay Involved
Finally, make sure any retirement planner,
certified financial planners, or 401(k) advisors you work with keep you
involved. Yes, it’s nice to just hand everything over to someone and let them
take care of it. The problem, especially when it comes to 401(k)s and
retirement planning is that your tolerance for risk and your life situation
should always be taken into consideration. And cookie-cutter 401(k) strategies
aren’t always the best.
So get and involved with your retirement
planning and 401(k) strategy. This guarantees that your retirement planning is
designed for the right person—you.
To
teach and learn money skills, personal finance, and money
management, please go to the Money
Instructor home page.
Guide to 401K Advisor
for Retirement Plan
Administration
-
Teaching
Saving Money for
retirement - Adults -
Education - Help - Practical
Classroom -
Learn Consumer
Retirement 401K Savings Information