Financial Advisors can help you sort out your objectives and incorporate them into a workable financial strategy no matter what stage of investing you’re in. Together, you’ll develop an investing plan that takes into account your goals and risk tolerance. Look for an advisor that you trust, has experience, is well versed, and is accessible. You need to be able to meet with your advisor periodically to revise and update your plan. Strategy is key—that’s why your Financial Advisor will assess your plan and present you with choices suitable for your goals. A good Financial Advisor will also take into account your life, disability, and health insurance needs.
Before you select a Financial Advisor:
Seek personal referrals from friends or family members
Seek professional referrals from your lawyer or accountant
Attend investment seminars held in your community
Take a course in financial planning
Read books or articles about money management and/or investment strategies, or consult free investment brochures
Assess fees charged, many times these fees can become an itemized tax deduction
Look to see if the advisor is registered or certified
Financial Advisors help you avoid common investing mistakes:
Procrastinating
Your Financial Advisor can help you stay motivated. By having a plan in place you’re more likely to follow through. You need to start saving as soon as you can because every day you wait is money that you won’t have later.
Not Balancing Your Portfolio
You worked hard for your money so you hate to think that you might be jeopardizing any portion of it. If you keep your money in only conservative investment vehicles, your money may not keep pace with inflation and you might end up falling short of your goals. Your Financial Advisor can make suggestions about how you can diversify your investments so that you have a more balanced and growing portfolio.
Reacting to Short-Term Market Fluctuations
It’s difficult to not want to react to a changing market, but rash actions cause more damage than good. Your Financial Advisor will rely on his or her experience and market information to help you make advantageous moves.
Securities and Insurance Products: Not Insured by FDIC or any Federal Government Agency; May Lose Value; Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by a Bank or any Bank Affiliate
Wachovia Securities is the trade name used by two separate, registered broker-dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wachovia Corporation providing certain retail securities brokerage services: Wachovia Securities, LLC, Member NYSE/SIPC, and Wachovia Securities Financial Network, LLC, Member FINRA
/SIPC.
Insurance and annuity products are offered through non-bank affiliates of Wachovia Corporation and are underwritten by unaffiliated insurance companies.
Only deposit products are FDIC-insured.
Periodic investment plans do not assure a profit and do not protect against loss in declining markets. Since such a plan involves continuous investment in securities, investors should consider their financial ability to continue purchases through periods of low price levels.