CHOOSING THE RIGHT FINANCIAL ADVISOR

To be most effective, your estate plan must be properly funded. Choosing a financial advisor to assist in funding your estate plan is a critical step in the estate planning process. Selecting a financial advisor, however, can be intimidating. Keep in mind that it's your money, it's your future, and you are the boss. Remember the following points when seeking out a financial advisor to assist in funding your estate plan:

1. Financial advisors can be found in large companies and small independent firms throughout the country. They are in every metropolitan area and can easily be located in the phone book. Your attorney or accountant may also be able to lend some guidance in choosing an advisor.

2. Ensure that the advisor you have found is the best person to assist in the funding of your estate plan. Good advisors don't mind being questioned. Ask about their certifications, education, and references. How many clients do they have? How long they have been in business? A good financial advisor will welcome and respect your inquiries. By asking questions, you uncover whether they have your best interests at heart.

3. A financial advisor should spend time studying your estate plan. An advisor who leaps immediately into a discussion of specific financial products may not have the skills to manage your assets. After examining your estate plan and learning what you hope to accomplish with that plan, a competent advisor puts together a detailed funding strategy that makes your estate plan complete. Then, and only then, will a good advisor look for financial products to meet the objectives of your funding strategy.

4. Your advisor should be willing to work with your attorney to continue the estate planning process. An estate planning team is the only way to ensure that your financial and estate planning goals are met.