re: Fee Based Financial Planners

Will Cover (nice added value to the topic) Just an FYI...but every company/firm has negative feedback/complaints, etc. That is just the nature of the beast and what would this world be without disgruntled employee's/people

Ameriprise acutally takes a fidiciary responsibility to their client...not many firms will or can say they do that.

End of the day the firm is important (ideally you don’t want a place that has to push funds and of course has open platform for investor or some guy name Bob who says he has a financial planning practice in his basement) but you are hiring the individual and instilling your trust with them. The goal of an advisor should be to teach and inform the client of their options – being a resource and building the game plan for their short term – long term goals.

Unfortunately in this industry you have extreme turnover and that leads to advisors not getting the neccesary training or no training at all for that matter... then incompetent people running around with licenses to advise jumping from firm to firm trying to make a quick buck. The good thing to come of this is with the Stanford’s/Madoff’s being caught hopefully that will continue to tighten regulations and trainings. I have built my practice with the focus on client relationship and shooting straight from the hip. I have acutally never been busier given the facts eluded to above.

I would advise for someone who is looking for financial advise to sit down with a few people and get a feel for what you are looking for and what you want from the relationship...what can that advisor bring to the table that relates to what you want to accomplish.