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People who retire comfortably usually avoid this mistake

Published: Mar 05, 2021 3 min read
A man and a woman of retirement age embracing and celebrating. He is looking at a computer and she is looking at him.
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Retirement. 401(k)s. IRAs. Stocks. Bonds. Securities. Investing. Bitcoin.

Do these terms give you a headache, yet you sincerely want to plan your financial future well?

You may benefit greatly from a fiduciary financial advisor. Research shows that those who work with a financial advisor feel more confident about their finances and can end up with close to 15% more money saved for retirement.

What’s a fiduciary financial advisor?

Fiduciary advisors, unlike broker dealers, stockbrokers, and insurance agents, are ethically bound to act in their client’s best interest. They must be registered as such. This means that with a fiduciary financial advisor, you get an unbiased expert with no conflict of interest to advise you on the best course of financial action for you.

To find a fiduciary financial advisor who has been vetted and verified through a rigorous screening process in your area, SmartAsset has developed a free, award-winning Financial Advisor Matching Platform tool that allows you to compare fiduciary financial advisors registered with the SEC or appropriate state regulator. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s a free tool.

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After you answer a brief, friendly questionnaire, this no-cost tool matches you up with up to three (3) local fiduciary advisors with expertise in many areas--be it retirement planning, financial planning for business owners, young professionals starting a family, individuals with high net worth, or anything in between.

This also gives you more than one advisor to interview, as it is advisable to vet a few before choosing one with an investment strategy right for you. While you do this, remember to always ask for the advisor’s credentials, licenses, and tests. Their tests should include Series 7 and Series 66 or Series 65. You should also understand how they are paid--whether with a flat rate, a percentage of your assets they will be managing or another way. Be wary of any advisors who are paid commissions from mutual funds, which means they have a big conflict of interest.

How do I find one fast, for free, and with no hassle?

Hiring an unbiased, trustworthy financial advisor on your own can be overwhelming. Head over to SmartAsset's free tool, and answer a couple of questions regarding your financial needs to find the right fiduciary financial advisor for you in just a few minutes.