Hiring an Adviser or not, totally confused ?

[Markola]

OP, If you’ve had two threads about this, you are straddling the two camps of investors on this thread: Those of us like me who see the value of Vanguard PAS or other modest-price advisors for our situations and those confirmed DIYers. We internet strangers have provided all the well intended advice we probably can. What if you signed up but made clear your reservations that it is a trial basis for 1-2 years? That way, no harm, no foul and you can decide for yourself.

In memory of the late, great Neil Peart, songwriter and drummer for Rush, who died last week, a lyric from “Free Will”: ...If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

Good luck!

[RonBoyd]

I am unsure of the relevance to this thread but interesting just the same: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...de-wall-street

Quote:

He’s moving traders toward electronic systems as the era of legendary gamblers stalking the markets in search of the $100 million payday becomes a distant memory. What’s coming is increased bureaucratization, an evolution that renders individuals’ judgment less important -- and with it the need to reward them as they might have once expected.

[Brat]

Investment-wise I think you are doing great. What you may be missing is estate planning, something you do not get from an investment firm. Find the best estate planning lawyer in your state, make sure that he/she also knows the laws in other states you may choose to move to.

[OldShooter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brat Investment-wise I think you are doing great. What you may be missing is estate planning, something you do not get from an investment firm. Find the best estate planning lawyer in your state, make sure that he/she also knows the laws in other states you may choose to move to.

Yes. People, not just here, tend to get mixed up on "Investment Advisor" vs. "Financial Advisor." The former is more or less what you get from the brokerage houses but the latter helps more broadly. Like nagging the client to get his/her estate plans done, looking at family financial strategies for non-retirement costs like college, life insurance needs, etc.

Underline, too, "best estate planning lawyer." DW retired as an SVP from a megabank trusts & estates department and frequently came home fuming about bad documents drafted by a non-specialist and even by some who claimed to be specialists. This stuff has to be right, as there are no do-overs for problems that emerge after you are dead.

[I am He]

I wish I could speak with authority but I'm notorious for being on the fence.

I will say that with the amount that I've been reading for the past 2 years, that most people are somewhat well versed sales associates and few are true experts. Considering your portfolio is pretty sane, I'd stay away from an advisor other than maybe a one time fee. (Can you enroll and disenroll a month later?)

Possibly most important is that question of what is it you're hoping to achieve? I've read that many advisors now ask that up front and tailor their answer to you. So if you know your question, you will probably better answer it yourself unless you know they are truly experts. Find a retirement or withdrawal expert, a CPA in tax minimization (not a preparer) and estate planner, etc.

[ukwildcat]

3/4 of 1%. 75 basis points. Should read .75%. The.75% assets under management fee keeps me from doing somethin stupid.