Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 04:16 PM   #1
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 149
Positive Financial Planner stories

I'm new here, and I don't want to shake any trees. I have complete respect for those who can and do manage their own funds successfully.

I started saving in when I was a teen in the 80's and started to invest in 1987. A broker got hold of my name and sold me some closed end funds. I kept on with this broker for a few years, getting churned and paying taxes and I ended up with a whole mess of stocks & funds with no plan other than to buy the next hot one.

I rolled out of this in the early 1990s and went to Charles Schwabb and bought no-load funds on my own. I subscribed to a guru who sent a newsletter every month, and again I ended up with a churned up mess and paid a lot of taxes even when my portfolio was going nowhere.

In 1997 I decided I needed professional help and I interviewed Financial Planners. I knew what I wanted, to retire at 50. I was 32 at the time.

In 1998 I met one I liked and his firm ran a very detailed financial plan for my review. I implemented it and haven't looked back. With steady deposits my accounts have grown from around $200,000 to over $900,000. I worry far less and understand far more. I pay less taxes now and I have a plan on how to distribute the accumulated funds when I do want to withdraw them.

I expect to pay a reasonable fee for his services. I'll give someone dimes all day long if they're making me dollars. The value added excedes the cost that I pay. I pay an annual fee based on the percentage under management, they want to see my portfolio grow as much as I do since that's only going to increase their own revenues.

I would only work with a financial planning firm that has the resources to serve you. When I ask my planner a question on legal issues, he goes down the hall and talks to one of their staff attorneys. When I ask a tax question he calls for one of their CPA's. When I have a Life Insurance question he brings in a CLU. The planner himself has many designations himself and is no dummy, he just values the experience of others on his staff.

I know there are plenty of bad advisors out there, I've left one and interviewed some, and know others. From what I've learned over the past few years I would be able to handle things myself, but then I wasn't. Also, there are many, many more resources available to the do it yourselfer now than there was in 1997.

I guess to summarize, don't feel guilty if you feel the need to get professional help. Interview them & choose carefully. It is possible that they can make your financial life better.

Does anyone else have a positive Financial Planning story ?


__________________
"Watch your topknot"
Empty Pockets is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 05:07 PM   #2
Recycles dryer sheets
ScaredtoQuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 211
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

I'm new to this Board, but I think most of the people here manage their own finances. A fundamental concept of early retirement is saving cash wherever you can. 1 to 2% may not sound like much, but it's actually an enormous load on a portfolio that over time makes a dramatic difference. Consider the impact that 1-1/2% makes on a portfolio where you've limited your withdrawals to the universally accepted safe level of 4%. That gives you only 2-1/2% left after paying your Planner!

It sounds like you have an excellent Planner, however, if you are only even moderately intelligent, you can learn the concepts yourself. Read some of the books recommended here on the site and keep visiting the Board. In the end, NO ONE cares about your well being more than yourself!!



ScaredtoQuit is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 05:57 PM   #3
Moderator Emeritus
Rich_by_the_Bay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

You can have a better relationship with an FA if you know what you are doing. In a more naive time I hired a planner, got the usual advice and went along. As I got smarter, I called him one day and said, "Brian, it makes no sense to me for you to manage my fixed income at a commission of almost 1.5%. No matter how good you are, you will not beat the index at that rate."

He said I was right, that it was a good idea to do this on my own. Next March, I plan to pull everything else except value stocks, at which his firm excels. I'll give him a couple of years to beat one of the Vgb managed funds net of fees. As long as he does that, it's fine with me.

Wait til he hears me say that I'm not getting enough "alpha."
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.

As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
Rich_by_the_Bay is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 06:09 PM   #4
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
saluki9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,032
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Quote:
Originally Posted by ScaredtoQuit
I'm new to this Board.....

universally accepted safe level of 4%.


You think there is a universally accepted withdrawal rate? That debate is far from being settled.




saluki9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 06:43 PM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Brat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 7,107
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

I think Empty Pockets has different financial planning issues than most on the board. Odds are s/he is a high net worth client. Frankly I doubt that many FAs have access to services such as he describes.

For the rest of us we need to be informed consumers of advise.
__________________
Duck bjorn.
Brat is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 07:01 PM   #6
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 92
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Saluki9, could you expand on that a little? I'm pretty new also, and I thought 4% was considered the safe withdrawal rate.
AlmostDone is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 07:40 PM   #7
Moderator Emeritus
Nords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,855
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlmostDone
Saluki9, could you expand on that a little?
Try here too, from the "Best of the Boards":
http://early-retirement.org/forums/i...p?topic=5572.0
__________________
*

Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."

I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
Nords is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 08:31 PM   #8
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
FinanceDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brat
I think Empty Pockets has different financial planning issues than most on the board. Odds are s/he is a high net worth client. Frankly I doubt that many FAs have access to services such as he describes.

For the rest of us we need to be informed consumers of advise.
Some of us do..............or build a network of external referral sources that accomplish the same thing. I have a network external to my firm, as a way to eliminate potential conflicts of interest. Right now, I have two estate planning attorneys, two CPAs, an independent RIA, and a CLU that is one of NML's top people...........so I can help pretty much anyone. I guess I could throw in an equity analyst or two I know for help also.........
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)


This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
FinanceDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 08:36 PM   #9
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 899
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Quote:
Originally Posted by saluki9
You think there is a universally accepted withdrawal rate? That debate is far from being settled.
ScaredtoQuit's point is still valid if it is 2% or 6% or even higher!

MB
mb is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-10-2007, 10:10 PM   #10
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

I have financial qualifications, but I do not have the time or inclination to spend hours daily poring over the markets. While I do maintain a self directed portfolio, and have some alternative investments, this is mainly disretionary investment. For my core portfolios I have two excellent financial planners.

One of them is allied with MD Management, the Canadian Medical Association's financial services firm. She is a CFP, is paid a salary, listens to me, and helped me achieve over 15% tax deferred return last year for my medical corporation. That's going to provide dividends post RE, long term, so its investment can be relatively growth oriented.

After receiving an inheritance, which involved assets spread across several countries, I did a detailed examination of international financial planners. I developed a Balanced Scorecard to evaluate them as follows:

Internal Processes
1 Portfolio performance in recent bear market
2 Morningstar fund ratings
3 Research
4 Institutional buying power
5 Risk Management
6 Accountability
7 Expenses

Customer Value
8 Integrated solutions
9 Listening for customer cues
10 Thoroughness of "know your client" process
11 Timeliness of response and follow up
12 Comprehensiveness of written report
13 Accessibility

Innovation
14 Willing to consider alternative investments
15 Willing to consider leverage
16 Creative ideas presented
17 International investment focus

The Team
18 Management competence
19 Quality of interaction observed
20 Customer feels part of the team
21 Apparent morale of team
22 Advisor financial engagement

For the funds from my inheritance (the key to FI and RE) I chose Scotiabank Private Client Services. I have a personal financial advisor who is a CFP and listens to me. With this firm I have a balanced portfolio which is currently returning just under 10%. This is my RE portfolio so it has a lower beta than the corporate one. MERs are 1%, which is low for Canada. For this I also have a responsive customer relationship manager who has arranged financial planning, estate planning and legal services at no cost to me. For exmple, they flew in a financial planner to meet with me and my FI and develop a comprehensive financial plan, which we will review in a couple of years. It was after this exercise that I discovered I was FI!!! I feel quite comfortable running ideas by my FP even if they relate to outside investments.

I feel I am getting good value for money, good customer service, and am achieving what I wanted at a reasonable cost and risk. At the same time, I am collecting performance information and providing feedback to my financial advisors. They know that I'm being vigilant, and I know that they are meeting targets.

To each her own, eh?
Meadbh is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 07:30 AM   #11
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
BUM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mid Hudson Valley
Posts: 1,781
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories





Who has a positive financial planner story?...anyone?...anyone?...




__________________
In a panamax down by the river.
BUM is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 07:38 AM   #12
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 166
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Quote:
Originally Posted by BUM



Who has a positive financial planner story?...anyone?...anyone?...




Well, since it is Thursday..............


A busload of Financial Planners drove off a cliff and everyone was killed.



There wasn't an empty seat on the bus.


OK?
__________________
nil illegitimus carborundum
F M All is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 07:41 AM   #13
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
cute fuzzy bunny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,708
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Okay, you went where I was thinking...something along the lines of "He didnt suffer much after I ran him over...thats positive, right?"

Best positive financial planner story comes from the movie "secondhand lions", which if you haven't seen it, its a cant miss. Go rent it. A movie anyone can watch and enjoy.

Basically a couple of old fellas who (rumor has it) have a huge nestegg hidden away on their farm property. They enjoy their mornings on the porch sipping drinks and occasionally firing a few rounds at the never ending "investment advisers" who keep driving up and making pitches.
__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
cute fuzzy bunny is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 07:44 AM   #14
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 166
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Yes, good movie - it stars Michael Caine - not a lot of people know that
__________________
nil illegitimus carborundum
F M All is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 07:45 AM   #15
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
cute fuzzy bunny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,708
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

And robert duvall. And unfortunately haley joe osment. But haley doesnt talk much, so its alright.
__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
cute fuzzy bunny is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 09:05 AM   #16
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 149
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

I know some guys like that, I live in farm country and there are a LOT of millionaires walking around in seed corn hats and coveralls.

Do you really think that they couldn't benefit from a good financial advisor?

From what I've seen, these older do it your selfers either put all their money in CD's from their local bank or keep cash in their mattress. Either way they're loosing earning power every year.

A lot of these folks remember the depression and are deathly afraid of the stock market.

No one can tell me that a well diversified portfolio, designed by a reputable professional, would not benefit them tremendously.

We all hear stories of old people getting swindled by poor financial planners, and I know some that I wouldn't buy snake oil from, but I believe they are the exception. They have to be weeded out.

I knew an old bachelor farmer that invested with a planner since the 1940's and when he died his will went public when he gave some to his church, his investments were worth several million dollars. I seriously doubt he could have come close to this without investing in a diversified portfolio with an advisor.
__________________
"Watch your topknot"
Empty Pockets is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 09:19 AM   #17
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
MasterBlaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,391
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

The question then becomes...

Does the positive effect of having a diversified portfolio devised by a financial planner outweigh the large (perhaps outrageous) fees that they charge ?

For many people the answer to this question may be yes. But for someone with rudimentary or better financial wherewithal the answer may be no.

MasterBlaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 09:49 AM   #18
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 166
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Quote:
Originally Posted by Empty Pockets
I knew an old bachelor farmer that invested with a planner since the 1940's and when he died his will went public when he gave some to his church, his investments were worth several million dollars. I seriously doubt he could have come close to this without investing in a diversified portfolio with an advisor.

Have you seen the size of the FP's estate yet?
__________________
nil illegitimus carborundum
F M All is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 09:55 AM   #19
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
REWahoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,000
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

Quote:
Originally Posted by Empty Pockets

Do you really think that they couldn't benefit from a good financial advisor?
As always, the devil is in the details...

__________________
Numbers is hard
REWahoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories
Old 01-11-2007, 10:02 AM   #20
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 149
Re: Positive Financial Planner stories

I hope his financial planner did do well. Who cares ? He clearly added an awful lot of value to this individual's net worth.

"I'll give someone dimes all day, if he's making me dollars"
__________________
"Watch your topknot"
Empty Pockets is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Financial Planner: thoughts? stories? FIREAway FIRE and Money 11 11-16-2006 08:47 AM
My first meeting with a Certified Financial Planner doushioukanaa FIRE and Money 22 05-15-2006 09:29 AM
Need to fire financial planner Jeff55 FIRE and Money 16 09-15-2005 03:50 PM
Value of a financial planner Lance Covington FIRE and Money 19 01-14-2005 03:27 PM
Survey of Financial Planner Strategy WilliamG FIRE and Money 1 03-02-2004 08:20 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:52 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.