Questions to Ask Your Advisor
How much are you charging me in management fees?
How much am I paying in expenses to the mutual fund companies for the mutual funds I own?
How much am I paying in sales charges for the mutual funds I own?
Are you restricted in which mutual funds that you can buy for me?
Why did you purchase that mutual fund for me?
Do I own the most cost effect mutual fund classes?
Do you consider expenses and tax in your mutual fund selections?
What has the performance of my portfolio been in the last year? 3 years? 5 years?
Am I properly diversified?
Is my portfolio over diversified because of all of the different mutual funds I own?
What is your client retention rate? How is it calculated?
Are you registered with the SEC?
What types of licenses do you have and are they recognized by regulatory entities?
How long has your business been in operation?
Do you have an ethical and legal obligation to put client’s interests first?
Have you been the subject of any regulatory action?
Have you been the subject of any arbitration hearing?

Questions to Ask Yourself
I Have an Existing Advisor
Am I getting the service I deserve from my financial advisor?
Does my advisor promptly answer my questions?
Is my advisor available to help me with many different types of investment decisions?
Do I trust my financial advisor with my most important financial decisions?
Does my advisor only invest my money in funds or products affiliated with his organization or parent company?
Is my money being invested in a way that optimizes my return?

I Manage My Own Finances
Is my money being invested in a way that optimizes my return?
Do I spend too much time organizing and worrying about my investments?
Have I ignored my investments for too long?
Do I have a financial plan to ensure my wealth is protected, or that I can obtain the wealth to achieve my goals in life?
Do I have enough money to retire in the way that I want to live in retirement?
Are my investments getting the attention they deserve?
Am I positioned year after year in a way that reduces my tax burden?
Am I focused too much on the short-term?