Is your Broker a CFP ?

What Is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional?   A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional or a CFP® practitioner is a financial professional who meets the requirements established by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. While others may call themselves financial planners, only those who ...READ MORE

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What Is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional?

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional or a CFP® practitioner is a financial professional who meets the requirements established by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. While others may call themselves financial planners, only those who demonstrate the requisite experience, education, and ethical standards are awarded the CFP® mark.

What are the requirements?

In order to obtain the CFP® mark, an applicant must:

  • Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Complete a CFP® Board-registered education program
  • Pass the 10-hour CFP® certification exam
  • Have at least three years of qualifying full-time work experience in financial planning
  • Pass a professional fitness standards and background check

Once appointed, a CFP® professional must meet continuing education requirements every other year in order to maintain the certification.

What does a CFP® professional do?

A CFP® professional is trained to develop and implement comprehensive financial plans for individuals, businesses, and organizations. He or she has the knowledge and skills to objectively assess your current financial status, identify potential problem areas, and recommend appropriate options. You're also working with someone who's demonstrated expertise in multiple areas of financial planning, including income and estate tax, investment planning, risk management, and retirement planning.

How is a CFP® professional compensated?

Typically, financial planners earn their living either from commissions or by charging hourly or flat rates for their services. A CFP® professional may use a combination fee-and-commission structure: you pay a fee for development of a financial plan or for other services provided by the CFP® professional, who also receives a commission from selling you products. A commission is a fee paid whenever someone buys or sells a stock or other investment, or when someone buys insurance (such as health, life, or long-term care insurance) or annuities.

When calculating the cost to employ the services of a financial planner, consider fees, commissions, and related expenses, such as transaction fees and management fees related to the products he or she recommends.

How can a CFP® professional help you?

A CFP® professional can help you create a personal budget, control expenses, and develop and implement plans for retirement, education, and/or wealth protection. A CFP® professional can offer expertise in risk management, including strategies involving life and long-term care insurance, health insurance, and liability coverage. He or she often can help with your tax planning or manage your asset portfolio based on your goals.

Specifically, a CFP® professional can help you:

  • Establish financial and personal goals and create a plan to achieve them
  • Evaluate your financial well-being with a thorough analysis of your assets, liabilities, income, taxes, investments, and insurance
  • Identify areas of concern and help you address them by developing and implementing a financial plan that emphasizes your financial strengths while reducing your financial weaknesses
  • Review your plan periodically to accommodate your changing personal circumstances and financial goals

How to choose a CFP® professional

Selecting a CFP® professional is like choosing a doctor for your financial health. Working with a CFP® professional involves sharing very personal information and you will want to feel comfortable with the professional you've chosen. He or she should be knowledgeable, have integrity, and demonstrate a commitment to the highest ethical standards in the industry. Also, a CFP® professional may offer services to a particular clientele, such as small business owners, corporate executives, or retirees, so be sure the planner you select works with people whose interests and goals are similar to yours.

Before you choose someone to work with, ask around. You may know a family member, friend, or colleague who has worked with someone they'd recommend. Also, be prepared to interview the prospective CFP® professional. At your meeting, request a copy of form ADV or the comparable state form. A CFP® professional who offers investment advice for a fee is required to file form ADV with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or with the state of residence of the CFP® professional (although some exceptions apply). Form ADV contains information about the professional's education, business, disciplinary history, services offered, fees charged, and investment strategies. In addition to form ADV, ask for the disclosure document that contains other important information regarding the CFP® professional. Even if you don't ask for the disclosure document, it must be provided to you at the time you enter into an agreement for services, or soon thereafter. Be sure to read the disclosure document carefully as well as any written agreements you enter into.

Questions to ask

Here are some questions you may want to ask a CFP® professional to help you find the right planner for you:

  • What is your education? What schools did you attend and what degrees have you earned?
  • What licenses do you hold? Are you registered with the SEC, FINRA, or the state?
  • Are you affiliated with any professional groups or organizations? Do you execute securities trades through a broker-dealer? Who is it?
  • Does your practice concentrate in a particular area? What types of clients do you work with?
  • What type of products and services do you offer? Are you limited as to the products and services you can offer me?
  • How are you compensated for your services? Do you receive a commission for products you may sell to me?
  • Have you ever been disciplined by any government board or regulatory agency?

Is a CFP® professional right for you?

The financial world has become a very complex place. Even if you're used to handling your own financial affairs, the time may be right to consult a CFP® professional who can review your financial health and offer suggestions that may help you reach your financial goals.

For example, are you familiar with all the different investment opportunities that might be available to you? Are you on track to meet your financial goals such as saving for your child's college education, securing enough income for a comfortable retirement, or protecting your assets against risks and lawsuits? A CFP® professional can offer the analysis you need to help answer these and other important financial questions.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

While others may call themselves financial planners, only those who demonstrate the requisite experience, education, and ethical standards are awarded the CFP® mark.

A CFP® agrees to adhere to a strict code of professional conduct described in the CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. You can review the Code of Ethics at www.cfp.net.

The following sites offer more information about CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals:

Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., A Registered Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Neither Forefield Inc. nor Forefield AdvisorTM provides legal, taxation or investment advice.

All the content provided by Forefield is protected by copyright. Forefield claims no liability for any modifications to its content and/or information provided by other sources.

John Romano, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, has over 30 years experience in the financial field. John is a Registered Representative with Securities America, Inc. (member of the FINRA and SIPC), and an Investment Advisor Representative with Securities America Advisors. He has prepared hundreds of reports for retirees to assist in their retirement income planning needs. He is dedicated to providing portfolio analysis, dividend and income information, and investment management services to retirees (and those preparing to retire) in The Villages, Florida, and throughout the United States.

Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC, John Romano CFP® Registered Representative. Advisory Services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. John Romano Investment Advisor Representative. Romano Income Strategies and Securities America are not affiliated.

Trading instructions sent via e-mail may not be honored. Please contact my office at (352)753-8590 or Securities America, Inc. at (800) 747-6111 for all buy/sell orders. Please be advised that communications regarding trades in your account are for informational purposes only. You should continue to rely on confirmations and statements received from the custodian(s) of your assets. The text of this communication is confidential and use by any person who is not the intended recipient is prohibited. Any person who receives this communication in error is requested to immediately destroy the text of this communication without copying or further dissemination. Your cooperation is appreciated.

 

John Romano, CFP®

305 Skyline Drive, Suite 3, Lady Lake, FL 32159

Phone: 352-753-8590

Email:  John@RomanoJohn.com

 

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Most retirees are concerned today about outliving their income. Very few have a written income plan.  Most realize we are the tail end of a great bull market, but all good things come to an end. This may be a good time to stress-test your retirement plan. Maybe I can help.  Send me an email or schedule a phone time. 

I will get back with you within one business day.

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