7 Mistakes People Make When Hiring a Financial Advisor

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Working with a financial advisor can be a crucial part of any healthy retirement plan. But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement. 

A 2022 Northwestern Mutual study found that 62% of U.S. adults admit their financial planning needs improvement. However, only 35% of Americans work with a financial advisor.¹

Why? With thousands of options available, it can seem daunting too choose an advisor. Plus, it can determine your financial trajectory for years to come. While advisors are prohibited from promising returns, research suggests that people work with a financial advisor: 

• Feel more at ease about their finances, and 
• Could end up with 15% more money to spend in retirement.²

SmartAsset's no-cost tool simplifies the time consuming process of finding an advisor. A short questionnaire matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area. Advisors have been rigorously screened through a proprietary due diligence process and are legally bound to work in your best interest.

Ready to know what to look out for? Check out SmartAsset's list of seven mistakes to avoid when choosing an advisor so you can potentially save years of stress.

See all 7 mistakes >>

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Sources:
1. "Planning and Progress", Northwestern Mutual (2022)
2. "Journal of Retirement Study Winter" (2020). The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of your future results. Please follow the link to see the methodologies employed in the Journal of Retirement study.

Unless otherwise indicated, information is as of 5/4/2023. SmartAsset has no obligation to update any content in this article.

This article may potentially include a firm or firms that have a business relationship with SmartAsset, in which SmartAsset is compensated for lead referrals or cost per engagement. SmartAsset is not a client of the aforementioned firms. SmartAsset did not receive compensation for including any of the firms in the aforementioned article.

This article contains links to SmartAsset's financial advisor matching tool, which may or may not match you with the firms mentioned in this profile. The matching tool does not include all available advisors and firms and matches based on specific criteria (investable assets, geography, and willingness to work with a remote advisor).

This is not an offer to buy or sell any security or interest. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Working with an adviser may come with potential downsides such as payment of fees (which will reduce returns). There are no guarantees that working with an adviser will yield positive returns. The existence of a fiduciary duty does not prevent the rise of potential conflicts of interest.

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We do not manage client funds or hold custody of assets, we help users connect with relevant financial advisors.

SmartAsset.com is not intended to provide legal advice, tax advice, accounting advice or financial advice (Other than referring users to third party advisers registered or chartered as fiduciaries ("Adviser(s)") with a regulatory body in the United States). SmartAsset is not a financial planner, broker or tax adviser. The Service is intended only to assist you in your understanding of financial organization and decision-making and is broad in scope. Your personal financial situation is unique, and any information and investing strategies obtained through SmartAsset.com may not be appropriate for your situation. Accordingly, before making any final decisions or implementing any financial strategy, you should consider obtaining additional information and advice from your accountant or other financial advisers who are fully aware of your individual circumstances.

Sources:

"Journal of Retirement Study Winter" (2020). The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of your future results. Please follow the link to see the methodologies employed in the Journal of Retirement study.