3 Dis-Qualifications

You should, of course, review the professional qualifications, experience, reputation, services, and fees of any professional advisor whose services you are considering to engage.  But it may also be a good idea to consider any potential dis-qualifications that may exist.  I offer below three important points that you should know about me before we discuss a potential relationship.

1.  I'm optimistic about the future.  I look at the history of America, and I see a long continuous path of advancement and prosperity.  This journey has been interrupted by wars, recessions, depressions, and other unpleasantries, but we've always come through the crises and risen to new heights.  I think that trend will continue.  I readily acknowledge that the situation we face today seems especially challenging, but haven't we often felt the same way before?  I think we'll get through this, too, and we'll continue to grow and prosper, just as we always have in the past.  If you're the kind of person who has a totally different view on things, I'm probably not the right advisor for you.

2.  I'm very careful and deliberate in the work I do for my clients.  I'll take the time to get to know you and understand your goals, preferences, and priorities before offering any advice.  Together we'll determine the best long term strategy for you before I recommend that you take any action.  If you prefer a quick, spontaneous approach to dealing with your financial matters, I'm not the right advisor for you.  If you want someone who brings you "hot tips," and who makes frequent changes in your strategy or your portfolio, you probably wouldn't be satisfied with the services that I provide.

3.  While it's important to earn competitive investment returns, I think it's even more important to manage the risk of loss.  Research in recent years has demonstrated that when an investor loses a certain percentage of his money, the negative emotions accompanying that loss will be twice as great as the positive emotions that accompany the same percentage gain.  Academically, it shouldn't matter how we feel about investment gains and losses, but in real life it matters a lot.  Negative emotions can compel us to make unwise financial decisions.  An important service that I provide to my clients is to help them manage their attitudes and emotions about investing, as well as helping them manage their investments.  In my opinion, it's an integral component of prudent wealth management.  If you don't think you need to place much emphasis on managing investment risk, you should look elsewhere for an advisor; I'm not right for you.

If I haven't dis-qualified myself on any of these three basic points, there may be good reason to proceed to the next logical step; meeting together for a mutual interview.  There's no cost or obligation for this meeting, during which time we'll create the first draft of your Financial Life Map.  If you're like most people who meet with me to create their Financial Life Map, you'll find the meeting to be enlightening and valuable, whether we decide to work together or not.  Call my office at (412) 635-2400, or toll free at (855) 635-2500 to schedule your complimentary consultation.