Checklist for Interviewing a Financial
Planner
| Planner's Name: |
_____________________________________________
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| Company: |
_____________________________________________
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| Address: |
_____________________________________________
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| Phone: |
_____________________________________________
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| Fax: |
_____________________________________________
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| Email: |
_____________________________________________
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| Website: |
_____________________________________________
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1. Do you have experience in providing advice on Special
Needs Financial Planning? If yes, indicate the number
of years.
2. How did you get involved in Special Needs Financial
Planning as a profession?
3. Do you know the difference between SSI and SSDI?
If yes, how does this pertain to my situation?
4. Can you explain the concepts of a Special Needs
Trust and the principles behind its purpose? How would
this help me in my planning?
5. How long have you been offering financial planning
advice to clients?
- Less than one year
- One to four years
- Five to 10 years
- More than 10 years
6. Briefly describe your work history.
7. What are your educational qualifications?
8. What professional financial planning designation(s)
or certification(s) do you hold?
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ or CFP®
- Certified Public Accountant-Personal Financial
Specialist (CPA-PFS)
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)
- Other
9. What financial planning continuing education requirements
do you fulfill?
10. Are you or your firm licensed as a Registered
Investment Adviser? Will you provide me with your disclosure
document Form ADV Part II or its state equivalent?
11. How are you paid for your services?
- Fee
- Commission
- Fee and Commission
- Salary
- Other
12. What do you typically charge?
A) Fee:
- Hourly Rate $___________
- Flat Fee (range) $__________ to $_____________
- Percentage of assets under management __________
percent
B) Commission: ________________________________
13. A) Are you affiliated with any company whose products
or services you are recommending?
Explain:
B) Is any of your compensation based on selling products?
Explain:
14. Do you have an affiliation with a broker/dealer?
If yes, name of broker/dealer________________________
If no, why not?
15. Do you provide a written client engagement agreement?
If no, why not?
16. Can you provide 3 families as a reference that
you have provided Special Needs Financial Planning advice
to? May I contact them?
17. Can you provide 3 other professionals in the disability
community as a reference? May I contact them?
SOURCE: Obtained from the Certified Financial Planner
Board of Standards, Inc. website at www.cfp.org.
Modified for use with special needs clients in "The
Special Needs Planning Guide: How to Prepare for Every
Stage of Your Child's Life" by John W. Nadworny,
CFP® and Cynthia R. Haddad, CFP®, Reprinted
with permission. Copyright © 2007 by Paul H. Brookes
Publishing Co., Inc., April 2007.
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