Working Together

One of the most confusing things about trying to find a financial advisor is how the relationship between you and your advisor, whether it be a Philadelphia financial planner, a Certified Financial Planner in NJ, or a New Jersey wealth management group, there are certain things that need to be avoided or at least understood with working relationships.

“Growing up was always difficult for me. I struggled mightily at math, so I was always intimidated by those who could crunch and factor numbers in their heads in seconds. As you grow up, high school drama is replaced by everyday struggles us adults face. One concept that may not change is your ease around those who are smarter than you in particular areas.

Take any accountant or financial advisor for example. They’re just phenomenal with numbers. They amaze me with that expertise.

The accounting field is massively growing and expanding to add many more services then they once provided. This more generalized are of expertise could best be summarized as “financial services.”

And is this “financial services” better or worse for the accounting industry? I guess it depends on who you ask in the industry. Some will agree and applaud the evolution while others will dismiss and bash the concept.

For those that disagree with the extended services offered, many project a future that will include a counter decline in the number and types of services offered by each company.

The overload in expansion along with new regulations such as the IRS 7216 regulation has prevented the accounting industry from fully experiencing their potential to assist the client.

For example, the 7216 regulation requires accounting firms to get consent from their existing clientele to be able to give any information to any type of financial services person.

The regulation requires that the CPA gathers the name, address, phone number, and even social security number and investment information of the investor as well as a consent form before anything can be transferred to another branch or financial advisor.

Ignore this procedure and the CPA risks facing large penalties.

The accounting firms are slowly turning into a “sort of a police” if you ask some CPA’s. The type of protection is being asked by the government in order to help regulate the failures that have occurred on Wall Street and with major financial companies such as Sarbanes Oxley.

While it sounds great in theory, the added pressure on accounting firms creates more chances of conflict of interest with other parties.”

Learning to work with a CPA or any other type of financial planner is very important.  For many people, the assistance of someone after searching to find a financial advisor who suits their needs is more beneficial than a financial planning guide.  Of course, regardless of the financial planning help you seek, learning to utilize it and maximize its potential is very important.

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Paying for College

During college visits, some students may think that one college is better than another, even if the price difference is thirty thousand dollars.  By seeking financial planning help, this differential can be properly planned for, but there also is the simple answer to a student of “no”.  Without doing this, students could be in loads of debt, even with the help of a Certified financial planner in New Jersey, a Philadelphia wealth management group, or an NJ financial planner.  When trying to find a financial advisor for college, take the following into consideration:

“What is the result of poor college planning and judgment?

Debt. And a lot of it.

While the Bachelors Degree has always been associated with four years and most parents think about it in that regard, the reality is the Bachelors Degree is now taking more like five to six years to finish.

But planning for only four years of college expenses rather then five or six is not the major crime here.

It’s the lack of preparation, organization, and other costly mistakes parents make about their children’s future.

So how can you avoid these seven major mistakes, avoid the debt, and other college issues?

Well first you must understand the seven mistakes parents make with college planning.

Nettleton lists the mistakes as 1) parents and students late start on the planning process, 2) parents not positioning the child correctly, 3) too much or little done in the application process, 4) lack of understanding regarding loans, 5) parents and students relying too much on the advice of the student counselor, 6) poor consideration in regard to the social environment, and 7) parents too afraid to just say “no.”

Freshman year is the preferred time to start planning for college.”

By doing this, a student may not initially be happy, but they will better realize the decision making process as they go through their four years.  A financial planning guide can also help expedite the process.

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