Choosing an Investment Professional 

Here are some questions you should ask when choosing an investment professional:

• What training and experience do you have? How long have you been in business? 
• What is your investment philosophy? Do you take a lot of risks or are you more concerned about the safety of my money? 
• Describe your typical client. Can you provide me with references, the names of people who have invested with you for a long time? 
• How do you get paid? By commission? Amount of assets you manage? Another method? Do you get paid more for selling your own firm's products? 
• How much will it cost me in total to do business with you?

Your investment professional should understand your investment goals, whether you're saving to buy a home, paying for your children's education, or enjoying a comfortable retirement. 

Your investment professional should also understand your tolerance for risk. That is, how much money can you afford to lose if the value of one of your investments declines? 

An investment professional has a duty to make sure that he or she only recommends investments that are suitable for you:  investments that make sense for you based on your financial goals, other securities holdings, your financial situation, your means, and any other information that your investment professional thinks is important.