How do you search for an investment advisor?  
First, you should know why and what you are looking for. The titles of investment or financial advisor can be used pretty generally, so it’s important to know what financial or investment
needs you have when you reach out to a financial professional. People sometimes ask
someone they know for a referral to an investment advisor. However, the person you asked doesn’t know your individual financial goals, so it makes sense to search for financial advisors who are a good match for your financial needs.

What titles do Investment Advisors go by and what do they do?
According to the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, an investment advisor is any person or
company who makes investment recommendations or performs investment analysis in return
for a fee. This includes both advisors who actually manage your assets and those who provide investment advice through written research. Many advisors are also known by the title of
Financial Advisor. A Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) is an advisor who manages over $25 million in assets and is required to register with the SEC. Being a Registered Investment
Advisor does not mean the SEC has recommended or given its stamp of approval to the firm, simply that the firm is large enough that it has to register. However, the ADV Form that
Registered Investment Advisors are required to file with the SEC does provide good information
to potential clients of the RIA. The ADV Form lists the officers of the firm and their background,
the assets under management, the investment services provided and the fees levied.
You should request the ADV Form of any investment advisor you consider hiring.

How can an Investment or Financial Advisor help?
There are several different investment services that a financial advisor might be able to help
with. Some investment advisors do only one thing- they manage money. They might work with
you to help you determine how aggressive your portfolio should be and invest it accordingly.
Many investment advisors also do financial planning, which means they will guide you through
the planning process of identifying your goals and taking into consideration your entire financial picture, including taxes, employee benefits and estate issues. They would then invest your
money and manage the portfolio for you. Most financial or investment advisors charge either a
flat fee (such as a set amount per year) or charge a percentage of the investment portfolio they
are managing. Many people feel that this removes any conflict of interest in their investment
advice since they will earn a higher percentage fee if your investment portfolio performs well. Other people feel that a flat or hourly fee for financial advisors is best, since the financial advisor can freely recommend using your money for insurance, charitable giving or other needs without worrying about their fee falling because you removed money from your investment portfolio.

How do I work with an Investment Advisor?
The first step is to determine if you are looking for a financial advisor to simply manage an investment portfolio for you, or if you also need financial planning help as well. If you are just looking for investment management, you should search for a financial advisor with experience with the objectives for your portfolio. For instance, some investment advisors will create a complete, diversified portfolio for you. Others may specialize in only bond portfolios or only international investments. If you are looking for financial planning also, be sure to search for an investment advisor that provides planning also. You would discuss your goals with the advisor, they would prepare a financial plan for you, and then manage your investment portfolio.

How do I search for an Investment Advisor with ClaroConnect?
ClaroConnect is an unbiased database of investment and financial advisors that connects you to the right professional based solely on your needs. Your first step at ClaroConnect is to identify at least a broad topic that you need help with, such as general financial planning or solely investment management. You can then go ahead and search for investment advisors, or narrow your search down further, with such characteristics as location and qualifications. Once you have pulled up the search results, you can review the investment advisors’ profiles and select one or more to contact. We recommend meeting with at least one of the financial advisors and interviewing them to determine if there is a good match. If so, you are on your way to reaching
your financial goals!