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Financial Tips

Before you sign any paperwork to transfer or open a variable annuity or mutual fund recommended by your financial adviser, have him or her do the following:

Variable Annuity

  1. Provide you with a comparative fee (use dollar denominations) analysis between a variable annuity and a fixed index annuity.
  2. Compare annual guaranteed income dollar amounts using a zero percent rate of return.

Mutual Funds

  1. Do not use the past performance of the mutual fund as a qualifier.
  2. Only invest what you can afford to lose.

Choosing an Adviser

  1. Be sure to go to www.finra.org and do a background check on your financial adviser/planner.
  2. For conflict free advice, hire a fee-based or fee-only adviser who is registered with the Securities Exchange Commission.
  3. If a financial adviser/planner is paid a commission, classify them as "financial product salespersons."
  4. Never trust a financial services professional, regardless of how he or she may be compensated.

A word of Advice

  1. Only invest what you can afford to lose.
  2. Pay more attention to investment related fees than the potential rate of return.
Financial Tips (pdf)

Favorite Books we Recommend

  • Inside The Huddle
  • Everyone's a Speculator
  • Intelligent Investor
  • The Power of Focus
  • Black Swan