Friday, May 28, 2010

The Critical Difference - What It Means For Someone to Work in Your Best Interests

The Critical Difference of Working With Registered Representatives, Bank Reps, Insurance Agents and Independent Registered Investment Advisers - What It Means For Someone to Work in Your Best Interests

Most of America has money in retirement plans, investment accounts and insurance products. Think about it. If you go see a registered representative at a brokerage firm, or at a bank, or an insurance agent, no matter what level of experience or designations that they hold, odds are that they will want to sell you something. The reason for this is that they have a revenue quota to keep their office perks and their job. If they fail to reach their revenue quota, then they can lose their job. If you are sold products that benefit these registered representatives and their firms, then how does that help you? The truth is that your needs are always way down on the totem pole with this business model of Banks, Insurance Companies and Wall Street firms.

Independent Registered Investment Advisers do what is in your best interest. Not all of them will do it, however. How many Independent Registered Investment Advisers will work with you knowing that you do not have $500,000 to invest? If you simply tell them that you need help getting out of debt, then watch as they tell you about their account minimum of $500,000 and let you walk out the door.

A lot of these Independent Registered Investment Advisers only want to work with customers who have money and lots of it. The thinking goes it is better to have 1 person with $1,000,000 than 10 people with $100,000 each. It is easier to manage one person as opposed to ten people. Most all Independent Registered Investment Advisers work from this business model, with the exception of one that I know of and that is me.

The Taking Control Plan is how you should run your financial life. If you start at the right side of this Money Flow, then you are benefiting the firm selling you products. If on the other hand, you take my advice and start at the left side of this Money Flow, then you are benefiting you and your family.

This should be an "ah ha" moment for you. The light bulb should be shining bright now.

If you build the solid foundation first, by paying your everyday expenses, controlling your discretionary spending with the Under Control Accounts, then setting up Individual Savings Accounts for specific short term goals like vacations or home improvements, then you can begin to build a bigger emergency fund. In today's environment, forget 3 to 6 months of expenses. Today, I recommend 9 to 12 months of expenses in case of job loss, accidents or medical issues that would cause a longer strain on your financial situation. Once you have tackled all of these, then and only then should you move on to fully funding your retirement plans and taking excess cash flow and adding it to investment accounts.

Wall Street firms, banks and insurance companies want you to buy their stuff which means starting on the right side of this Money Flow. How does this help you if you have debt, your discretionary spending is not under control and you have no money saved for vacations? You have to be smart today. Really smart.

With The Taking Control Plan, you benefit first. Isn't this truly advice in your best interests? This is what I do for you.

Not me first, but you first.



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