Knowing When You are Financially Vulnerable
It’s hunting season out there, and unfortunately, you’re the target! The financial services industry is on the hunt for your account and they know when you are most likely to take their bait. Knowing when you are most vulnerable is the first step in keeping you and your nest egg from being snared. "Guarding Your Wealth” is a nationally syndicated weekly personal finance column written by Jeffrey D. Voudrie, CFP. Please visit our website, www.guardingyourwealth.com to read past articles in our archive.
(PRWEB) March 7, 2005 -- It’s hunting season out there, and unfortunately,
you’re the target! The financial services industry is on the hunt for your
account and they know when you are most likely to take their bait. Knowing when
you are most vulnerable is the first step in keeping you and your nest egg from
being snared.
First, you are vulnerable to financial advisors when you
retire and get the biggest check of your life. Suddenly you’re faced with the
most important financial decision of your life. Nothing less than the security
of your golden years is at stake. Your quality of life for decades will be
determined by the advisor you choose and the investments you
make.
Advisors know how emotionally difficult this time in your life can
be. They also know it’s a once-in-your-lifetime chance to get their hands on
$250,000, $500,000, $1 million or more. Commission-based advisors, depending on
the investments they recommend, can ‘earn’ between $25,000 and $50,000 by simply
convincing you to invest $500,000. Now you know why they are so serious about
their hunting!
Advisors are taught there are only two ways to motivate
investors to take action: fear and greed. And with those nearing or in
retirement, fear is used. They’ll try to convince you that unless you buy their
hot new annuity, you could lose tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and
that unless you buy from them, you won’t have enough income to make it through
your golden years.
Retirees can feel surrounded by countless advisors,
each wanting to bag your hard-earned savings. Many retirees have the mistaken
impression that the advisors they talk to have the retirees best interest at
heart. They don’t realize the tremendous, hidden conflicts of interest in the
advisor's recommendation. In all of the confusion, it’s easy for an investor to
be overwhelmed and make a choice they will live to regret. I don’t want this to
happen to you!
The number one mistake retirees make is buying a
high-commission annuity product. You don’t see the commission, what you do face
are years and years of surrender penalties that can result in you getting back
less than you invested. The advisor makes money regardless of whether you do and
you are left holding the bag. And forget about service after the sale—the
advisor will have moved on to bag the next trophy.
Secondly, you’re most
vulnerable when those long surrender charges or back-end loads expire. That’s
when your money is up for grabs again. And Once again, here come the hunters.
They won’t help you manage your money but they are meticulous about keeping
track of when it is up for grabs.
Advisors will bait you by explaining
how it will be so much better than your existing one, but it is all just an
attempt to get the sale. If your existing penalty-free investment isn’t meeting
your needs, why step right back into the frying pan by allowing yourself to be
talked into moving that money to a different high-commission annuity product?
Don’t take their bait.
Third, you are vulnerable any time your money can
be easily transferred to a new investment. The commission advisors make taking
clients from other advisors is second only to the money they make bagging a
retirement distribution. They are trained to make your existing investments look
bad so they can motivate you to make a change.
This is one reason why
advisors sell products like annuities where they, in effect, get paid 7-10 years
worth of commission up-front. They have the option of only receiving 1% per year
(then the client doesn’t have any surrender penalties), but what happens if
another advisor steals you away? Instead, they take the 6%-10% up-front
commission option. That way, they aren’t financially at risk if you choose
another advisor. Any time an advisor is recommending an investment with a
surrender penalty, they are looking after their interests, not
yours.
Remember, commission-based brokers make the bulk of their money
bagging new money or reinvesting old money. Their working hours are spent
uncovering the three times you are financially most vulnerable.
So don’t
be taken in by slick seminars, high-pressure sales pitches and fear tactics. If
you’re nearing or just entering retirement, have money coming due or surrender
penalties ending, or you have investments that can be moved without fees, be
aware. The hunters are lurking, but you don’t have to become their prey.
If you would like free, clear, unbiased advice send your questions to
e-mail protected from spam bots today, you’ll be glad you did.
Mr.
Voudrie is the President of Legacy Planning Group, a private wealth management
firm that employs sophisticated proprietary strategies designed to protect and
grow its clients' investments. He can be reached toll-free at 1-877-827-1463 or
at e-mail protected from spam bots.
Looking for an energetic expert who
is passionate about financial and wealth management? Mr. Voudrie is an excellent
speaker who will excite and inspire your audience. Mr. Voudrie is available for
a limited number of speaking engagements, television appearances and radio talk
shows.
For booking information, contact Christine Lavender at (877)
827-1463 or email e-mail protected from spam bots.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/3/prweb214782.htm