This newsletter has been developed to provide insights into the operation of the financial services industry, and to help individual investors make decisions concerning the type of advisement that best suits their needs. While there are many professionals who provide investment advice in one form or another, there are certain credentials and licenses financial professionals should possess before you entrust them with your savings. We will explore the various licenses and certifications to determine which type of professional might be best suited to your needs.
Financial Advisor, Financial Consultant, Investment Advisor, Financial Planner, Registered Representative, Stock Broker, Variable Products Agent or Insurance Agent are many of the terms used in the financial services industry to describe the professional duties performed. Fee based or commission based compensation are terms which get thrown into the mix, causing client confusion. In reality, a licensed professional can have all of those titles, perform all of those services, which we just identified, and work in a fee or commission based capacity with a client.
The National Association of Securities...