2010 Reviews

My financial situation has changed dramatically over the last year - my investments took a loss and my husband was laid off. Therefore, we want to review our retirement planning and child's college fund. We also have a 401K and need advice on rolling it into an IRA. Since I am in need of a Financial Advisor, I was wondering if anyone could recommend one. Thank you. Laura

My husband and I are looking for recommendations for experienced, fee-based financial advisors to help create a comprehensive financial plan - ideally someone who can make the baffling world of finances and money comprehensible to our non-profit and art/design brains. Preferably in the Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley area, though open to larger distance if highly recommended. thanks, mm

2009 Reviews

Seeking a reasonable, down-to-earth, approachable and patient independent financial advisor, someone who enjoys coaching and educating young-ish clients. Anyone heard of Karen Eng, Independent Financial Advisor? Would you recommend her? Any stories? I'm thinking of using her services. Or if you have other recommendations, would love to hear them. Thanks! Ready to Manage my Money!

I have recently returned to school along with two kids in college and one going next year. I am the sole provider. I am hoping to find a financial advisor (NOT AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR) that counsels people on an hourly rate basis. I would like someone who I can explain my financial situation, the decisions I have made and would like to make regarding my financial future and get honest, thoughtful and intelligent feedback. Again, I do not intend to change my current investment strategy and so someone who focuses on this is NOT the right person for me. I just want a smart, experienced person who will tell me if my thinking regarding my finances is sound or not and make recommendations as s/he sees fit. anon

\Hello, my husband and I are looking for an affordable financial planner (preferably located in/near Oakland) who can assist us in getting our finances in order. We need comprehensive financial advice. Although we earn above-average salaries, like many families living in the Bay Area, a huge part of our earnings go directly to our mortgage. We need advice in a broad range of areas (how to lower our tax liability, provide sound advice on our home mortgage situation, how to start saving for our kids' educations, etc.). I'm not sure if we'll be able to find a single person with all this expertise. Overall, we need an incredibly knowledgeable, trust-worthy person with a pleasant demeanor (definitely not pushy or aggressive). Thanks! anon

I'm looking for an accountant to help me navigate all the various options involving retirement, primarily the implications of lump sum vs. no lump sum. Prefer someone in the Berkeley area, or San Rafael. Potential Retiree

Considerations are going to be whether or not you are married, what your needs are, what benefits you might forfeit by taking a lump sum, what your alternatives are, your penchant for risk, what guarantees you want or need, how well the pension fund is being run, etc.

Greg Guardiano at DA Financial Group in Lafayette could help you (925-254-7100). - a happy client

Has anyone used the financial services of Audrey Grubman on Milvia Street? We are looking for someone to evaluate our financial portfolio and she comes highly recommended. However, I would like to see if anyone else has experience with her and/or recommends her services. Thank you for any information you might have. anon

I am needing to consult with a financial planner/adviser, and would prefer a fee-for-service type of financial person. I would very much appreciate some new referrals. I need lots of help and hand-holding! needs help

2008 Reviews

Hi- Please let me know if you have a Certified Financial Planner at Ameriprise whom you like and trust. We are seeking a referral for someone who understands the financial concerns of a new family with young children. Thank you. Anon

I have been managing my money myself at a discount brokerage for several years now. All I had to do was read a couple of books, and get on the boggle discussion board. So many people are doing it on their own, and they are all amazingly savvy, and happy.

I still get the odd ''settlement'' check from the numerous class action lawsuits filed against Ameriprise way back when I was still a client of theirs. These checks is peanuts of course. The fees they collected, and the hidden yields, and dividends that never made it to my investment account ... I am still counting them.

The whole industry is badly run. I worked with several firms, and there are very few protections for the client, despite what we are told about the role of the SEC, the supposed tons of regulation on these companies, etc. It is buyer beware. This industry has successfully lobbied for years to not let congress pass legislation to make your monthly/quarterly statements actually show how much they are getting from you that you could be getting. This is just one issue they lobbied on, and there is much, much more that needs to be reformed.

Seriously, anyone with a high-school education can do it. Anything under a couple of million is not that hard. With a little more in assets you may want to take it slowly. Start reading up on some of Eric Tyson's books, and look at a few index funds, etc, and pretty soon you will not need those folks.

Besides, they do not do all that much beyond meeting or exceeding their own projections for income from fees, etc from your accounts. And they have some really good ways to fudge your account yields to make you think you are doing well. There are longitudinal studies that prove that an index fund does either the same or better than any managed fund with a fancy name, and promises of above market yields, etc. And once you figure in what you pay for that managed fund in WRAP, front-end, or back-end fees, you are actually making a whole lot less.

We are looking for a recommended fee-based financial advisor who is available to meet at our house in Berkeley in the evenings after our little ones are in bed. Thanks for your help! Peace after 8 p.m.

I am 35 and really just at the beginning of my teaching/writing career, and not making very much money at all. I have some savings that I want to be smart with, and not just use to supplement my income. I'm looking for a financial advisor who has some patience with beginners and won't be too harsh or critical about my non-standard, art-driven goals. Someone who, maybe, appreciates the importance of literature and art!? I know that's a funny thing to ask for, but that's what I want! Any ideas?

Does anyone know of a good Certified Financial Planner? We want someone who DOES NOT sell any products. They must just provide a service. Thanks and any brief info about the recommendation would be helpful. Veronica

Timothy and Rose will provide just a plan for a fee. They are fee-based planners. Most fee-based planners also implement recommendations and usually earn a commission on that. But T&R are happy to structure just a plan for you.

Also, most financial planners do not have much familiarity with real estate. Full disclosure: I work in investment real estate and feel that real estate is an important ingredient in a diversified financial plan.

You might also want to interview some top-notch CPAs. I would add accountant, in addition to financial planner, to your financial team. I know a number of them if you want to email me. jessica

My husband and I are in need of a financial planner. We've put off for way too long sitting down and figuring out how much we should be putting away for retirement (the answer is more; the question is how) and what type of investing we should do (doing none now). On top of this, our daughter will be a high school senior with hopes of going away for college (read: private and expensive school), so we also need help putting ourselves in a good position for financial aid. We both work and are in that in-between category: probably make too much to qualify for a lot of financial aid, esp. if the cost of living in this area is not considered, but not so wealthy that $50K a year for college doesn't take our breaths away. Lots of praise in the archives for Frances Fee for assistance in college financial aid, but wondering if she can help with our overall financial picture. Would like some opinions on her for that purpose, and, as to any recommendations for a financial planner familiar with college financial aid. Thank you! Not Retiring Anytime Soon

We are a middle income family that needs help with our financial big picture. We are looking to consult with a financial planner or adviser that has experience with family finance. Need to get an experienced outsider's financial perspective on our overall situation and make suggestions for improvements. If you know of anyone in the East Bay, particularly Berkeley or Oakland, please let me know. Thanks! Jill

Re: Disappointed that financial advisor is so expensive
Brandi Bernazzani is a financial advisor we can recommend with great enthusiasm. She charges an hourly fee and provides advice free of any bias or linkage to financial institutions or financial products. Her process began with an in-our-home (if you wish - we found it very convenient/easy/even relaxing) interview to ascertain our financial objectives and resources. She follows up with an in-depth presentation of strategies to consider, and with as much specific advice/direction as is appropriate for your needs. She's a master of the subject matter, warm, funny, and was wonderfully adept at helping us focus and prioritize within a complex financial picture, covering our immediate needs to finish a major house remodel, our near-future need to see our children though college, and our long term retirement plans. Think of the last time you wrote a check to pay for services and felt great about the exchange, certain of the value. This is how each of our sessions with her concluded! . Contact information: Brandi Bernazzani, Scalisi & Bernazzani Financial Services, LLC, 415-664-5884

hi, i am looking for a knowledgable financial advisor whose specialty is mortgages/home foreclosures. we bought a condo in arizona a few years ago as an investment but it has turned out to be a disaster. my husband and i are not working now and don't know how to get out of this big mess. we have rent to pay here in berkeley on our apt and now the mortgage in arizona. the situation is causing us a lot of anxiety especially as we do not know how to get out of this mess. does anyone have recommendations for an advisor who is not working for a major mortgage company? thanks! vera

Timothy & Rose Yee run their own independent financial advisory practice, Cathedral Financial. 510-638-6331 timothy@cathedralfinancial.com www.cathedralfinancial.com

Liz Litaea is a Loan Officer with Windsor Capital. 415-748-2626 liz.litaea@windsorcap.com

Good Luck! Jessica B

2007 Reviews

We need to work with a financial planner to get back on a track. Prefer one with experience in helping moderate income people getting a late start on retirement, solo business owners, and those sandwiched between aging parents and young children. Also prefer someone familiar with various insurance vehicles to help analyze what we already have. Prefer Alameda or East Bay location but will go anywhere for right person. And since I'm making a wish list, how about someone really friendly, supportive, easy to work with and with a great track record of success? :) Thanks for any help you can provide. Needs help!

We are looking for a financial advisor that can help us manage our money better so that we can save to move into a bigger house. We are looking for someone that will give us straight advice, we rather not have to deal with someone trying to sell us other stuff. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated it. thanks! Wanna move up

My husband and I have both been dealing with serious illnesses over the past five years. We've been living beyond our means and digging ourselves deeper into debt. We owe taxes, have damaged credit, and have credit card balances. We are both self-employed and not exactly raking in the dough, but we do have equity in our home and in some retirement accounts. We need help resolving our financial issues while holding onto as much of our investments as possible. Ideally, we'd like to find someone who has expertise in how to potentially settle with the IRS and credit card companies. In addition, we have a judgment against us as a result of a credit card debt, so some relevant legal experience/knowledge is needed. We feel on the mend physically and want our financial lives to follow suit. Any recommendations for an appropriate consultant? anon

I am looking for a good financial planner or a good class about financial planning. Our tax preparer says we have bits and pieces and now need a more comprehensive strategy. I'm not so interested in managing money as putting it somewhere where it will earn something more than the current interest rate and not having to think about it much. I took a class through UC extension years ago when I didn't really know what deferred compensation was and, even though much of it was over my head, it helped - I learned the difference between stocks and bonds and a little about annuities but I am still very much a layperson and need things to be broken down for me. thanks in advance trying to be money savvy

Rather than buying a package of financial advice, I'd like to prepare a financial statement that gives a picture of my life and my plans and review it with an advisor who I would pay on an hourly basis rather than going with the bigger package. I have a house I am turning into a rental, two rental properties, a small IRA, life, disability and health insurance paid for privately, and fluctuating income because I am an adjunct teacher and office worker. Does anyone have any recommendations for who would be a good match for this service? anon

My partner and I are approaching the stage of mingling more of our money and becoming domestic partners. We both have houses and credit card debt, there's one child, and we are in different places with our retirement. We'd like a fee-based financial planner who: knows about queer financial needs and the pros/cons of domestic partnership, can help us decide what to do with our homes, and get us on track with our retirement. G

I am looking for a financial advisor for retirement advice and college financing advice. My husband will be retiring at the same time that our daughter will be starting college and I have not worked outside the home since she was born. Thanks, Bonnie

Can anyone recommend a good financial planner who isn't super expensive? agenni

I don't have stocks or investments, so I didn't seek that advice from her, but she advertises that she has that expertise on her website, and based on the help she gave me with getting a budget together, dealing with debt, refinancing my mortgage, and so forth, I would certainly take her advice on other matters financial as well. And she's just such a sensible, pleasant, level-headed person. Not a ''suit'' at all. Smart and kind are the two words I'd use to describe her. And with a real warm sense of humor. Located in Pinole, but makes house calls in the East Bay (and very accessible from Berkeley--only took me about 15 minutes to get to her home office from Berkeley).

http://www.lindysinclair.com/
MPB

Brandi has consulted us in a number of areas including investments, money management, business planning and managing our real estate assets. They have a wide range of knowledge and it's helpful because our money management run across these many different areas, including what kind of improvement to make to our house that will boost the resale value rather then just be a waste of money. My husband and I run a small business and we have very different approaches to money, etc. She has put an ease into our business relationship by giving us tools that make sense to both of us and that work.

Good luck and give these two a try... Catherine B

2006 Reviews

Has anybody heard off and does anyone use an investment consultant who is a member of Progressive Asset Management (PAM)? http://www.progressiveassetmanagement.com/ Is any body familiar with The Camejo Group? http://www.camejogroup.com/team.htm We are interested in your thoughts and experiences. thank you, - Elyse

I'm looking for someone who can take a look at our overall finances and help us figure out when wemll be ready to buy a house, and just how much house we can afford. We'd also like that person to help us figure out if we're investing our retirement funds appropriately. Thanks
Future Homeowner?

My husband and I need money management advice. We contribute the max to our 401K, but are not sure what to do otherwise: setting up our 529, how to reach our short term and long term goals, how much home can we really afford to move up to... After reading numerous books on the matter, we want help. We do not want to deal with someone whose motives might be divided (between helping us and ''selling'' product), so a fee based planner would be the best. Anyone have experience with a planner that they find honest, knowledgeable, experienced, educational? Thank you! Financially Fuddled

Hi, My husband and I are looking for a financial planner to help with general budgeting and debt management as well as some advice on investements. We're hoping to find someone with reasonable rates (otherwise we wouldn't need a financial planner!) but whose advice is also realistic and effective. Any recent recommendations and experiences would be greatly welcomed, the website doesn't seem to have anything current. Thanks!

Natalie Leininger CFP 3160 Castro Valley Blvd. PO Box 2275 Castro Valley, CA 94546 natalie[at]leiningerfinancial.com (510) 728-3578 and Lisa A. Schneider 90 New Montgomery, Ste. 1020 San Francisco, CA 94105 Schneider.8[at]cullenfinancial.com (415) 781-1181
Andrea

Ira H. Fateman, CFP., M.Ed.
SAS Financial Advisors, LLC
582 Market Street Ste. 1604
SF, CA 94104
415 738-6452
fax 415 921-6528
ira[at]sasadvisors.com
www.sasadvisors.com

Has anyone used Buckley Financial planning in San Ramon? can you comment on your satisfaction with them or recommend someone else (preferably in Oakland). I don't need someone to manage assets but someone to hear our goals (on verge of buying bigger home, have baby, retirement and college planning) and help us determine how to make it all happen with our income. Thanks Melanie

We need a trusted, successful portfolio/money manager to help us manage our investments. I should mention that we don't have millions of dollars to invest, but we do have a good amount of money that we need to be more proactive in investing. We live in Lamorinda, but location isn't a big deal. Thanks in advance for your consideration. Anon.

We were dumped by our financial advisor when he left AmEx and would like to use the opportunity to find a new one who is independent and in the Oakland/Berkeley area. There was a consistent recommendation in the archives for a guy named Rick Prime but someone said he charges $1800 which is more than we can afford (we're more in the $500 - $700 range). We aren't wealthy, but have found that financial planning has really helped us make the most of what we have so we'd really like to find someone we trust and would like to develop a long term relationship. Personally, we actually really liked our AmEx guy but he went independent and probably has some no-compete agreement and can't solicit us. Too bad. Lynn

From the description of what you're looking for, I'd recommend giving Julie a call. She let us have a free initial meeting to see if there was a fit, which I'd suggest you do. She's upfront about what she charges and never tried to sell us anything or push her advice. Good Luck ~ Formerly financially frustrated

Julie helped us organize our financial situation and ran various scenarios to see what the effect of my loss of income might be on taxes, budget, savings, etc. The information she provided helped us make informed decisions. Before we met with her, we were just doing 'back of the envelope' calculations that didn't cover the whole picture.

We are really pleased with the advice she gave us and will use her services again in the future. Heather

Does anyone have a fee-based financial planner to recommend? We're looking for someone to do a financial plan for us, billed on an hourly or project basis. I've been through the archives and have contacted a few individuals, but so far everyone is either affiliated with a brokerage firm or requires at least $500,000 to invest--which we don't have. :) We're really just looking for someone who can, for a fee, evaluate what we've already invested to date in 401Ks, IRAs, and mutual funds, and then help us develop a strategy going forward. From looking online, we found Julie Asti and Jill D. Hollander in the Berkeley area--does anyone have experience with either of these individuals? Or perhaps someone else you would recommend? Any advice appreciated. Wendy

We are looking for someone who can offer financial planning advice to my 75 year old mother. She is single and lost a large portion of her modest savings in the stock market crash a few years back. After a series of poorly planned real-estate investments, we fear she is poised to make another mistake. Ideally, I would like for the two of us to meet with someone together. jessica

After several years of sporadic and ineffective discussions about how to budget and save money for big items (first house, retirement, daughter's college) we're ready to shell out money and meet with a professional to try and whip our finances into shape. We live within our (modest) means but have no master plan for when we'll be able to buy a house, or what our real plan is for retirement or college. We in our mid-30s and have a small amount of savings and investment, but I get spooked that most financial advisors are either about managing wealth (I wish!) or getting out of massive debt (thankfully not). Website recommendations from the past few years are focussed on different issues. Any recommendations for an advisor who can sit down for a reasonable fee for one or two meetings to go over income, current assets, and spending habits to help figure out a financial plan?
trying to be responsible

He is well-educated in his field and has excellent work experience--Political Science (BA) and Columbia Business School graduate (MBA); worked for Charles Schwab. He charges around $150/hour for consultation but is willing to do a flat fee for an overall plan.

What we appreciate about him: he is very insightful, doesn't beat around the bush or string you along. He describes his approach as ''big picture'' and ''investment-oriented''. We also appreciated his sense of humor (not a bad thing to have when working with finances). He took a look at our financials and made some concrete suggestions for how to realize our goals. We have checked back with him a couple of times regarding our progress and plan.

You can reach him at (415)927-7871 or email him at robert[at]rhmv.com. His website is www.rhmv.com. Good luck!
On a better financial track

I'm looking for advice about what kind of financial planner/advisor I need, as well as specific recommendations if you have them. I am new to this, so I'm uncertain about what the different categories of planners might be, where to find them, and how much I should expect them to cost. My husband and I will be finishing our educations soon and (hopefully) starting jobs in a new city. We need someone to help us with the basics, like how much house we can expect to afford on our anticipated salaries, saving for retirement, college (we have 2 kids under 3), etc. In addition, we were hoping to have my husband's mother move along with us to the new city - she currently lives in another state. We need advice about the different scenarios we are considering on her behalf, such as selling vs. keeping her home, moving in with us vs. buying her own place, taking care of our kids full-time vs. part-time vs. not at all, retiring early vs. continuing to work in the new city, and so on. I know this is a lot of advice we would need from 1 person, and I'm wondering who that person would be. In contrast to what (little) I know about some types of financial planners, we would not necessarily be needing to open specific investment accounts with the planner, and might not have an ongoing relationship with him/her in which s/he would be doing investing for us over many years (esp. if we move away from the Bay Area). However, it's possible we would make 2-3 visits if we could afford the fees. So, what type of person do I need? How much should I expect to pay? And whom do you recommend? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Signed, Graduating Soon!

What I am looking for here is any recent recommendations for a TRUSTWORTHY Financial Advisor who can basicly take over on the accounts that I currently have (if that's possible) that include IRA's, a 529, mutual funds and life insurance. Certainly, I am interested in someone who can also ''advise'' for the future. Thanks in advance.

We are looking for a reliable and knowledgeable finanical advisor who is expert, not only in retirement issues, but also in the broader range of financial issues that include planning projects, maximizing investment opportunities, and managing household cash flow. We are solidly middle class, and while we noted some recommendations in the archives, most are quite dated. Any recent recommendations?

2005 Reviews

I have inherited some money, enough that I don't want to stick it in the bank to earn no interest for the rest of my life, but not enough to buy a house. I'd like to find a financial advisor who specializes in socially responsible investing. I looked into this years ago, but I never had enough money to make it worth paying someone else to take care of it, and I don't know if the people I talked to back then are still in business. I checked the website and found very little on the subject. Any suggestions? anon

I've read through most of the posts regarding financial planners, tax advisors, accountants, etc., but was wondering if anyone can recommend a good, honest, financial planner, accountant, or household budget advisor. I am NOT looking for someone that can turn our $50K in savings (which we don't have) into millions or sell us additional life insurance (which we do have). Rather, I'm looking for some basic advice ... how to develop and maintain a realistic household budget living in the Bay Area as a one-salary family. Ideally, this person could also offer advice at tax time, as well as offer advice on establishing savings plans for emergency funds, kids' education, stock options (have them, but they aren't worth anything as of yet), 401k and other retirement planning, mortgage refinancing options, etc. Basically, a ''handy person'' (Jane or Jack-of-all-trades) focused on finances. Any suggestions or recommendations, especially those based on personal experience, would be MUCH appreciated.
Anon - Good With Other Things, Not $$

I'm looking for a financial advisor for my elderly parents who need immediate, short-term help sorting out their finances. My 74-year old father needs to enter 24h-care living center due to his progressing Parkinson's Disease. He doesn't know how to best arrange his assets to cover the cost of the senior care center, cost of living for Mom, write a will, etc. Can anyone recommend a good financial advisor? Or do we need some sort of attorney since writing a will is involved?

Hello, I'm looking for any recommendations for a personal financial planner. My husband and I are trying to decide if I should go on to a Psy.D program, or if it would be financial suicide (we just bought a home, and we are wanting to have a child in the next year) for a young, middle class family. Investing isn't something we are doing much of at the moment, so an investment advisor wouldn't be of much help. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!

Hello: We are a middle class family w/ 2 kids and both are self employed. Looking for a well respected, honest, reasonable, knowledgeable financial planner. We need help w/ retirement planning, college funds,and a road map for the next 10-15 years etc.. Thank you

In our situation we had the benefits through work to consider but Rob runs his own small business so will know a lot of what is available to you in your specific situation. It is a small firm but really great advice and guidance, http://www.cojobay.com Kara

I'm hoping to start a very expensive graduate program at UC Berkeley in the fall and would love to talk to a financial advisor that specializes in helping a student find loans and grants as well as navigate the process overall. I remember seeing someone years ago when I went to undergrad and with his help my parents ended up paying almost nothing for my costly school. MBA bound

We are seeking a financial counselor who can help us with personal financial decisionmaking including buying a house, planning for time off to raise children and balancing financial security with quality of family life issues. Someone with some real estate and tax background would be helpful. Investment advice, while also useful, is secondary to getting the big picture. Thanks. KD

2000 - 2004 Reviews

I am trying to find out how to repair my credit in the most efficient way possible. I've read how-to books, but would like to work with a financial consultant to make sure that I am making the best choices. Any recommendations? Anon

Hi, my husband has some stock options with a start up company and it might go public soon. Anyone has any suggestions on what to do about it? or, does anyone have any recommendations on a good financial advisor or tax accountat who specializes in this area? thanks in advance! sandy

I disclose that I'm married to him. He is very down-to-earth and unassuming, and with two children of his own, he has a real- life, contemporary understanding of the myriad of issues and choices families face as they plan beyond their own financial futures. You can reach him at primer AT financialnetwork.com or 510 384-1009. cwilson

We're looking for someone to help us develop our financial strategy regarding savings, investment, and retirement. I've checked the archives but don't see anyone who fits all our criteria. We want to find out which vehicles we should use, in what order of priority. We want to know which investment property (in our area, state, or out-of-state) is more favorable, and how to evaluate which investments in our own home---what kind of remodeling---will have a positive return. We're not looking for an ''advisor'' to invest our cool million (which we don't have), but for someone with deep experience to help us develop goals and a strategy that best fits our needs. Can one person do all this? Do you know her/him? Many thanks, Denise

My wife and I are looking for a financial planner (or an accountant???) to look over our shoulder and see if we are making any major gaffes in our retirement, household budgeting, tax, and college savings planning for one & maybe another child. If its useful information, our net worth makes us the poster children of ''middle class'' -- and so would like to work with someone who is comfortable with that.

We are looking for a some fresher recommendations than are currently posted on the archives. Based on some initital research, it would seem that we want a fee based planner -- that we compensate on an hourly or project basis versus having someone manage our assets or try to sell us financial products we don't want or need.

We live in Oakland, but would be willing to work with anyone good nearby. Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Steve

We are looking for someone who can give us, for a moderate fee, a financial check-up. Not tax services, not stock picks, just someone who can help us define our goals, assess what we have, evaluate our current practices, and tell us whether we're on track to meet those goals, or do we need a radical fix or what. I have checked the website, and haven't found exactly what we're looking for, although I have noticed that in the past few months there have been similar requests posted. Have any of you who posted for this type of service found the perfect person?? RL

Heather Hutchinson
Hutchinson Financial Management
540 East First Street
Napa, CA  94559
Phone (707) 251-9712
Fax (707) 251-9716
heatherhutchinson AT sbcglobal.net

We're looking for someone to evaluate what we've already invested to date in 401Ks, Roth IRAs, savings accounts, etc. and help us get a game plan for future retirement contributions and including college savings for our kids.

I checked the website and called a few of the folks that were recommended-- a number of them aren't available or won't work with us unless we have $500K or more to invest (we don't).

In introductory meetings with advisors at Merrill Lynch and Fidelity, I've been told I need to move over all of my money from all of our different accounts before they'll start to analyze our stuff and advise us-- this still won't include current 401K accounts (for which we need lots of help, as we've seen the principal on them dwindle greatly!), since those can't be moved over. How frustrating!

I feel like we're pretty saavy and really know how to save on our modest income, but need some help picking the specific investments (i.e. which exact mutual fund or bond), not just being told that we should do ''good asset allocation with some money in bonds and some in growth and income'', etc...

Last, but not least, I'm okay with paying a fee (as opposed to purchasing load funds), but how do I know I'm getting my money's worth? I have asked so many people if they can recommend a good financial planner, and all I ever get is a resounding ''no''. There's got to be somebody good out there that is willing to help investors that have $25k-$50K to invest!

I am a financial planner and what we focus on is planning. We also do mutual fund investments (according to the most recent Morningstar and Lipper rankings we are the #2 fund family) and insurance, but we do not require you to invest with us. Many of my clients have their investments away from us (say, in their 401(k)), and that is okay. What we do is put them on a course to achieve their financial goals, whether it is retirement, saving for college, saving for a new home, knowing if they are properly protected, etc. We also make sure they and their portfolio are properly diversified according to their objectives.

For a written comprehensive financial plan, we charge $400. This covers virtually all of your financial needs (except, say, large estates or business valuation). You can also purchase an individual module (retirement, survivorship needs, education funding, accumulation goal, asset allocation) for $125 if all you need is help in one or two areas.

There are many sensible books in the public library. On the web, two good resources are motleyfool.com and Vanguard.com.

Vanguard is hands down the best deal among the mutual funds -- on their big index funds, for instance, the expense ratio is about .28 of one percentage point -- a mere quarter of the fees that the next cheapest firms (e.g., Fidelity, T Rowe Price) charge. My Berkeley finance professor said, ten years ago, that it amazed him that everyone didn't put their money with Vanguard. If all you want is an index fund (stocks and/or bonds), and your focus is the long-term, why pay a penny more in fees than you have to? (I have no connection to Vanguard!)

You mention that you've watched your 401ks dwindle -- so have most people lately. If your true desire is do better than the overall market, no financial planner can deliver that, whatever their promises.

(Re that 401k: If you are holding shares of the company you work for, consider selling them. Nobody should have their job -- their biggest egg-- AND the rest of their eggs in the same basket.)

If you don't have Roth IRAs, you probably should -- but I won't go into the details here. Clear explanations of the Roth abound.

Given the amount of money you have to invest, it will be hard to place it in lots of different funds or accounts -- no matter who you go with, accounts below some minimum balance typically incur extra fees because they are relatively costly to manage.

Investing is a headache, but I wouldn't sweat too much about investment strategy. Decisions that affect the difference between what you earn and what you spend will almost certainly have a far bigger impact on the size of your eventual nest egg than any investment strategy you choose today. (Assuming that you don't take wild risks!)

So, surf/read (the cheapest way to find out about different types of tax-deferred or tax-free accounts), think long-term, think Roth IRA, and check out Vanguard once you decide how you want to allocate your money.

Good luck. eirik

Has anyone had experience with _______ as a financial planner? I would appreciate any feedback regarding her or anyone else with whom you have had good experience. I am looking for an all-around advisor regarding my investments, retirement planning, and saving for college. I am looking for someone who will pay attention and be proactive regarding my portfolio.

Looking for an easy-going, professional person (Oakland/Berkeley preferred) to help direct us in investing for retirement, our child's education, insurance and general savings. Someone that is familiar with the needs of a self-employed small business owner would be great. We just need someone who won't make us feel lamer than we already do for being so behind on this. Nic

I am looking for a financial planner who will not try to sell me things and can give me some good ideas about managing existingdebt and planning for the future.

I have checked recent discussion and the archives and am hoping for additional recommendations. Looking for an easy-going, professional person (Oakland/Berkeley preferred) to help direct us in investing for retirement, our child's education, insurance and general savings. Someone that is familiar with the needs of a self-employed small business owner would be great. We just need someone who won't make us feel lamer than we already do for being so behind on this. Nic

Any recommendations for a good experienced financial advisor? Basic family goals with a very average income (nurse/single mom) re: retirement, college, IRA. Would like someone who is somewhat easy-going and will not gasp in horror that I have not done this yet (!) But competence would be the first choice quality. Thanks.

My husband and I used Peter Morfin of Morfin Financial Services (510-525-0814). Last year we purchased a house, had a new baby, and had some other issues, and we found Peter to be very helpful and informative, and price was reasonable. Kristina

i am looking for someone who can help me get our finances in order. I don't think this would be a financial planner, but it might be. It might even be an individual member of the digest that is good at making their money work. I know we make enough money, but I can't figure out how to use it effectively, and, every month, we barely have enough to get by. It's ridiculous! Can anyone suggest someone who could help us? Toby

Anyone out there know of a financial advisor who is expert on socially responsible investment and won't charge the earth? I don't have a lot of IRA money, but think I should be making a better return on what I do possess, and investing ethically is equally important to me. Thanks for your help. Melanie

Earlier Recommendations

I can recommend Damon Becker of Lincold Financial Advisors Corp. He acts as a 3rd party advisor and you pay a yearly fee based on a sliding scale -- it's affordable and worth every penny in my opinion. (I don't believe he does tax returns, though) He's at (510) 275-0300 ext 254. Alison

Do-It-Yourself Financial Planning

someone posting a response to a recent question ''Can't afford financial planner'' mentioned a few blogs and forums where they got ideas and advice. What sites do people recommend? I'm particularly looking for: most of our money is in low cost index funds. what is the next step if we want to add something other than stocks into our portfolio? . looking for what to do next

This site tracks Index Moose, an automated market timing mechanism developed in 1989. Updated weekly, Index Moose relies on technical analysis to time exchange traded index funds (ETFs). It has two objectives: to consistently outperform financial market averages, and to minimize the risk of doing so.''

Basically uses just index funds (long-only) to capture broad moves in the equity, bond, and commodity markets. Usually sufficient just to check the Sunday night posting for any change in allocation. Not sure how comfortable you are with timing entries, but might be a good place to start. Good luck. tk

As a much-needed cost-cutting measure, my husband and I are looking to shift our dwindling retirement accounts from being managed by a financial services person/firm to something safe, but less expensive. We are both self-employed, so it has been helpful to have someone paying attention to our savings, helping with tax reminders and meeting with us to figure out how our financial lives might unfold. We really appreciate this person, but the service is very expensive (a percentage of our accounts), and we can no longer afford it. We can deal with our taxes ourselves, but we're not in a position to spend a lot of time and effort moving money around, analyzing the market, etc. Any suggestions on an alternative to a financial planner? Penny Pincher

We now manage our money ourselves. We have some targeted funds, and some index funds that track say the SP500. Most importantly, we only go into low overhead funds. none of those run by designer-name money managers who make millions a year, but charge hefty mgmt fees.

We monitor our funds a few times a year, and plan on switching from higher risk to lower risk as we approach retirement. Retirement accounts are not meant to be fiddled with that much. We follow a few blogs and forums where people with families, businesses, etc do this on their own, and they do not exactly move money around too much. In fact, transaction fees are the biggest money maker in their industry. Many of them do this on their own for significant amounts, i.e., over $500,000 and manage to be parents, and business people. We are nowhere near that kind of money, btw, but once we cleared up the mess of the specialized funds we were put into by advisors, it now takes us very little money, and we know exactly where we stand.

Take it from a consumer who has worked with many of them, and has asked the really hard questions. You could do just as well, if not better by doing this on your own.

You may need to go into an advisor once in a while, say every 5 years, but if you do, find one that will charge by the hour, rather than a percentage of your account.

Buy a book or two from the For Dummies series and read up a little bit on it, over time, and you will see how easy it is. They will even tell you of tax changes, etc, so that you can do whatever smart thing you are supposed to do.

There is nothing that will make us ever go back to a financial advisor. We didn't know any better, and kept with them for a number of years, but eventually when we started asking the real questions we realized they are a highly unregulated industry, and there is very little you can do to keep them in line (unless you consider class action lawsuits a regulatory mechanism). Particularly with Ameriprise, we still get settlement checks from them, for various class action lawsuits, even though we moved our accounts from them years ago.

If you do decide to take on another financial advisor, always ask and definitely check many references, ask for Form ADV they need to file with the SEC (even though that doesn't tell you all that much), and check with the licensing board their credentials. Nic

Fee-Based vs. Commissions

Re: reviews of independent financial advisors
Hi - I'm not personally familiar with the financial advisor you asked about, but she appears to be an advisor with Ameriprise. Ameriprise is a broker/dealer that charges commission on investment products. Your posting said 'Independent Financial Advisor' and I don't think that's what she is. You might want to ask her how she's compensated so you fully understand. Just my 2 cents anon

Ameriprise advisors typically do commission-based work in their early years as they build their business, then shift to fee- based, but are able to offer either. What I don't like about Ameriprise is that the only insurances you'll be offered is their own - RiverSource. Nothing wrong with that - hey, Safeway sells its own products too. But I prefer choice.)

Whether commissions or fees are better depends on a lot of factors. Don't get hung up on one or the other because you read ''never pay commissions!'' or heard all the ''no-load'' and ''low- cost'' mantras. What is important is not what you pay, but what you get. Too often, we tend to judge products and services on ''cost'' rather than ''value''.

Often paying commissions are better than fees (almost always cheaper in the long run). (Take a look at FINRA's mutual fund analyzer, for example: http://apps.finra.org/fundanalyzer/1/fa.aspx)

Whatever you do, choose someone that you LIKE and TRUST. And ask a lot of questions to make sure that person will always put you first, ahead of him/herself). Have the advisor explain whether fees or commissions are most appropriate for you and your circumstances. cessnagreg

Disappointed that financial advisor is so expensive

I'm new to the BPN, and am in need of a Financial Advisor. Before I joined, I looked through the BPN website and found several recommendations for a particular financial advisor. When my wife and I went to see her, we were impressed with her thoroughness, but were disappointed that she wanted to charge 3-5 thousand dollars for her service. Does getting good, comprehensive financial advice have to cost that much? Is it better to choose an advisor that charges by the hour? Is it important to choose an advisor you can meet with, face to face? Can anyone recommend an advisor that is knowledgeable, thorough but affordable? I'm hoping to spend less than $1500. Rob

The whole thing took about 2 months and was pretty detailed. We were really happy with the results which pretty much covered all our issues/questions. She also included follow up and implementation in the same fee. All this cost us about $3500. We met with her for at least 5 hours plus about 2 hours of follow up.

It was definitely worth it. Now we can go back to her with questions anytime and she just bills by the hour. We didn't understand the time involved on our part or her part when we started the process and now have an appreciation for it.

It might be worth it for you work with a planner who charges a flat fee, rather than hourly basis as time = money.

BTW, we worked with Asti Financial who we found in the BPN archives. Finally on track

Is financial planning worth the expense?

I am looking into getting some help with financial planning, but am wondering if the cost is worth it in the long run. I'm not looking for people who provide these services - I have a list and am shopping around. I want to hear from people who have used financial planning services. Did you establish a long-term relationship with one person who got an annual fee or did you use services on an hourly basis? Have there been any times when you looked back thinking how glad you were that you followed this or that advise and how it really saved you in the long run? Are there examples of when you really saw a return on your investment of time and money in these services or was it more just about having the piece of mind knowing things were taken care of without having to stress about all the details? I'd also like to know what you used financial services for - decreasing tax liability, picking insurance, preparing wills or trusts, investing in retirement, stocks, bonds, savings, education.... financially challenged