financial advising charts and graphsWhen you hire a financial advisor, you’re not just paying for wealth management advice. You’re investing in your future, trusting that you’ll receive the best advice for retirement.

Since we often let financial advisors make big decisions about our stock allocations and retirement accounts, we expect they’ll not only give professional guidance but also consider our dreams and aspirations in the process. Of course, financial advisors are people, too—sometimes we get along with them, and sometimes we don’t.

But when our money and future well-being are on the line, it’s important to have a healthy relationship. If your financial advisor makes you uncomfortable or has a different vision for your funds than you, you may want to consider cutting ties.

3 Signs You May Need a New Advisor

If you already have a financial advisor but aren’t sure if they’re right for you, watch for the following: 

  • Communication problems
  • Inconsistent input
  • Your own instinct

Communication Problems

While any competent financial advisor will likely have more than a handful of clients, that doesn’t mean they still can’t make time for you. After all: they’re working with your money. You should never be afraid to call your financial advisor, whether it’s to check on your accounts, ask a question, or explore a new idea.  Ask yourself:

  • Do I feel comfortable picking up the phone to call my advisor?
  • Does he or she return my phone calls within a reasonable amount of time?

Your relationship with your financial advisors shouldn’t be one-sided: they should actively ask for your input, evaluate your risk tolerance, and suggest strategies to get you where you want to go. If you can’t get hold of your advisor, or they never take the time to talk you through an investment or retirement plan, you may want to consider switching firms.

Inconsistent Input and Self-Centered Strategies

Similarly, your financial advisor should be on top of your financial situation. Consider: 

  • Do they give me details on where they’re moving my money or why they’ve made certain investments?
  • Are they responsive to my concerns, or do they dismiss them out of turn?

If you’ve switched jobs, lost employment, or experienced another sudden change in income, your financial advisor should be willing to accommodate your change in circumstance. That might mean adjusting how much money you’re contributing to an IRA, moving around investments, or overhauling an existing retirement plan.

Your financial advisor should always be ready and willing to:

  • Listen to your concerns about their suggested plan
  • Address major life events
  • Discuss the reasoning behind their decisions

If your financial advisor isn’t willing to talk about your money with you, they may be thinking about their success more than yours.

Trusting Your Gut

Even the most successful investors, like Warren Buffet, say it’s important to trust your gut. If you’re already questioning your financial advisor’s logic, your instinct may be telling you that it’s time to move on. If you’ve spent a lot of time with one advisor—or simply did a lot of research before committing to your first—then it may be emotionally challenging to switch to another. However, the process doesn’t have to be difficult. A new, competent advisor can help you terminate your old relationship and set you up for success.

Consider a Switch and Discuss Your Options With Us

Ultimately, you’re the one who should be calling the shots when it comes to your money and wealth management. Your financial advisor should be helping you plan in accordance with your values and expectations. If you think you’re not getting the time, returns, or respect you deserve, send us a message or give us a call today at 870-275-4304. We pride ourselves on being active, responsive professionals who take the time to know what our clients want before doing our best to help them achieve their retirement dreams. 

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Carrie Russom Quraishi, JD, CAPP
Carrie provides personalized wealth management, tax and estate planning services to clients in AR, TX & TN.
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