The 50 Smartest Things to Do with Your Moneyby David Futrelle, George Mannes and Cybele Weisser
June 7, 2005
# 45: Have a financial plan
Hire a financial planner to review your retirement and college savings plans. At…http://www.myfinancialadvice.com/ you'll find planners who work by the hour (usually $150 to $200 per)…
Money: Dial a Plannerby Linda Stern
February 14, 2005
Touchy-feely is not always the best, or cheapest, way to get financial advice. Some money pros are now offering quick counseling by phone or e-mail for questions like "Which mortgage is better?" or "Should I dump this fund?“ Here's where to find them: Myfinancialadvice.com. Practically instant answers, sometimes as cheap as $20 for a tax fact. Experts will rebalance your 401(k) portfolio for $200 or provide a debt-consolidation blueprint for $100…
© 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
Faster Cheaper BetterAdvice On The Cheap
December 2004
Even independent investors need professional advice occasionally, but seeking help means an expensive, long-term relationship. A new Web site, Myfinancialadvice.com, has teamed up with 100 financial advisers who help on an as-needed basis, usually charging between $150 and $350 per project. You can search by specialty, interview the advisers and receive a proposal before committing. All advisers have at least three years’ experience and appropriate credentials. Most important, they don’t sell investment products, so there’s no danger of bias.
–Anne Kadet
Make a Financial Match Onlineby Erin Burt
December 8, 2004
On-the-spot advice
Myfinancialadvice.com takes its referral service a step further by acting as a mediator between you and the adviser, making sure the fees and objectives are clear before you enter a relationship…The first thing you see on the site is a list of financial topics ranging from investing to insurance to employee benefits. Select an area that you want some help with, and you instantly get a list of knowledgeable advisers, in a table that's easy to read and compare. This includes a summary of their services, certifications, and preferred methods of contact (phone and/or email). It also tells you how expensive the fees will be, ranging from one dollar sign (under $125 per hour) to four dollar signs ($180-$400 per hour). Click on an adviser's name to get more detailed information, including the hours he or she is in the office.
To get the contact info, you'll have to register with the site, but it's free of charge. For e-mail inquiries, use the form provided on Myfinancialadvice.com to pose your question and send it to the adviser of your choice. The expert then sends a reply to your message center on the site presenting a proposal, including how much he or she will charge to answer your question, and when it will be ready. If you accept the proposal, the site prompts you for your credit card info and notifies your planner to go ahead with the project.
We asked one planner about borrowing money from our 401(k) to boost a down payment for a house. She got back to us a couple hours later and offered to give us a detailed answer within two days for $75. We asked a second planner a question about the impact of marriage on our credit rating. He got back to us the next day offering his advice for $20…
You can get financial help quickly through this site because it focuses on finding you an expert anywhere in the country who can answer your question…And you don't need to set up an initial meeting if you don't want to. You just ask your question and get an answer. MyFinancialAdvice requires its planners have at least three years experience, a clean regulatory record and proper certification…
Dont' Sweat It!BY Ellen McGirt
November 2004
Comprehensive—and pricey—financial plans are so 1999. The hot idea now is “spot financial planning,” where a specific need can be addressed by buying a few hours of unbiased, personalized financial advice.
SPOT FINANCIAL PLANNERS Is a Roth IRA right for you? Should you borrow from your 401(k) to buy a home? Do you have enough life insurance? In the past, financial planners were too expensive (or required a serious commitment of assets under management) to be a ready resource when life's conundrums surfaced. Not so with today's spot financial planners. "It's a trend that works for both the professional and the client," says Glenn Hermanson, a certified financial planner affiliated with myfinancialadvice.com, a website that matches clients with advisers. "I get clients that I can now serve in a cost-effective way for me—online—and people who might not ordinarily have access to a credentialed professional can get real help." Theresa Ivey, a newlywed in Fort Meyers, Fla., wanted some budgeting advice, a suggested portfolio mix for her savings and an insurance review, but little else. For $75, she says, "I got exactly what I wanted: an abbreviated financial plan and great service.“ With no pressure to buy products, she felt comfortable with the advice. "I wasn't belittled or intimidated."
How much? And how to find them Myfinancialadvice.com offers an online database of nearly 100 vetted advisers (and growing), complete with specialties, credentials and photos. You can pose your question or project to as many planners as catch your eye, then review competitive bids for your business. Phone consultations help you make your decision. Small tasks can be handled for anywhere from $15 (a quick tax question) to a few hundred dollars (a college savings plan for your family). Hourly rates vary for tougher undertakings…
|
 |
Related Links
|