Tips For Choosing An Advisor

How do I choose the right advisor?
Important questions to ask before
you hire an investment advisor.
Discover the difference with a Registered Investment Advisor.
This content is made available by
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. for
educational purposes.

To choose an advisor you feel
comfortable with—both personally
and professionally—it’s smart to take
your time, talk face-to-face and ask the
right questions.

Questions to Ask Yourself
What are my choices?............................................................................................. 3
Where do I start?................................................................................................... 4
Questions to Ask Advisors
What are your credentials?...................................................................................... 7
Do you offer the services I need?.............................................................................. 8
How are you compensated?................................................................................... 10
How will we work together?................................................................................... 11
How do you approach investing for people like me? ................................................... 12
Where will my assets be held? ................................................................................ 13
My Notes
Use these pages to prepare for advisor conversations ................................................. 14
Are you looking for your first investment advisor?
Or do you feel that your current advisor no longer
meets your needs? This booklet can help you ask the
right questions to make an informed choice.

Questions to Ask Yourself
Being able to clearly articulate your needs and expectations
will help you and the advisors you talk with make an informed
decision about whether you’re right for each other.
Suggestion: List the reasons you’re looking for an advisor in
My Notes on page 15.
2

3
Why an independent RIA may be a good choice for you
They’re independent Independent RIAs generally have affiliations with a variety of
firms that assist with tax planning, estate planning, money
management and more. These affiliations allow RIAs to help
their clients with complex financial needs.
They’re usually
fee-based
Independent RIAs often charge fees based on a percentage
of your assets—so growing your portfolio benefits you both.
Your assets are
generally held by
a third party
Independent RIAs typically manage your assets in an account
they open for you with a third-party custodian—a bank or
brokerage firm.
• The account is in your name, and the custodian sends you
account statements that detail all the transactions your
advisor has made for you.
• You may pay the custodian for its services separately from
what you pay your advisor.
* This brochure is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement of any specific advisor. You
must decide whether to hire an advisor, what authority to give the advisor and what type of advisor
is right for you.
What are my choices?
When you’re choosing an advisor, trust is essential. You can
find advisors in a variety of places—in a larger financial firm
such as a brokerage house or bank, or in an independent
advisory firm. This brochure is designed to help you learn
about and select an independent registered investment
advisor (RIA), but can also be used more broadly to select an
advisor in general.*

4
1
Start with a preliminary screening.
You can review pertinent information about an advisor even
before you meet. All RIAs are required to publicly disclose
details about their business by filing a Form ADV. You can
review the Form ADV on the SEC website for federally
registered RIAs at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
• Form ADV Part 1 describes an advisor’s advisory services,
compensation, disciplinary history and other aspects of its
business operations.
• Form ADV Part 2 describes an advisor’s services, fees and
investment strategies. Advisors are required to give you
Part 2 information before you hire them.
Keep in mind that not all investment advisors are registered.
State-registered RIAs may not file a Form ADV, and advisors
who are exempt reporting firms only complete parts of
Form ADV.
Where do I start?
Whether you’re starting with a list of recommended advisors
or you have a specific advisor in mind, the following three
steps can help you make a thoughtful choice.
Things to check on Form ADV:*
Type of business
Assets under management
Affiliations with other financial services companies
Services offered
Disciplinary history
* Other information is available on Form ADV. This list is not all-inclusive.

5
3
Prepare to
interview advisors.
As you begin to talk with
advisors, you’ll want to
evaluate them objectively.
Asking each advisor a
consistent set of questions
will help ensure that you
have the information you
need to make a good
comparison.
Suggested questions
start on the next page of
this booklet.
2
Know your investment objectives.
Identifying your objectives will help you select an advisor
who is in tune with your ultimate goals and personal
preferences. Advisors will want to know:
Your investment goals—What are you working toward:
A comfortable retirement? Leaving a legacy?
Philanthropic goals?
Risk tolerance—How much fluctuation in value can you
tolerate in exchange for the opportunity to earn above-
average returns?
Time horizon—When will you need to withdraw money
from your investments?
Income needs—Do you need current income from your
portfolio? How much?
Tax situation—Does your tax bracket require a tax-
sensitive strategy?
Other holdings—Do you have significant wealth tied up
in real estate or other illiquid assets?
Other needs—Do you have complex planning needs
related to wealth transfer, executive compensation, risk
management, business succession planning or philan-
thropic planning?
Suggestion: Jot down your objectives in My Notes on
page 16.

Questions to Ask Advisors
An advisor you’ll be comfortable working with is one who
welcomes your questions and gives you answers you can
understand.
If you don’t understand something, ask, ask and ask again.
6

7
Common Credentials*
CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™)
CFPs have completed university-level financial planning coursework and
passed a 10-hour exam covering nearly 90 topics, from group medical
insurance to derivatives.
More information: www.cfp.net
CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst®)
CFAs must pass three exams, each of which demands a minimum of 250
hours of study and includes corporate finance and financial statements.
More information: www.cfainstitute.org
PFS (Personal Financial Specialist)
PFSs are certified public accountants who specialize in personal financial
planning. The credential requires a detailed exam and significant financial
planning expertise.
More information: www.aicpa.org
CIMA® (Certified Investment Management AnalystSM
)
CIMAs focus on asset allocation and typically complete final coursework at
the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, or at the
University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
More information: www.imca.org
* Not a complete list of certifications. There is no implied endorsement of one certification over
another.
Suggestion: Visit the website of the organization that issued
an advisor’s credential to verify that the advisor is a member
in good standing.
What are your credentials?
An advisor’s professional designations can tell you a great
deal about his or her education and areas of expertise.

8
Money managers
If you need someone to manage your
portfolio and do your investing,
consider money managers. They:
Design investment portfolios,
generally consisting of stocks, bonds
and other individual securities.
Often manage the portfolio on a
discretionary basis, meaning that you
authorize the advisor to trade on
your behalf without the need for
advance approval from you.
May not offer general financial
planning services.
Financial planners
If you need someone to review
your situation and help with big-
picture planning, consider financial
planners. They:
Help you look to the future and do
long-term financial planning in the
areas of retirement, college funding,
wealth transfer, tax planning and
insurance.
May not offer investing and portfolio
management services.
Do you offer the services I need?
Investment advisory practices vary widely in the services they
provide. In general, they fall into one or a combination of the
categories listed below.

9
Wealth managers
If you need an advisor who can handle
both your investing and your planning
needs, consider wealth managers. They:
Provide highly personalized, compre-
hensive financial planning as well as
investment and portfolio management
for high-net-worth clients.
Coordinate with other professional
advisors, such as attorneys and
accountants, to serve more complex
financial needs, which may include tax
minimization, trust management,
wealth transfers, real estate manage-
ment, portfolio performance analytics
and more.
Services I need from an advisor:
Investing
Portfolio analysis
Portfolio design
Discretionary portfolio management
Ongoing investment advice
Cash management
Budgeting
Retirement income
Planning
Retirement
Education funding
Business succession
Charitable giving
Personal and business lending
Wealth transfers
Trusts and estate plans
Insurance review

10
Types of compensation and what they mean to you:
Fee only
Asset-based, hourly or flat fees: Many RIAs charge a percentage of the
assets they manage for you (typically 1%–2%). This compensation
method rewards your advisor for growing your portfolio. Hourly or
flat fees are often associated with a specific, one-time service (e.g.,
developing a financial plan). The fee may vary by account size and
service. In addition to these fees, you may pay commissions and/or
other fees for execution of the trades your advisor makes and for
custody of your assets.
Fee plus commissions
Along with an advisory or financial planning fee, some advisors may
receive a portion of the commissions you pay when you buy or sell
certain financial products that the advisor recommends, such as
insurance policies or annuities.
Commissions only
Advisors sometimes receive only compensation from sales commissions
on the investments they buy and sell for you. This method may give the
advisor an incentive to recommend that you buy and sell more often.
Wrap fees
Sometimes advisors charge a “wrap fee,” which is typically a single
asset-based fee for both the advice they provide and the execution of
the trades they make.
How are you compensated?
Knowing how your advisor is compensated may help you
evaluate the relative objectivity of the recommendations
you receive. RIAs generally work on a fee-only or fee-plus-
commissions basis.

11
What to ask:
Who will I work with?
In some cases, the firm’s principal may conduct your initial meeting,
and then turn your portfolio over to an associate or a team who
actually manages it. If personal rapport is important to you, ask to
meet personally with the people you’ll be working with.
How often will we communicate?
Regular contact helps ensure that you and your advisor are clear about
your financial goals, risk tolerance and investment strategy. Typically
your advisor meets you in person at least annually—and stays in touch
more frequently by phone and email.
How will you report performance?
At a minimum, you should expect to receive:
• Account statements from the advisor or custodian/brokerage firm
where your assets are held
• Quarterly summaries of year-to-date investment performance
• A comprehensive annual performance report from your advisor
What is the size of your firm?
A firm’s size—including the number of employees, assets under
management and the average portfolio size—can have a bearing on
the quality of service you receive.
• Large firms may have more resources—an important consideration if
your needs call for specialized services. Small firms may offer more
personalized attention.
• The average portfolio size of the advisor’s other clients helps you
understand your potential fit with the firm.
How will we work together?
Good communication between you and your advisor is
essential. Asking the questions below can help you judge
the amount of attention and regular communication you
can expect.

12
Performance
• Ask to see portfolio performance numbers for up and down markets.
• Ask the advisor to compare the performance with relevant
benchmarks, such as the SP 500®, during the same time period.
• An advisor should at least meet—and preferably beat—the
benchmark.
Investment style
• Advisors may specialize in certain types of investments (such as
mutual funds, stocks or bonds) and styles (such as growth or value).
• You can assess whether the advisor’s methodology or style aligns
with your objectives.
• Asking about an advisor’s investment style is a good way to make
sure that the advisor can explain his or her approach clearly and in a
way that you understand.
Decision making
• Advisors who have a disciplined approach to decision making may
be more likely to stay focused on your long-term goals.
• Many advisors use an asset allocation strategy that has a history of
success over time. Your strategy should be based on your goals, time
horizon and comfort with risk.
• Knowing how often an advisor adjusts portfolios can indicate
whether the advisor uses a strategic, long-term approach or invests
in short-term trends.
How do you approach
investing for people like me?
Before discussing investments an advisor should get to know
you, your financial issues and your goals for today and the
future. This will allow the advisor to give investment advice
that’s rooted in a deep understanding of what you want to
achieve and can be tailored to your specific needs.

13
Why should you ask this question?
You want to be confident that your advisor has chosen a custodian that meets
or exceeds the security measures required by industry regulators to protect
your assets.
• Look for a custodian with important services like trade execution and
preparation of monthly brokerage statements, which will allow your advisor
to concentrate on managing your portfolio.
• Ask about the custodian’s policies to protect both personal and financial
information from unauthorized activity.
We hope this guide will help you
choose an advisor who is right for you.
You can find more information about choosing
advisors on these websites.
Professional designations and what they mean:
www.finra.org
Protection for brokerage accounts:
www.sipc.org
Access to Form ADV for RIAs:
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov
Where will my assets
be held?
RIAs typically use independent custodians—generally
brokerage firms or banks—to hold and safeguard their
clients’ stocks, mutual funds and other assets.

14
[ My Notes ]
As you begin your search for an investment advisor, you may find it helpful to jot down
your thoughts and comments on these pages. Keeping everything in one place—
including notes about your own needs and goals and the questions you want to ask—
can help make your search more productive.

15
[ My Notes ]
Why I’m looking for an advisor
Sharing your reasons can give advisors a better understanding of your priorities.
If you’re currently investing on your own:
My portfolio has grown too complex to comfortably manage.
My portfolio is not meeting my performance goals.
I want someone else to do the day-to-day investing.
I’d rather be spending my time on other things.
I need help with a plan that addresses my entire financial picture.
I need help with a windfall, such as money from a home sale.
I’m retiring and want to create a reliable income stream.
I want help with tax-efficient investing or developing an estate plan.
If you’re already working with an advisor:
My portfolio has outgrown my advisor’s expertise.
I question the advice I’m currently receiving.
The advice I receive doesn’t reflect my goals, situation, life stage or risk tolerance.
My advisor doesn’t seem to be listening to me.
Other reasons:

16
[ My Notes ]
My investing objectives
To help an advisor understand your current situation and goals, you may find it helpful to jot
down your thoughts before meeting.
My investment goals—What am I working toward: A comfortable retirement? Leaving a
legacy? Funding college?
My comfort with investment risk—How much fluctuation in value can I tolerate in exchange
for the opportunity to earn above-average returns?
My time horizon—When will I need to withdraw money from my investments?
My income needs—Do I need current income from my portfolio? How much?

[ My Notes ]
My tax situation—Does my tax bracket require an investing strategy that minimizes taxes?
Other holdings—Do I have significant wealth tied up in real estate or other illiquid assets?
Other needs—Do I have complex planning needs related to wealth transfer, executive
compensation, risk management, business succession planning or philanthropic planning?
17
Not sure about your
objectives?
“I don’t know” is a perfectly
fine answer. Advisors often
begin by helping you
articulate your objectives.

18
[ My Notes ]
Qualifications
Professional credentials?
Education?
Years of experience?

19
[ My Notes ]
Services
Investing
Portfolio analysis
Portfolio design
Portfolio management
Ongoing advice
Cash management
Budgeting
Retirement income
Planning
Retirement
Education funding
Business succession
Charitable giving
Personal and business
lending
Wealth transfers
Trusts and estates
Insurance review
Compensation
Fee only?
Fee and commissions?
Commissions only?
Wrap fees?

20
[ My Notes ]
Performance
Investing style?
Decision making?
Results?
Relationship
Primary contact?
Number of clients served?
Average assets per client?
Communication frequency?

21
[ My Notes ]
Custody
Assets in my name?
Independent custodian?
Name of custodian?
Visit www.riastandsforyou.com
for more information.

The SP 500® Index is an index of widely traded stocks. Indexes are
unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses and cannot be invested
in directly.
This content is made available by Charles Schwab Co., Inc. for
educational purposes.
©2011 Charles Schwab Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Member SIPC.
CS14919-15 (0911-5143) SLS63878-01 (10/11)

Tips For Choosing An Advisor

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