FINDING YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR

In this compact self-help book, two financial advisers demystify the financial service industry.

Richey and Perry, who run a wealth management firm, open their book by pitching their services and listing the reasons people look for financial advice. These range from the traumatic, such as the death of a family member, to the celebratory, like getting a big raise. Based on the core belief that “A financial advisor should primarily be, throughout all stages of your engagement, your Financial Advocate,” the book asserts that it was “written in the spirit of advocating for individuals and families seeking financial advice and assistance with their financial goals, dreams, and needs.” The chapters that follow contain simple explanations of investment strategies, a section on who not to choose as a financial adviser, a list of services that should be offered by reputable financial advisers, and a guide for interviewing advisers in order to evaluate which is best suited to the individual’s needs. A helpful explanation of typical fee structures notes, “It is most important to make sure that how you pay your wealth-management team is entirely transparent and aligns with your goals.” The authors promote their firm throughout the guide (“We have strategically built our team over three decades to serve the complex needs that investors face today”), but this doesn’t undermine their informed advice. The prose is accessible, and Richey and Perry make a convincing case that financial advice can grow and protect wealth, even for those without a large investment portfolio. Without investing hours of study or wading through jargon, readers are likely to emerge from reading this book with a better understanding of whom to hire to manage their money. Additional resources are available on the book’s website.

A concise, effective guide to finding the right financial adviser.