Choosing Financial Services Companies by Pointing a Finger in the Phonebook

You can choose financial services companies by pointing a finger in the phonebook with your eyes closed if that's what gets you the appointment, but there are more informed methods of choosing financial services companies that will treat you with respect and serve your needs like their own. It's not always easy to find the right financial services companies to take on your needs. But putting in the time and the effort is definitely worth it.

You can tell a lot about a person over the phone. Never set up a meeting with a professional financial services company until you have spoken with the broker on the phone. There are different degrees of professionalism out there and you're looking for the one that makes you comfortable. I was once actually yelled at by a broker who was trying to get my business. We were making perhaps not the wisest financial decision, and we knew it, but we were choosing to do so anyway for our own reason. Yelling at me that I couldn't do it was rather unimpressive. The way a broker or an agent speaks to you over the phone is a rather strong indicator for how he or she will treat you once you are sitting there in the office. If there isn't a lot of respect or a lot of patience, you aren't going to feel good about your financial picture or the decisions that you have made thus far when you walk out of there.

Check out the financial services companies' track record before you even bother with that first phone call. Most of the information can be found online, but it can be tedious reading for some of us. Word of mouth is also a good indicator of what to expect from different companies. Often talking to neighbors and friends can give you a fairly wide view of what your options really might be and who was completely comfortable during their time with their financial advisor. Of course, ask how promptly phone calls are returned and questions are answered. Sometimes you just have to take one person's experience as their experience and understand that it won't be your own, but if you are hearing repetitive statements from multiple people then you know that it is most likely true.

Just because you have the appointment doesn't mean that you have to opt for the services of the financial advisor in front of you. If you are uncomfortable then you should either request someone different or move on to a different financial services company. Remember that you are the client, and therefore you are the reason that the broker, agent, or advisor has a job. No need to expect the red carpet, but definitely a need for basic respect. Choosing financial services companies without the phonebook roulette can be a little time consuming but your overall financial health is most definitely worth the extra effort.