From Credentials to Compatibility: Finding the Right Financial Advisor

Picking the right advisor can positively impact your family for generations to come, improving how you live, work, retire, and establish an enduring legacy.

With so much at stake, how do you choose? As a starting point, you should ensure your advisor will act in your best interest and be transparent about how they make their recommendations. Checking that a prospective advisor is a fiduciary can instill confidence. At Cerity Partners, our advisors are committed to acting in your best interest and providing comprehensive advice tailored to your needs. Credentials matter, too. If you’re going through a divorce, you may want a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA). If you’re selling your business, you may want to work with a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

However, it also matters that your advisor listens and understands. You want to feel comfortable sharing your hopes and fears, so communication styles and chemistry matter.  At Cerity Partners, we have a method that incorporates the tangible and intangible qualities that make for an excellent match. Here’s how we help you find the advisor best suited to your unique needs.

Step One: Getting to Know You

When you request an introduction on our website, you might expect to hear from a salesperson who assigns you to the next advisor in the queue or routes you to a few candidates in your zip code. That’s not the Cerity Partners way.

Our Concierge Program starts with a 30-minute discovery call to match you with the right advisor. During your call, our concierge asks thoughtful questions and listens intently. They’ll inquire about your goals, preferences, and circumstances, and they’ll also want to understand your approach to finances. What’s your ideal partnership?  Do you dream of starting or selling a business? How about retiring abroad or starting a second act as a philanthropist?

Step Two: Matchmaking

After your introductory call, our concierge will get to work on matching you with a financial advisor. While this process is part science and part art, here’s what the concierge is looking to ensure:

• Shared values and philosophical alignment: The right advisor will tailor strategies to your financial goals, risk tolerance, and personal circumstances. However, alignment on values, philosophy, and approach matters, too.
• Effective communication: A strong advisor communicates complex financial concepts clearly and listens to your concerns. Effective communication comes in many forms. How often do you want to hear from your advisor, and for what reasons? Do you enjoy frequent in-person strategy sessions with your advisor, or do you want quarterly check-ins? Do you prefer phone calls or emails?
• Relevant expertise: The right advisor has the experience and knowledge suited to your specific financial situation, whether you need help with estate planning, trust services, or complex investment strategies. With dozens of Cerity Partners colleagues offering a full spectrum of financial services, it’s likely we have an advisor with the precise skills and experience you need.
• Comparable clientele: When choosing a doctor, you look for a practitioner who regularly treats patients with the same medical concerns you’re confronting. The same should be true when choosing a financial advisor. You will be matched with someone experienced in serving clients at your asset level, addressing similar objectives and challenges.
• Rapport: Strong relationships often have a dimension that algorithms can’t capture and may go beyond superficial commonalities. Our concierge strives to connect clients and advisors who build strong, productive relationships.

 Step Three: Partnership

Once our concierge has done their homework, they’ll introduce you to a handpicked advisor whose strengths suit your financial situation and personal preferences. That’s when your partnership with a trusted advisor begins. Because they operate independently, they have flexibility to recommend a broad range of solutions tailored to your specific circumstances. Together, you’ll collaborate on creating a financial plan that you’ll revise when time and changing needs demand.

Take the next step: Request an introduction with our concierge to schedule your complimentary discovery call and learn how we can help address your financial goals.

Please read important disclosures here.