1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to How to Money. I'm Joel and today I'm 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: talking DIY or delegate the financial advisor conundrum with Pam Kruger. Okay, 3 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: so a financial advisor won't fix your money problems, but 4 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: many folks assume that by hiring a pro they're well 5 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 1: on their way to financial success. Maybe maybe not. That 6 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 1: depends on a bunch of different factors that we're going 7 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: to discuss today. And if you want to hire an 8 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: advisor but you're not sure where to start, we're going 9 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: to talk about that too. Pam Kruger is an investor advocate. 10 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: She co hosted money Track on PBS for many years. 11 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: She's also the founder of wealth ramp dot com, which 12 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,319 Speaker 1: is a really big part of what we're gonna it's 13 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: going to enter into this conversation. She cares deeply about 14 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: helping individual investors make wise decisions. So, Pam, thank you 15 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: so much for joining me today on the show. 16 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 2: Thank you, Jil it's a pleasure. 17 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 3: So glad to have you here. 18 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: We connected last week and I just really enjoyed getting 19 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: to know you, and I was like, oh my gosh, 20 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: I have to have Pam on to talk about financial 21 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: advisors because this is one of those pitfalls that people 22 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: so often face. But before we get into that, I 23 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: want to know what you splore, John, your craft beer equivalent, 24 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: because that's something I'm spending money on fiercely even while 25 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: I'm trying to save and invest for my future. Is 26 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: what's your splurge. 27 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 2: I'm trying not to add to any weight around the 28 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 2: middle of the waste, so it's not going to be 29 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 2: the beer this time. But I'm telling you last weekend 30 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 2: I had a real tussle with myself because I want 31 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 2: to upgrade my bike and I'm going to I was 32 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: thinking about trading my bike in and then I came 33 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: home and I said, Pam, nine hundred dollars versus I'm 34 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 2: doing some work in the kitchen, and you know you 35 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: can't do it all. 36 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 3: That's true. 37 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 2: So yeah, I had to pull myself back from the brink. 38 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: But if you want someone to sign off to co 39 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: sign your expense on upgrading your bike, you've come to 40 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,959 Speaker 1: the right place. Because I'm bike obsessed as well, so 41 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: I'm going to get. 42 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 2: Some emotional support from you. 43 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: Then I say go for it. We're talking e bike, 44 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: were talking road bike, Like. 45 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 2: What are you looking a bike? It's a road bike. 46 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 2: It's just you. I love my bike, but I tested 47 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 2: over one this weekend and I fell in love. And 48 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 2: of course the owner of the bike shop was like, Pam, 49 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 2: such a deal I can give you if I trade 50 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: this in and do that and do this. I got 51 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 2: excited in the moment, but I did the smart thing, Joel. 52 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 2: I did the smart thing. I said, give myself a 53 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: cool off period. Yes, go home and think about it, 54 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 2: and if you feel that way by next weekend, go 55 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 2: for it. But if it starts to dwindle, maybe let 56 00:02:59,520 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: it go. 57 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: The waiting period is clutch. And my daughter realized that 58 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: recently talked about that on the show where she wanted 59 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: a vintage cabbage patch doll, and I love that. She 60 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: was like, you know what, I'm gonna sit on this overnight, 61 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: and then she ended up saying it's worth the money. 62 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go back and get it. But that sort 63 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: of patience is oh good. It's hard for most of 64 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: us to muster up. So I'm glad that you were 65 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: able to do that. Even if you ultimately end up 66 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: purchasing this bike, I think it'll be more fulfilling because 67 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: you waited and you decided. Now this is for real 68 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 1: what I want. 69 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: I agree, and I'm glad your daughter did the cool 70 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 2: off too. All it's mixed for a better decision, right, 71 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: She's a she's. 72 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: A smart cookie. I don't know where it comes from. Okay, 73 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: So you, Pam, you are. You're incredibly knowledgeable on the 74 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: money in investing front. You've been in this space for 75 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: a long time. And we're going to talk about financial 76 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: advisors a lot. There's so much to get into on 77 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: the nitty gritty of finding an advisor, whether or not 78 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: you need an advisor. I just want to start off 79 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: by asking, do you personally have a financial advisor? 80 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: Yes? And no. Well, I don't want to eat I 81 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 2: don't want to drink my own kool aid all the time. 82 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 2: I need somebody who's going to be coming into my 83 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: life every now and again to spot check to make 84 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: sure that I'm really seeing the numbers that that I 85 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 2: don't just want to see, but that are real. I 86 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 2: need somebody to challenge me, you know, and say, have 87 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 2: you thought about it this way, if you thought about 88 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: it that way, what if this? What if that? So 89 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 2: right now, it Joel's kind of on a spotty basis, 90 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: but the time's going to come when I Am going 91 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 2: to get closer to retirement. And when that day comes, 92 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 2: there's no question about it, I'm going to want to 93 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 2: engage with somebody on an ongoing basis because for me personally, 94 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 2: I don't want to do all the tax loss harvesting 95 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 2: and roth conversion decisions and timing. And I call it 96 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 2: like the maintenance of the garden. Right, You've got to feed, 97 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: you've got to weed, you've got a deadhead. You've got 98 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: to do everything planting in your portfolio so it'll grow 99 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 2: for you. You either want to do some of it yourself, 100 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 2: all of it yourself, or not of it yourself. 101 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it just sometimes it just depends on what 102 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: place you are at in your financial journey. So, especially 103 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 1: given the audience we're talking to here, we've got a 104 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: lot of people who are keen to try the DIY thing. 105 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 1: We've got a lot of younger listeners who are like 106 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: financial Advisor. I mean, I'm just trying to figure out 107 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: a budget and start putting money in my four to 108 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: oh one K or they've made some progress, let's say, 109 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: and they're like, I've built up a decent nest egg. 110 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: I don't know if a financial advisor is right for me. 111 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: And I feel like from the financial advisor industry, what 112 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: we often hear is that they're the silver bullet, right, 113 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 1: this is the key that unlocks your ability to achieve 114 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: financial success, and that a financial advisors for everybody. Is 115 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 1: that true or false? 116 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: False? No, not at all. You are the silver bullet. 117 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 2: And whether or not you use and I'll put it 118 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: that way, you use it advice or financial coaches expertise, 119 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 2: you're paying for that time. You're paying for their expertise, 120 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: and you're paying for their advice. You are the silver bullet. 121 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 2: You want to go into it knowing exactly what you're 122 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: expecting to get out of it and exactly what you're 123 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 2: getting for the money, and you want to understand exactly 124 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 2: how you're paying the advisor and why you're paying the advisor. 125 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 2: When you do that, then you're in control. 126 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: You mentioned a financial coach, and that's something I squarely 127 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: agree with you here on especially, and you are someone 128 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: who runs a website that helps people find a financial advisor, 129 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: and so I just appreciate your honesty and integrity and 130 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: saying that it doesn't it's not the best move for 131 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 1: most folks. A money coach or somebody along those lines, 132 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: And there are accredited, accredited status that some people in 133 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: that industry are getting. There a few different certifications you 134 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: can get. I wholeheartedly agree with you, Especially in the 135 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: beginning of your money journey, whether it's self being self 136 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: taught or finding somebody in that orbit, it can make 137 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: a lot more sense. So, yeah, do you think for 138 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 1: for people in those early stages, that's usually a place 139 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: you should turn instead of going directly to like the 140 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: super pro buttoned up financial advisor you could. 141 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: You probably don't have a ton of complexity in your 142 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 2: life at this point, so certainly at that point in 143 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: your life, it's not about getting an advisor. If you 144 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 2: felt you needed some guidance, the very very first place 145 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 2: I would go is I'm gonna preface this by saying 146 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 2: that free advice is usually pretty expensive. In other words, 147 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 2: it usually sucks. 148 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I thought you were gonna say, chat CHEPT. I 149 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: was hoping that that's not the case. 150 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, that does suck because thirty five percent of the 151 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: time the answers are wrong. Go check it out. Go 152 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 2: check it out. You already know, but you unless you know, 153 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 2: Unless you check it you maybe you don't know thirty 154 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 2: five percent of the time is too much for me. 155 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 2: What one out of every three questions I'm going to 156 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 2: ask it has to do with my life is going 157 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 2: to be wrong. I mean, chatchp, he's fantastic for somethings. 158 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 2: But let's let's go back to the guidance from the 159 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 2: human that we're thinking about. When the first place I 160 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 2: like to go is free, Okay, now that's I'm saying 161 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: that with a caveat amp. Tour of free advice is 162 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: usually not so great because your uncle, your uncle Bob 163 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: might say I've got some free advice for your dol, 164 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 2: and that might not be very good advice at all, 165 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 2: because you know, he might have made a disaster out 166 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 2: of his financial life. 167 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: Don't throw my uncle under the bus, pam, Okay, not that. 168 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 2: Uncle, that's right, right. So let's say that you're young, 169 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 2: you know, meaning you're in your twenties, you know, you 170 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 2: might be in your thirties, and you're you're either trying 171 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: to get out of debt, you're trying to figure out 172 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 2: the steps to build wealth. You're trying to figure out 173 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 2: how am I going to find the money ever for 174 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 2: a down payment on a house? How am I going 175 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 2: to find the money to put in my four own 176 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 2: K just to get the free match money that's available. 177 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 2: So it all starts with you and you deciding you 178 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 2: have an appetite to learn. Now, everybody listening here has 179 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 2: an appetite to learn, or they wouldn't be here. And 180 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 2: so once you're at that point, you say, now I 181 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 2: want some guidance beyond chat GPT. Then I say, look 182 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 2: to the free resources that are available that can support 183 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 2: you in the coaching realm. Whereas that maybe where you work. 184 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 2: Maybe where you work, the benefits that you have at 185 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 2: work may well include financial wellness. That means that there 186 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 2: are coaches. Many times there's cfps, but they're accredited. Generally speaking, 187 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 2: they might be certified financial Wellness coach. That's the person 188 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 2: you can go to and you can say, here's my situation. 189 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 2: I'd like to learn more about, you know, figuring out 190 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 2: how I can both pay down debt at the same 191 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 2: time I can start investing. But I don't want to 192 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 2: invest stupidly. I've done my homework. I'm interested in the 193 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 2: following things. And then you start a dialogue. Now that 194 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 2: costs you nothing because your employer is paying for it. 195 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 2: But you're not going to get one on one like 196 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:09,079 Speaker 2: strategic advice and tax planning and stay planning, and you 197 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 2: don't need that, but you're going to get some coaching. 198 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 2: The other way is to go on your own in 199 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 2: search of a coach. We have coaches on our platform 200 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: that we recommend to people when they say, yeah, I'm 201 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 2: willing to spend a little bit of money to subscribe, 202 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,599 Speaker 2: or it's like me going to yoga, you know what 203 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 2: I mean Online, I will pay something if it's a 204 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 2: great yoga class and I'm going to get something out 205 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 2: of it. So that's where coaching can really help you 206 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 2: to really figure out. Mostly a lot of times it's 207 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 2: just your behavior and you're managing your day to day money, 208 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 2: and frankly, sometimes it's to give you encouragement that you're 209 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 2: not alone, don't beat yourself up. Everything costs money and 210 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 2: you're trying to make ends meet and live paycheck to paycheck. 211 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 2: It's just sometimes the coach is really the coach like 212 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 2: really helping you emotionally and behaviorally. 213 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: And one of the things that is really crucial too 214 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: is kind of developing a taste for learning about personal 215 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 1: finance and becoming a perpetual learner. I think in that space, 216 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: I think some people assume outsourcing. 217 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:17,839 Speaker 3: I don't really care. 218 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: I don't care about this topic. Let me outsource this, 219 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: hire it out, and you can do that with something. 220 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: So you cannot care about how bogonias grow and have 221 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: a gardener that tends to that for you. But when 222 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: it comes to your personal finance, nobody's going to care 223 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: about your money as much as you do. And in fact, 224 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,320 Speaker 1: if you know nothing about it, there's a good chance 225 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 1: you're going to hire someone who's not actively working in 226 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: your best interest. So not knowing anything and just hiring out, 227 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: that's a recipe for failure too. 228 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 2: Right, Absolutely, if you go into it, no matter who 229 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 2: you are, no matter how little or how much money 230 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 2: you've saved, no matter how big your problem is or 231 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 2: your challenge or your goal. You want to be in 232 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,119 Speaker 2: the fire movement, you want to retire early. It doesn't 233 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 2: matter what you want to accomplish. What really matters is 234 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 2: that you are the driver, and any guidance that you're 235 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: going to get, they're sitting in the passenger seat next 236 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: to you, right, But you want to be the driver. Now, 237 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 2: Some people get to a point where they know the 238 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 2: advisors so well, and they have a lot of money 239 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 2: that they need to have managed their portfolio. They want 240 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 2: their portfolio managed. But they're still going to stay in 241 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 2: the car, so they switch seats, so they go in 242 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 2: the passenger seat. But the reason that I use this 243 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:37,559 Speaker 2: car analogy is because you're looking out the windshield together 244 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 2: and you're seeing the same weather conditions, the same economy, 245 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 2: the same questions you have about policies on tariffs or 246 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 2: whatever it might be, or what's going on with inflation, 247 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 2: or what's going to happen with the stock market. You 248 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 2: are learning on that journey and you may not realize it, 249 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 2: but the little bits of knowledge that you're gaining, and 250 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 2: this is predicated on the fact that you that the 251 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 2: idea that you have the right advisor, Joel, not just 252 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 2: an advisor, not just a coach. 253 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 3: You have the right coach, the right plug and play. 254 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: Just get any generic person it kind of suit who 255 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: has initials after their name, right. 256 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 2: But I don't know too many people that are going 257 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 2: to walk up to their car and tell the advisor, Okay, 258 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 2: here are the keys, get in. I hope you drive 259 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 2: carefully by the way, let me know how it goes, right, not. 260 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 2: Most people don't let their savings get driven off into 261 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 2: the sunset. If the advisor is pushing that at the 262 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: get go, and you know, asking you to delegate everything 263 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 2: and doesn't want to spend time with you, and isn't 264 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 2: very generous with their time and their knowledge, and you're 265 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 2: not going to learn anything, best to head out the door. 266 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 2: That's not the sign of a good collaboration. You can 267 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,319 Speaker 2: definitely delegate and have the advisor do the driving if 268 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,319 Speaker 2: you don't want to manage your portfolio, or we can 269 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 2: go back to the gardening, you know, if you don't 270 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 2: want to do it all, but don't leave completely. You 271 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 2: want to make sure that you that's what's going to 272 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 2: give you the confidence is because you actually understand the 273 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 2: financial plan. You understand the tax minimization strategy. It's also 274 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 2: aligned with the investment strategy that's also connected to your 275 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 2: family and your plans and your real estate. So you 276 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 2: need to be in and present an accounted for at 277 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 2: these meetings or don't do it. 278 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: So some people listening like would fall into that group 279 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: of well, my assets are too small anyway, I'm just 280 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: not ready to work with advisor. I'm going to DIY 281 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: route I'm trying to get to critical mass, but some 282 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: advisors are pretty picky about who they'll work with, and 283 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: they wouldn't want to work with those clients anyway. Do 284 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: you see that as a problem in that industry, that 285 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: people who want to work with an advisor, they want 286 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: to find somebody to be their co pilot, but then 287 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: they get told, sorry, you don't have enough money for 288 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: me to work with you. How big of a problem 289 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: is that? 290 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: The problem is binding the knowing that there are lots 291 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 2: of advisors who work with clients who have, you know, 292 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 2: very small amounts of money. Lots. The problem is you 293 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 2: can't find them, and you don't know where to look, 294 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 2: and you don't know what the quality is, and it's 295 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 2: hard to vet them. But you have to go find 296 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 2: them because most of the big firms that advertise on 297 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 2: TV or wherever they're going to have minimums of you know, 298 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 2: half million, a million, and there are advisors in my 299 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 2: network who want to have a minimum of five million. 300 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: But when people come to me looking for and they've 301 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 2: got maybe seventy five thousand dollars to one hundred thousand 302 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 2: dollars saved, and they do want an advisor or they've 303 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 2: got two hundred and fifty thousand. They're not going to 304 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: come to me and find that they're getting shot out. 305 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 2: I have already curated a network that is a constellation 306 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 2: of different advisors with different expertise and different types of clients. 307 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: It's perfectly okay for an advisory firm to say we 308 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 2: specialize in clients who are very complex. Let's say that 309 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 2: it's a they work with founders of startups, and those 310 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 2: startup founders generally end up with you know, five million 311 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 2: dollars plus because they sold their shares, their equity, and 312 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 2: they had stock options all that time. That kind of 313 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 2: tax advice be goes hand in hand with that type 314 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 2: of client might mean that that particular advisor says, that's 315 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 2: my client, that's who I specialize in. So no, I'm 316 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 2: not going to talk to Joel who has fifty thousand. 317 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 3: Dollars who runs the stupid podcast. 318 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 2: And other advisors are the opposite, and they're going to say, 319 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 2: I specialize in working with young people who are mid 320 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 2: career and finding that their lives are changing and now 321 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: they have to juggle kids, house, you know, everything under 322 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 2: the sun, and as they age, complexity gets a little 323 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 2: bit more and they specialize. So advisors do specialize in 324 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 2: different types of clients. 325 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: Are like rules of thumb for somebody listening, and they're like, 326 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: I don't know where I fall on the spectrum. They're like, 327 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: is an advisor? Am I at the right point in 328 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 1: my life where an advisor makes sense? Or not? What 329 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 1: rules of thumb might you tell them? Or what questions 330 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: might you prod them with to help them decide whether 331 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: or not hiring somebody makes sense? 332 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 2: That this juncture usually jo When people come to me, 333 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 2: it's because they've hit some sort of obstacle or they 334 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,160 Speaker 2: feel that they've gone to the edges of their own 335 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:40,199 Speaker 2: ability to Maybe it's managed your own portfolio using digital tools, 336 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 2: maybe it's investing in ETFs or whatever. Wherever they're at 337 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 2: in their journey, they get to a point where they say, 338 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 2: I feel like I've done everything I can do myself, 339 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: and now it's time for fresh eyes. Now the fresh 340 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 2: eyes could simply be coaching and guidance, and you might 341 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 2: be able to get that, you know, free financial wellness 342 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 2: at work, or hire a coach, or you might say, no, 343 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 2: I actually need actionable advice that I can actually get specific, 344 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:18,400 Speaker 2: prescriptive advice that I'll pay for. Here's the difference between 345 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 2: what you get from a coach and what you get 346 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 2: from a financial advisor. A coach is going to say 347 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 2: the following, You're going to come to me with a problem. 348 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 2: You're going to explain it. I'm going to kind of, 349 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 2: you know, say it back to you, and then I'm 350 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 2: going to say, if I were you, I'd look at this, Joel. 351 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 2: If I were you, I would look at that, Joel, 352 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 2: and point out the things that you can then take 353 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 2: home as your homework. You've got guidance, but you're going 354 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 2: to do it on your own. You're going to execute 355 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 2: everything on your own. An advisor is different. An advisor 356 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 2: is a fiducial. Make sure and we'll talk about that too, 357 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 2: that they are conduciary and that means they're giving you 358 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 2: actionable advice. So I'm going to say, I'm the advisor, 359 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 2: and I'm now going to say, well, Joel, let's look 360 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 2: at what would happen if we did do that, if 361 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 2: we put some money into private investments, we put this, 362 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 2: we did that, we had this money toward a house, 363 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 2: and they're going to say, this is what that would 364 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,640 Speaker 2: look like. Here's what I recommend that you don't do 365 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 2: and do do. That is an advisor, because they're giving 366 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 2: you advice that you're then going to go out and 367 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 2: act upon. That's why it's so critically important that if 368 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 2: you do seek advice, not just guidance and coaching, but 369 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:46,440 Speaker 2: actual advice, it must be from an advisor who's accountable, 370 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 2: legally accountable for it at the fiduciary level. Which that's 371 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 2: why that's so important. 372 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: I want to get into that. I want to talk 373 00:19:54,080 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: about the fiduciary necessity. I just want to start out, though, 374 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: by asking. You said at one point that only a 375 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: small fraction of advisors are worth trusting. 376 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 2: That's correct. 377 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 3: Why why are there so many bad apples in the 378 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 3: space there is? 379 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 2: It's not that there are so many bad apples. There's 380 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 2: a lot of mediocre apples. I don't want mediocre. I 381 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 2: don't even want good. I don't even want pretty good 382 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 2: or good. I want outstanding and exceptional. So now here's 383 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:29,479 Speaker 2: the secret that everybody will love knowing this. You're going 384 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 2: to pay the same fee for the outstanding advisor and 385 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 2: the outstanding advice as you are for the pretty good. 386 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 2: So wouldn't you rather find the outstanding and the exceptional. 387 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:41,920 Speaker 3: Why is that? 388 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 1: Why are we not paying more for to get the best? 389 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: Why are the best not charging more? Why are they 390 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: charging roughly the same amount as the mediocre. 391 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 2: Sometimes charging less. The best of the best are out there. 392 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 2: They're humble, they're not out boasting and bragging, they're not 393 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 2: spending gobs of money in advertising. They're just really really competent, 394 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 2: highly qualified, they care deeply about their clients, and they're humble, 395 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 2: so they don't walk around, you know, with a lot 396 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 2: of arrogance and you know, cookie cutter and all that. 397 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 2: So what happens is when you go to an advisor 398 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 2: who's mediocre or cookie cutter, you're going to pay whatever 399 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 2: the going rate is. Okay, if you also compared that 400 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 2: to an advisor who happens to be exceptional, then you're 401 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 2: going to find that the outstanding or exceptional advisor has 402 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: the exact same type of fee, but the difference is 403 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 2: the quality of the individual. That's why it's so important 404 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 2: to if you are going to spend money on an 405 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 2: advisor or coach that you absolutely just really take it 406 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: very thoughtfully, because if I'm going to listen to this person, 407 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:01,959 Speaker 2: I need to make sure that this person is actually 408 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 2: all that I need them to be, especially in a pinch. 409 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 2: I want to know I can call you on a 410 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 2: Saturday and even if you're not right there, I know 411 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 2: I'm going to hear right back from you pretty quickly, 412 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 2: and that you know me. There's a lot of variables. 413 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: I want to talk about finding the top tier apples 414 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 1: because I think it's such an important piece of this. 415 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: And how do you know the mediocre from the great. 416 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 1: Talk to me about the fiduciary standard versus the suitability standard. 417 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: What do people need to know when they're trying to 418 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: pick an advisor. And most people would think, if I'm 419 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: hiring an advisor, well, I'm guessing they're going to do 420 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: what's in my best interest, but they might not be 421 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 1: required to. And so how do you know the difference 422 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 1: and what to look. 423 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 2: For the history of the industry was never this industry 424 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 2: financial services that we know with the big brand names. 425 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 2: That was never predicated on advice. That was always predicated 426 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,879 Speaker 2: on sales. It's a sales model I used to do 427 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 2: when I was twenty four years old and then I 428 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 2: was a vice president. I used to do this way 429 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 2: back in the day. 430 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 1: So what do you mean by that it was predicated 431 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: on sales, which means that it wasn't about giving you 432 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: the best advice. It was getting you in their products 433 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: that made them the most money. 434 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 2: It wasn't about advice at all. It really wasn't when I, 435 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:20,679 Speaker 2: especially when I was there, and I remember, you know, 436 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 2: this is kind of a history lesson, but remember you 437 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 2: know back in the old days when I was there, 438 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 2: and I'm talking about the eighties, you know, I go 439 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 2: on the wayback machine. This was before the internet. So, Joel, 440 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 2: what did we have as brokers? We were called stockbrokers. 441 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 2: Do you remember that term stockbroker? 442 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 3: I do, Okay. 443 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 2: We weren't called advisors. We worked at big brokerage firms, 444 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 2: and we were stock brokers. So the whole point was 445 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 2: that we had information you didn't have, the public didn't have. 446 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 2: So when you would come to me, I was able 447 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 2: to explain to you what was happening with a company 448 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 2: and its earnings and its research because my brokerage firm 449 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 2: generated this really expensive research and I would share that 450 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 2: with you if you were a client. So we were 451 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 2: brokering information and we were helping people execute trades, and 452 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 2: we were explaining and recommending the kinds of things that 453 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 2: we sold, like mutual funds, things like that. So that 454 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 2: model has nothing to do with tax planning, nothing to 455 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 2: do with the state planning, nothing to do with pulling 456 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 2: all the pieces together holistically and looking at your spouse 457 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 2: and your family and your kids, and you know it 458 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 2: does your real estate. It has to do with back then, 459 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 2: we were there to be stock brokers. Therefore, the SEC 460 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:39,199 Speaker 2: never looked at brokerage firms and said we need to 461 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 2: regulate you, and you need to be held to the 462 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 2: fiduciary standard that we hold investment advisors to, which is 463 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 2: up here. Instead, as long as you make recommendations to 464 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 2: the public that are suitable, then that's defensible. That's okay. 465 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,440 Speaker 2: Over here on the other side of the of the 466 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 2: other say, channel of advisors who are out there, real 467 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 2: financial advisors who are out there working directly for clients. 468 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:12,919 Speaker 2: They don't work at brokerage firms. They work independently and 469 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 2: they only get paid by their clients. And the SEC 470 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 2: in the state says, okay, we're going to consider you 471 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:24,439 Speaker 2: financial advisors, not just representing products and services from a 472 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 2: big firm. You are actually paid by the client to 473 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 2: give that client advice, and therefore we need you to 474 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:36,200 Speaker 2: be held to a higher legal standard called the fiduciary standard, 475 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 2: which means by law you are bound and obligated to 476 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:46,439 Speaker 2: follow best practices at the fiduciary standard, which means if 477 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 2: you're an advisor, you got a lot more on the 478 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,119 Speaker 2: hook over here than you would if you worked at 479 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,120 Speaker 2: a brokerage firm. So when I worked at a brokerage firm, 480 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,159 Speaker 2: I was shielded and I wasn't really worried that if 481 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 2: I gave you some bumb advice that I was going 482 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:04,120 Speaker 2: to get sued over here, the financial advisor who's fiduciary 483 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 2: has a huge liability their response. 484 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: If they put me in something that isn't in my 485 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 1: best interest, there's. 486 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 2: A lawsuit that can coluse their practice. 487 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,400 Speaker 1: But if they are not held to the fiduciary standard, 488 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: as an individual, I don't really have much recourse. 489 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 2: No, you don't have much recourse. And so as a result, 490 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 2: there's this whole bifurcation in this financial services industry. So 491 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:30,159 Speaker 2: think of it if you would, as a fork in 492 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 2: the road. The fork in the road is ninety percent 493 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 2: of the folks who are at financial advisors in the 494 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 2: United States the vast majority ninety percent work for brokerage 495 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 2: firms or insurance companies, and they are now called advisors. 496 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 2: Where they used to be called brokers or insurance agents, 497 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 2: now they're called advisors. But over here on the road 498 00:26:54,800 --> 00:27:00,639 Speaker 2: less traveled is a much smaller swarth of real advisors 499 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:05,360 Speaker 2: called fiduciary fee only advisors. There's about sixty thousand of 500 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 2: the five hundred thousand, sixty thousand in the United States 501 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:14,880 Speaker 2: who operate at the fiduciary level that practice legally at 502 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:15,880 Speaker 2: the fiduciary level. 503 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:19,119 Speaker 1: If there's a big brand name attached to somebody who's 504 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 1: trying to help me manage my money, is that a 505 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: red flag? I Like, I've seen their commercials while I 506 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: was watching football, and this guy works for that company, 507 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: So maybe I should join forces. That's the company that 508 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:34,919 Speaker 1: I should go with. 509 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know. Look, you know some of my really 510 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:42,199 Speaker 2: good friends work at brokerage firms. Would I go to 511 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 2: a brokerage firm for advice? That would be like, why 512 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 2: would I go to a Why would I go to 513 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 2: an organization that's not to chooses, Remember Joel, they choose 514 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 2: not to be fiduciary. Yeah, why would I choose to 515 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 2: get my most important money advice from someone who chooses 516 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 2: to not be held legally to the highest fiduciary standard. 517 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 2: Went over here. Now now it's a pain in the neck. 518 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 2: NA got to go out and I've got to find 519 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 2: this individual. These individuals, they're not just in the smaller 520 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:19,120 Speaker 2: firms and boutique firms who are independent. They don't work 521 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 2: at brokerage firms, but they're held to that higher standard. 522 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 2: So that's the way you have to look at it. 523 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 1: Like going to Taco Bell for health food. You might 524 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: be able to find it there, but that's not what 525 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: they specialize. 526 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 2: You've got to just understand follow the money. What happens 527 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 2: at a brokerage firm. It's really they don't work for you. 528 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 2: The people at the brokerage firm don't work for you. 529 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 2: They work for the brokerage firm. The advisors over here 530 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 2: who are fiduciaris legally, they're on the hook because they 531 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 2: answer to you. You're the one paying them. Yeah, I 532 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 2: mean you're still paying commissions. You're still paying the commissions 533 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 2: when you buy the products at the brokerage firm. But 534 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 2: the actual the actual well advisor sitting in a chair 535 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 2: working for a brokerage firm representing the brokerage firms interests. 536 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 2: They're not representing your interest to represent the brokerage firms interests. 537 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 1: So you've said fee only multiple times. I want to 538 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 1: talk about that, how advisors get paid, what we should 539 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: expect from them, how to interview and find a great 540 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: advisor that makes sense for your needs if you're looking 541 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:23,479 Speaker 1: for one. We've got a lot more questions to get 542 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: to with Pam. We'll hit those up right after this. 543 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: Right we'll back still talk with Pam Krueger talking about 544 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 1: financial advisors, and we're going deep. We're getting into the 545 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 1: nitty gritty about how advisors get paid, whether or not 546 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: an advisor makes sense for you, and I'm guessing for 547 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: some listeners out there, financial advisor makes a ton of 548 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 1: sense for you given where you're at in your financial journey, 549 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 1: and for others of you out there, it would be 550 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: a terrible idea at this juncture. And then even if 551 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 1: a financial advisor is right for you right now, how 552 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: do you go about finding the right one? So much 553 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:05,880 Speaker 1: to cover, and one thing, I think it's interesting like 554 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: advisors seem to offer a wider array of services now, 555 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: which is kind of awesome, Like I love that it 556 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 1: feels like they can. It used to be this thought 557 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: of like, yeah, it's just the products that they're selling you. 558 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 1: And now we're seeing advisors say no, no, we want 559 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: to help you, like plan for decades. What should we 560 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 1: want or expect from advisors on that front in terms 561 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: of what ground they're going to cover. 562 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 2: Advisors who have always been fiduciaries and always been I 563 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 2: won't get to the feel only in a second that 564 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 2: the fiducieries they've always had to look contextually. They've had 565 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 2: to look at your whole big picture. They can't give 566 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 2: you advice on one little slice of your life unless 567 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 2: they know how it interplays with everything else you're doing 568 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 2: in your life and your family. So there's no there's 569 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:52,719 Speaker 2: no way that they that they would do. Then how 570 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 2: do you find the advisors who offer not only offer this, 571 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 2: but are again exceptional and not just mediocre. That's where 572 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 2: the vetting comes in, and it takes time, and that's 573 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 2: why it's so important that all I ask is, you know, 574 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 2: just stop at this threshold the minute you think you 575 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 2: need help, and just slow your mind down a little bit, 576 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 2: take it one step at a time and think about 577 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 2: how am I going to vet the advisor starting with yes, 578 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 2: they are offering more services. So I want to start 579 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 2: with myself at the center of the world here, and 580 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 2: I want to say, what am I trying to accomplish? 581 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 2: Why do I think I might ever need an advisor? 582 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 2: What is it that I'm trying to do. Some people 583 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 2: are going to answer that question and they're going to say, 584 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 2: I want to buy rental properties, and in addition to 585 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:51,280 Speaker 2: my full time job, I want to become a landlord 586 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:54,800 Speaker 2: and I want to invest in real estate. And others 587 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 2: might say I want want to learn more about alternative investments, 588 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 2: and I want to know figure out how I'm going 589 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 2: to you know, buy buy, purchase my first time home. 590 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 2: Let's say it's not for rental purposes, but just you 591 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 2: want to buy your first time home. You want to 592 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:15,040 Speaker 2: get ready for retirement, you want to make sure you're 593 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 2: fortified for that. So I want to start with myself 594 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 2: as the center point and say, what do I need 595 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:25,360 Speaker 2: that will help guide me to What kinds of advisor 596 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 2: services do I really need? What do I need the 597 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 2: advisor to know the most about and specialize in If 598 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 2: that advisor is really going to help me what do 599 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 2: they need to really specialize in. Well, I want to 600 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 2: make sure they've got clients that are like me and 601 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 2: are in my same situation, so that I know that 602 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 2: this is their this is their wheelhouse. So that's the 603 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:52,000 Speaker 2: way I approach it. Because advisors who advise holistically, and 604 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:55,720 Speaker 2: that's every fiduciary, advisors whose feeling is going to give 605 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 2: you the whole picture. So now it's just up to you, Joel, 606 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 2: to figure out what do I really want to accomplish. 607 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 2: And it could be I want a one time engagement. 608 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:09,560 Speaker 2: I don't want to get married to the advisor. Yeah, 609 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:12,040 Speaker 2: I don't want to pay the advisor forever. I just 610 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 2: want to know, should I if I took this position 611 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 2: over here, or if I started this business over here, 612 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 2: and if I did this with my money? Oh, my 613 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:23,239 Speaker 2: head's going to explode. I think I want to talk 614 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 2: to a financial advisor. Can you buy some time? Can 615 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 2: you buy some hours straight up and get some really 616 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 2: good advice from an advisor who specializes in advising small 617 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 2: business owners? Heck, yeah, yeah, you can find that kind 618 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:36,960 Speaker 2: of help. 619 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: Or you're getting an inheritance and the stakes are up 620 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 1: and you're like, I want someone to talk to for 621 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 1: two or three hours now, But I don't necessarily need 622 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 1: a full financial plan worked up. It depends on yeah, 623 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 1: where you find yourself. Let's dial in on fee only 624 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 1: for a second, because there some financial advisors are fee based, 625 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:01,240 Speaker 1: and fee based sounds likely, but it's not fee only. 626 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: And why are you such a proponent of the fee 627 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 1: only model? Why is that like at the crux of 628 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 1: it feels like that's at the crux of what you 629 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 1: require from advisors, oh, is to have this fee only model. 630 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:18,400 Speaker 2: I am so sorry that this industry has gotten to 631 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 2: the point where we're talking so stupidly fee based fee 632 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 2: only consumers are supposed to know the difference. It's ridiculous 633 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:30,440 Speaker 2: we this industry. What a mess we have made at 634 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:34,799 Speaker 2: a making financial advice makes sense. It's so stupidly complicated 635 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:40,480 Speaker 2: for no good reason. Fee only means the advisor is 636 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:44,360 Speaker 2: compensated only by fees that come directly from the client, 637 00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 2: so that we make sure that that advisor only works 638 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 2: for the client. Let me give you an example. You say, Okay, 639 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:55,680 Speaker 2: I want a fee only advisor. Why because I want 640 00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:58,040 Speaker 2: to talk about everything under the sun. And if he 641 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 2: starts talking about it or she starts talking about insurance, 642 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 2: I want to make sure that they don't sell insurance 643 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 2: and get commissions, because how am I ever going to 644 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 2: get an unbiased opinion about something like insurance from the 645 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:15,640 Speaker 2: guy who sells insurance. So you're taking out all the 646 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:20,480 Speaker 2: incentives that you possibly can for that person to benefit 647 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 2: by recommending one thing over another, and you're putting the 648 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 2: focus squarely on evaluating everything under the sun and looking 649 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 2: at what would be best for you because they work 650 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 2: directly for you, So fee only means their fee comes 651 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 2: only from you, not from commissions. Fee based is remember 652 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:46,040 Speaker 2: that fork in the road. Okay, fee only is its 653 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:49,480 Speaker 2: own fork. This is the road less traveled. The road 654 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 2: over here, the main highway includes fee based. That means 655 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:59,240 Speaker 2: that I get paid as an advisor both by selling 656 00:35:59,239 --> 00:36:03,000 Speaker 2: some insurance getting commissions by the way, that's coming out 657 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:07,839 Speaker 2: of your pocket, and I also charge your fees, so 658 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:11,680 Speaker 2: I kind of do both. So that's a high bred model. 659 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:15,400 Speaker 1: Does the fe based advisor have or there are they 660 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:18,080 Speaker 1: potentially putting you in more expensive funds because they stand 661 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:21,439 Speaker 1: to benefit from that as well, Whereas like the fee 662 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:25,759 Speaker 1: only advisor is more apt to steer you towards low 663 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:26,400 Speaker 1: cost funds. 664 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:28,920 Speaker 2: The fee only advisor's job is to make sure that 665 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:32,359 Speaker 2: the fees are as low as possible. Yeah, across every 666 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:36,480 Speaker 2: investment you make, because Juell, you're paying me, So my 667 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:38,640 Speaker 2: job is to get your returns as high as possible. 668 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 2: Make sure that I get your tax planning done, all 669 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 2: of what you need for as little as possible. So 670 00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:47,600 Speaker 2: if I go stupidly pick a fund that has some 671 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:50,960 Speaker 2: big expense to it, they're better will be a good 672 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:54,279 Speaker 2: reason because it better pay off, because that's going to 673 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 2: come back on me as the advisor. I'm accountable. The 674 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:03,440 Speaker 2: fee based is going to make the case, well, this 675 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 2: is a really good fund, and you know, I can 676 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:11,240 Speaker 2: justify why I would recommend this fund to this client, 677 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:15,480 Speaker 2: and you have to. There's no way to read their 678 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:19,839 Speaker 2: mind and know whether or not they're incentivized to push 679 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:22,719 Speaker 2: that particular fund because it pays them more and they're 680 00:37:22,719 --> 00:37:25,120 Speaker 2: going to make their mortgage payment that month because they 681 00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:28,080 Speaker 2: sold that to you. But I mean, you don't want 682 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:30,200 Speaker 2: to put yourself in a situation like that in the 683 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:33,600 Speaker 2: first place. You just want to say, look, if I'm 684 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:36,400 Speaker 2: going to get advice, i'd rather know that it's a 685 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:40,400 Speaker 2: straight up relationship. Yeah, I'm paying the advisor. I know 686 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:42,920 Speaker 2: what I'm paying the advisor as one hundred percent transparent, 687 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:46,120 Speaker 2: They're legally required to explain it to me, and I 688 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 2: know this advisor's working for me and me only. 689 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 1: We know looking at evidence that individuals have a really 690 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:57,560 Speaker 1: hard time outperforming the stock market, especially for any meaningful 691 00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:01,799 Speaker 1: length of time. Is that something that some financial advisors 692 00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:04,840 Speaker 1: are touting, is like, Hey, I've got super duper skills 693 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:07,560 Speaker 1: when it comes to stock picking and choosing the right funds, 694 00:38:07,560 --> 00:38:10,720 Speaker 1: and we're going to outperform this other guy down the street. 695 00:38:11,080 --> 00:38:13,840 Speaker 1: Is that something that people are marketing themselves on. Is 696 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:15,680 Speaker 1: that something that people should be aware of when they're 697 00:38:15,680 --> 00:38:17,640 Speaker 1: looking at for an advisor and maybe be wary of. 698 00:38:18,280 --> 00:38:23,319 Speaker 2: They're really big red flag because you know, diversification wins 699 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:26,359 Speaker 2: all battles. And by now we know that people have 700 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:30,040 Speaker 2: one gotten way ahead just by not trying to pick 701 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:32,360 Speaker 2: horses and bet on different horses in the race, but 702 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,719 Speaker 2: actually bet on the entire race. And that's and by 703 00:38:35,719 --> 00:38:38,120 Speaker 2: the time it's all said and done, you know, the 704 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:43,920 Speaker 2: research has proven itself. However, However, Joel, what if you 705 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:47,279 Speaker 2: were the person who said, ah ah, I don't want 706 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:50,680 Speaker 2: those average stock market s and p returns. I want 707 00:38:50,719 --> 00:38:54,120 Speaker 2: something fancier. Can I find an advisor who specializes in 708 00:38:54,160 --> 00:39:01,560 Speaker 2: something fancier? Yes, you can't. Now vetting that advisor and 709 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:04,799 Speaker 2: their fee only, I would run the other direction. If 710 00:39:04,840 --> 00:39:09,239 Speaker 2: this came in boasting and bragging about their great returns 711 00:39:09,320 --> 00:39:12,840 Speaker 2: and how fabulous they are, it's a red flag. But 712 00:39:13,640 --> 00:39:15,880 Speaker 2: I have many I have two hundred and thirty advisors 713 00:39:15,920 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 2: in my network, and I have many who say yes, 714 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:23,400 Speaker 2: of course, I'm a CFA, which means charted financial analyst, 715 00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:27,280 Speaker 2: and we can come up with portfolios that are personalized fugeel. 716 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:31,080 Speaker 2: We don't need to just invest in Vanguard s and 717 00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:33,000 Speaker 2: p or you don't have to be a bugle head. 718 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:38,040 Speaker 2: We can do something other than that and be very tactical. Yes, 719 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:40,560 Speaker 2: you can find it, but again it comes down to 720 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:46,040 Speaker 2: the vetting to make sure that that advisor is truly 721 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:51,920 Speaker 2: competent and qualified to have a great condemonstrate that they 722 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:54,319 Speaker 2: have the knowledge in the understanding to offer those kinds 723 00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:55,080 Speaker 2: of strategies. 724 00:39:55,800 --> 00:39:58,719 Speaker 1: We covered fee only, but I'm curious, what does it 725 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:01,480 Speaker 1: look like to actually pay your advisor and does it 726 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:05,160 Speaker 1: depend because because it's probably unless it is that select 727 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:08,080 Speaker 1: occasion where I really am just looking for a few 728 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:10,640 Speaker 1: hours of advice, and yes, I can find somebody via 729 00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:13,960 Speaker 1: that model, but what is it, how much is it 730 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:17,400 Speaker 1: going to cost, and how how am I actually going 731 00:40:17,480 --> 00:40:19,840 Speaker 1: to pay them? Because fee only, there's still different ways 732 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:23,160 Speaker 1: that I can pay the advisor under a fee only model, right. 733 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:26,000 Speaker 3: So absolutely, yeah, explain. 734 00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:28,440 Speaker 2: That there are some advisors and some in my network 735 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:30,640 Speaker 2: who will say I want to keep my client based small. 736 00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:35,640 Speaker 2: I'm a portfolio manager who does financial planning, estate planning, 737 00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:39,359 Speaker 2: and tax planning. So therefore, I am going to have 738 00:40:39,400 --> 00:40:42,360 Speaker 2: one model for fee only, which means I'm going to 739 00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:46,880 Speaker 2: charge you based on the assets that I'm managing for you. 740 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:50,120 Speaker 2: In other words, I'm doing the gardening and going to 741 00:40:50,200 --> 00:40:52,000 Speaker 2: I'm going to take a percentage of what comes out 742 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,160 Speaker 2: of the garden, and we take a percentage of it's 743 00:40:54,239 --> 00:40:57,640 Speaker 2: usually one percent one percent. Now, their goal is to 744 00:40:57,719 --> 00:41:01,200 Speaker 2: keep all your other costs down, and that one percent 745 00:41:01,360 --> 00:41:03,319 Speaker 2: is much less, by the way, than you would pay 746 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:06,600 Speaker 2: if you went to commission based products. But at the 747 00:41:06,719 --> 00:41:10,160 Speaker 2: end of the day, you may say I don't want that. 748 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:13,400 Speaker 2: Though I don't want you, You're not the right advisor 749 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:16,600 Speaker 2: for me. I want the only I want to pay you. 750 00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:19,480 Speaker 2: Can I just pay you like on a retainer fee 751 00:41:19,560 --> 00:41:22,680 Speaker 2: or a flat fee? And do you have to manage 752 00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:26,520 Speaker 2: my money? So it's called scope of work. So what 753 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:29,080 Speaker 2: happens is you come in to talk to the advisor 754 00:41:29,080 --> 00:41:32,239 Speaker 2: who's a real advisor, and they're going to say, let's 755 00:41:32,239 --> 00:41:34,200 Speaker 2: talk about what you want to accomplish. Now, let's talk 756 00:41:34,239 --> 00:41:38,600 Speaker 2: about the scope of work required to help you accomplish 757 00:41:38,600 --> 00:41:40,480 Speaker 2: that or get over the challenge, whatever it is, and 758 00:41:40,520 --> 00:41:43,200 Speaker 2: you want to do it on an ongoing basis. So 759 00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:47,719 Speaker 2: let's then discuss time and complexity. I can propose it 760 00:41:47,719 --> 00:41:49,440 Speaker 2: to you in two ways. You can pay me a 761 00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:52,880 Speaker 2: retainer fee, or you can pay me an as expressed 762 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:57,160 Speaker 2: as a percentage of assets under management, which is one percent, 763 00:41:57,200 --> 00:41:59,839 Speaker 2: but usually less than one percent. So if a person 764 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:03,520 Speaker 2: had a million dollar portfolio, you would say, well, that's 765 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:06,640 Speaker 2: ten thousand dollars. Probably not, it's probably gonna if you're 766 00:42:06,640 --> 00:42:08,759 Speaker 2: if you're not terribly complex, it's gonna be less than that, 767 00:42:09,120 --> 00:42:11,640 Speaker 2: probably more like you know, seveny five hundred a year, 768 00:42:11,840 --> 00:42:15,160 Speaker 2: something like that. And for that fee, you know exactly 769 00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:18,960 Speaker 2: what you're paying. You also know exactly what you're getting, 770 00:42:19,520 --> 00:42:24,840 Speaker 2: so it's assets under management, it's retainer or flat fee, 771 00:42:25,360 --> 00:42:29,440 Speaker 2: or it's a one off. It's just like, hey, I 772 00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:31,680 Speaker 2: just want to buy some time and have you walk 773 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:34,200 Speaker 2: me through this big decision I'm about to make. Maybe 774 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:37,680 Speaker 2: I'll come back later, maybe I won't, so you can 775 00:42:37,719 --> 00:42:41,480 Speaker 2: do it ongoing or one off. So it's those those 776 00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:44,440 Speaker 2: are the pretty much, you know, the only ways that 777 00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:47,439 Speaker 2: you're going to pay the advisor based on It's either 778 00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:48,920 Speaker 2: going to be time and it's always going to be 779 00:42:48,960 --> 00:42:50,719 Speaker 2: time and complexity no matter what. 780 00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:55,200 Speaker 1: If I sign up with an advisor and I'm ready 781 00:42:55,239 --> 00:42:57,239 Speaker 1: to enter this relationship and I'm ready to fork over 782 00:42:57,280 --> 00:42:58,759 Speaker 1: the money because I need the help and I think 783 00:42:58,760 --> 00:42:59,879 Speaker 1: they're going to be able to help me get where 784 00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:02,360 Speaker 1: I'm want to get. What am I getting? Like? How 785 00:43:02,719 --> 00:43:05,600 Speaker 1: how often should I expect that we're working together? What 786 00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:08,320 Speaker 1: are those meetings? What are they comprised of? What questions 787 00:43:08,360 --> 00:43:11,480 Speaker 1: should I be prepared to ask in the meeting? Because 788 00:43:11,520 --> 00:43:14,120 Speaker 1: again we're talking about being in the driver's seat, not 789 00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:18,040 Speaker 1: in the passenger seat, So like I can't just hand 790 00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:20,080 Speaker 1: over the reins. What am I getting? 791 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:20,719 Speaker 3: And I don't know? 792 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:23,000 Speaker 1: Can I like text them on a Friday night when 793 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,040 Speaker 1: I'm watching Netflix, and I've got a random question and 794 00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:27,279 Speaker 1: expect them to get back to me within you know, 795 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:28,680 Speaker 1: seventy two hours or something like that. 796 00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:32,840 Speaker 2: Yes, yes you can, and yes you should. So you 797 00:43:32,920 --> 00:43:36,640 Speaker 2: absolutely want to stay in that passenger seat or stay 798 00:43:36,680 --> 00:43:40,200 Speaker 2: in the driver's seat collaborating with the advisor. What you 799 00:43:40,239 --> 00:43:42,839 Speaker 2: should expect to get out of the fee that you're 800 00:43:42,840 --> 00:43:45,200 Speaker 2: paying and get out of the whole experience is you're 801 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:48,799 Speaker 2: building a plan. You're building a plan that accounts for 802 00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:53,400 Speaker 2: a ton of things you worry about or what you 803 00:43:53,480 --> 00:43:56,960 Speaker 2: think about about money, things you don't know. You're looking 804 00:43:57,000 --> 00:44:02,239 Speaker 2: at what if scenarios, you're stress testing. So when it's 805 00:44:02,320 --> 00:44:06,880 Speaker 2: done correctly, you walk away with a tax minimization strategy 806 00:44:07,280 --> 00:44:08,960 Speaker 2: that do you feel like, oh good, I don't have 807 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:10,600 Speaker 2: to keep up with all the tax laws and all 808 00:44:10,640 --> 00:44:13,799 Speaker 2: the changes. You're walking away with a financial plan that 809 00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:18,400 Speaker 2: includes cash flow, means, budget, how much am I spending? Spending, guardrails, 810 00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:22,280 Speaker 2: and you're walking away with a state plan. Now all 811 00:44:22,880 --> 00:44:25,560 Speaker 2: that doesn't even touch the investment piece. It has to 812 00:44:25,600 --> 00:44:29,440 Speaker 2: align with your investment strategy. But just the planning alone, 813 00:44:29,719 --> 00:44:33,440 Speaker 2: all by itself, those three components that's going to be 814 00:44:33,480 --> 00:44:36,920 Speaker 2: if you're working ongoing, that's going to be a resilient plan, 815 00:44:37,800 --> 00:44:39,719 Speaker 2: and you're going to walk away saying, oh my god. 816 00:44:40,840 --> 00:44:44,520 Speaker 2: Not only do I understand the plan, I helped build it. 817 00:44:44,560 --> 00:44:47,840 Speaker 2: I know what went into it. I understand it to 818 00:44:47,880 --> 00:44:51,120 Speaker 2: the point where I'm so confident that we've already stress 819 00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:54,160 Speaker 2: tested a lot of my concerns, and I know that 820 00:44:54,239 --> 00:44:58,400 Speaker 2: going forward when interest rates change, if the market drops 821 00:44:58,440 --> 00:45:01,840 Speaker 2: twenty percent, just all these changes that can happen that 822 00:45:01,880 --> 00:45:05,560 Speaker 2: are outside your control, and changes in your lifestyle that 823 00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:09,879 Speaker 2: are in your control, all of that gets accounted for 824 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:13,880 Speaker 2: so that the plan is dynamic. So gone are the 825 00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:16,719 Speaker 2: days with your granddaddy's financial plan where they, you know, 826 00:45:16,760 --> 00:45:19,200 Speaker 2: they put together this piece of pic, this binder, and 827 00:45:19,200 --> 00:45:22,520 Speaker 2: they go, here's your plan, Joel. Here you go and 828 00:45:22,680 --> 00:45:25,560 Speaker 2: it goes in a closet and in five years you 829 00:45:25,640 --> 00:45:31,120 Speaker 2: pull it out and it's stale because everything's changed. The 830 00:45:31,160 --> 00:45:36,359 Speaker 2: economy's changed, stock market's changed, you've changed. So what we ongoing. 831 00:45:36,600 --> 00:45:39,960 Speaker 2: You're getting your money's more than your money's worth from 832 00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:42,680 Speaker 2: all the planning. Then on top of it, you're getting 833 00:45:42,719 --> 00:45:48,839 Speaker 2: the investment strategy that aligns with all your tax strategy 834 00:45:48,880 --> 00:45:51,759 Speaker 2: and all your financial and cash flow strategy, so you're 835 00:45:51,800 --> 00:45:55,080 Speaker 2: not putting yourself in a bind, in a position where 836 00:45:55,120 --> 00:45:58,640 Speaker 2: you're investing in things and then going, oh my god, 837 00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:00,719 Speaker 2: I can't get my money out right now out or 838 00:46:01,280 --> 00:46:06,239 Speaker 2: duplicating all those things. So it's a ongoing relationship that 839 00:46:06,400 --> 00:46:11,480 Speaker 2: more than pays for itself if it's done correctly and 840 00:46:11,719 --> 00:46:14,680 Speaker 2: if it's with the right advisor, and that's a key 841 00:46:14,760 --> 00:46:15,439 Speaker 2: to the whole thing. 842 00:46:15,840 --> 00:46:18,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, have a few more questions for you, Pam, 843 00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:21,000 Speaker 1: including I want to talk about wealth ramp and how 844 00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:24,080 Speaker 1: you help people specifically find the right advisor for them, 845 00:46:24,080 --> 00:46:26,600 Speaker 1: and also like breaking up with an advisor, what if 846 00:46:26,600 --> 00:46:29,040 Speaker 1: your advisor stinks so you need to move on. We'll 847 00:46:29,080 --> 00:46:31,680 Speaker 1: get to a few questions like that with Pam right 848 00:46:31,680 --> 00:46:42,240 Speaker 1: after this a back still talk with Pam Krueger talking 849 00:46:42,239 --> 00:46:45,120 Speaker 1: about financial advisors and man, this is like one of 850 00:46:45,160 --> 00:46:48,400 Speaker 1: those situations walking through the woods full of bear traps. 851 00:46:48,680 --> 00:46:51,279 Speaker 1: How do you avoid the bear traps and get where 852 00:46:51,320 --> 00:46:53,960 Speaker 1: you're trying to go without like getting your foot snapped off? 853 00:46:54,600 --> 00:46:54,920 Speaker 3: Pam. 854 00:46:54,960 --> 00:46:57,719 Speaker 1: One of the most fascinating studies to me. It was 855 00:46:57,760 --> 00:46:59,920 Speaker 1: done a while back. I think it was done by Vanguard, 856 00:47:00,080 --> 00:47:04,280 Speaker 1: and Vanguard found that individuals who have a financial advisor 857 00:47:04,400 --> 00:47:09,040 Speaker 1: tend to outperform people who don't by a not insignificant margin. 858 00:47:09,600 --> 00:47:14,120 Speaker 1: And I think if you're super into diying it and 859 00:47:14,200 --> 00:47:17,080 Speaker 1: you go it alone, but you are a perpetual learner, 860 00:47:17,120 --> 00:47:19,480 Speaker 1: you can do just fine. But I think a lot 861 00:47:19,560 --> 00:47:22,480 Speaker 1: of people, to their detriment, don't get a financial advisor. 862 00:47:22,600 --> 00:47:26,000 Speaker 1: And they and the big reason, and tell me if 863 00:47:26,040 --> 00:47:29,399 Speaker 1: I'm wrong, is probably because of coaching. Probably because they're 864 00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:34,359 Speaker 1: making mistakes because of emotion, and an advisor really would 865 00:47:34,400 --> 00:47:36,239 Speaker 1: have helped them not make a mistake in the heat 866 00:47:36,239 --> 00:47:36,680 Speaker 1: of the moment. 867 00:47:36,840 --> 00:47:40,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's a thousand different ways that when people do 868 00:47:40,680 --> 00:47:43,760 Speaker 2: it right, again, it's the right fit, it's the right advisor. 869 00:47:45,440 --> 00:47:48,839 Speaker 2: Then the advisor Number one is you know, keeping the 870 00:47:48,880 --> 00:47:51,840 Speaker 2: cost down, like on the investments that you already had, 871 00:47:52,320 --> 00:47:57,280 Speaker 2: helping you to work with your spouse or your partner. 872 00:47:57,400 --> 00:48:02,279 Speaker 2: Let's face it, sometimes we marry an opposite. You know. 873 00:48:02,360 --> 00:48:05,279 Speaker 2: Sometimes the person you're married, you're a neat nick and 874 00:48:05,800 --> 00:48:09,440 Speaker 2: you know he might be not so neat. Same thing 875 00:48:09,480 --> 00:48:14,160 Speaker 2: with money. People kind of end up getting into relationships 876 00:48:14,200 --> 00:48:16,279 Speaker 2: over long periods of times and they figure out, oh, 877 00:48:16,320 --> 00:48:17,880 Speaker 2: I'm not going to fight about money all the time. 878 00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:20,640 Speaker 2: So instead I'm just going to accept this is this 879 00:48:20,719 --> 00:48:23,160 Speaker 2: and that's that. But the day of reckoning might come 880 00:48:23,280 --> 00:48:27,000 Speaker 2: later when something comes up, something happens. You got to 881 00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:27,960 Speaker 2: figure out what you're going to do. 882 00:48:28,080 --> 00:48:31,360 Speaker 1: So that unbiased third party, the advisor, can be especially 883 00:48:31,400 --> 00:48:32,360 Speaker 1: helpful in those scenarios. 884 00:48:32,480 --> 00:48:37,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, because that advisor is going to listen to both 885 00:48:37,360 --> 00:48:40,400 Speaker 2: of you, listen to each of you. And I can't 886 00:48:40,400 --> 00:48:41,840 Speaker 2: tell you how many times I've seen it with my 887 00:48:41,880 --> 00:48:45,279 Speaker 2: own eyes where the advisor was able to like really 888 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:48,960 Speaker 2: help them stabilize their marriage because they had to. They 889 00:48:49,000 --> 00:48:51,080 Speaker 2: had to figure out the middle ground that was going 890 00:48:51,120 --> 00:48:53,800 Speaker 2: to work for each of them and actually talk openly 891 00:48:53,880 --> 00:48:56,439 Speaker 2: without the emotion and with the advisor in the room 892 00:48:56,520 --> 00:48:59,280 Speaker 2: knowing them really well. It's just one example. 893 00:48:59,239 --> 00:49:02,040 Speaker 1: And they pay so they play part therapist. What if 894 00:49:02,080 --> 00:49:03,520 Speaker 1: someone out there is listening and they're like, I have 895 00:49:03,560 --> 00:49:07,040 Speaker 1: an advisor. Pretty sure, they're not fee only pretty sure. 896 00:49:07,120 --> 00:49:09,239 Speaker 1: They work for one of those big companies that advertises 897 00:49:09,320 --> 00:49:13,360 Speaker 1: during football games, And man, they called me up the 898 00:49:13,400 --> 00:49:15,280 Speaker 1: other day and they tried to sell me this insurance 899 00:49:15,320 --> 00:49:18,000 Speaker 1: policy even though it's something we hadn't really discussed before. 900 00:49:18,280 --> 00:49:20,279 Speaker 1: I don't know, there's a few red flags hitting me 901 00:49:20,440 --> 00:49:23,239 Speaker 1: as I'm listening to Pam talk about this, what would 902 00:49:23,280 --> 00:49:26,040 Speaker 1: you tell that person and how do how does someone 903 00:49:26,080 --> 00:49:30,560 Speaker 1: exit a relationship that maybe is question a toxic advisor relationship? 904 00:49:30,680 --> 00:49:32,600 Speaker 2: Right, And let me start off too by saying, let 905 00:49:32,600 --> 00:49:35,200 Speaker 2: me throw a caveat out there. There are a lot 906 00:49:35,280 --> 00:49:39,960 Speaker 2: of very really good, well meaning brokers at brokerage firms, 907 00:49:40,640 --> 00:49:42,279 Speaker 2: and they really know a lot and they do a 908 00:49:42,280 --> 00:49:43,920 Speaker 2: great job by the client. There are many people that 909 00:49:44,000 --> 00:49:46,719 Speaker 2: come to me and they say, you know, I've been 910 00:49:46,760 --> 00:49:50,320 Speaker 2: with my advisor. I've been with her for thirty years 911 00:49:50,800 --> 00:49:53,839 Speaker 2: and she's you know, at a brokerage firm. But that 912 00:49:53,920 --> 00:49:56,959 Speaker 2: kind of thing sometimes does happen Joel, where they call 913 00:49:57,040 --> 00:50:00,319 Speaker 2: me and behind that advisor's back, they will call and 914 00:50:00,320 --> 00:50:03,719 Speaker 2: they'll say, I just kind of don't think it's working anymore, 915 00:50:04,200 --> 00:50:06,600 Speaker 2: and I don't want to hurt their feelings. We've been 916 00:50:06,640 --> 00:50:08,919 Speaker 2: with them for thirty years or twenty years or ten years, 917 00:50:09,040 --> 00:50:11,719 Speaker 2: or it's my brother in law. How do I get 918 00:50:11,760 --> 00:50:13,880 Speaker 2: out of this? And I do want to find a 919 00:50:13,920 --> 00:50:16,920 Speaker 2: feel only advisor. And then that's when I say, this 920 00:50:17,000 --> 00:50:20,160 Speaker 2: is exactly what you do. You don't get into the 921 00:50:20,200 --> 00:50:22,560 Speaker 2: conversation with someone when you're going to break up with them, 922 00:50:23,000 --> 00:50:27,440 Speaker 2: you just literally say things have changed in my life, 923 00:50:28,000 --> 00:50:30,440 Speaker 2: or if you're married or you have a partner, things 924 00:50:30,480 --> 00:50:35,200 Speaker 2: have changed in our personal life. And it's very private, 925 00:50:36,960 --> 00:50:38,920 Speaker 2: and you have done such a good job for me 926 00:50:40,040 --> 00:50:43,239 Speaker 2: for a really long time, and I am going to 927 00:50:43,280 --> 00:50:48,200 Speaker 2: move on, and I know you'll respect my privacy in 928 00:50:48,320 --> 00:50:52,640 Speaker 2: not discussing this further, and don't talk about it. Leave it, 929 00:50:52,920 --> 00:50:56,920 Speaker 2: just leave it alone, don't get into it, because that 930 00:50:56,960 --> 00:50:59,640 Speaker 2: way you don't have to explain yourself. In other words, 931 00:50:59,680 --> 00:51:02,719 Speaker 2: you saying haven't you worked for me? Haven't I paid 932 00:51:02,760 --> 00:51:05,200 Speaker 2: you enough over the past twenty five years. If I 933 00:51:05,280 --> 00:51:09,280 Speaker 2: choose to leave now, you've won the game advisor or broker, 934 00:51:09,360 --> 00:51:11,600 Speaker 2: You've already won because I already paid all this money, 935 00:51:12,080 --> 00:51:14,520 Speaker 2: And thank you very much for your service. It's been great. 936 00:51:15,160 --> 00:51:17,279 Speaker 2: I got the best of you. Let somebody else have 937 00:51:17,360 --> 00:51:21,400 Speaker 2: the rest of you now, and you move on. 938 00:51:21,600 --> 00:51:23,319 Speaker 1: I think it's a great way to do it because 939 00:51:23,360 --> 00:51:26,080 Speaker 1: it's that relational piece that's the hardest for people. It's like, 940 00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:29,520 Speaker 1: I'm gonna let this person down. They're going to be upset, 941 00:51:29,600 --> 00:51:31,319 Speaker 1: and you're like, yeah, you got to find a way, 942 00:51:31,400 --> 00:51:34,400 Speaker 1: Just like clean yep, make a clean break. 943 00:51:34,120 --> 00:51:36,160 Speaker 2: And you just you don't blame it on them. You 944 00:51:36,160 --> 00:51:39,040 Speaker 2: don't talk about something that was a shortcoming. You don't 945 00:51:39,080 --> 00:51:41,279 Speaker 2: talk about their fees. You don't unless you want to 946 00:51:41,280 --> 00:51:43,680 Speaker 2: ask questions, of course, but if you really just want 947 00:51:43,719 --> 00:51:46,160 Speaker 2: to make a clean break, you just say something has 948 00:51:46,239 --> 00:51:51,040 Speaker 2: come up for me, and it's very private. I don't 949 00:51:51,040 --> 00:51:54,600 Speaker 2: want to discuss it. You have been great, Joel, You've 950 00:51:54,600 --> 00:51:58,520 Speaker 2: been fantastic, and now I'm ready to move on, and 951 00:51:58,600 --> 00:52:01,120 Speaker 2: I know you'll respect my privacy. 952 00:52:01,880 --> 00:52:04,839 Speaker 1: I feel like the search process for finding a great 953 00:52:04,840 --> 00:52:08,640 Speaker 1: advisor has been difficult, to say the least. And even 954 00:52:08,760 --> 00:52:13,760 Speaker 1: organizations that have existed to try to group like minded 955 00:52:14,480 --> 00:52:17,920 Speaker 1: advisors together, they just kind of have a listicle of 956 00:52:19,239 --> 00:52:21,520 Speaker 1: one hundred thousand people people that have paid to join 957 00:52:21,560 --> 00:52:24,400 Speaker 1: the network. But my goodness, how do you find the 958 00:52:24,440 --> 00:52:27,920 Speaker 1: advisor like you're talking about that matches your priorities, that 959 00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:33,040 Speaker 1: works with people like you. That's been a real big barrier, 960 00:52:33,239 --> 00:52:34,719 Speaker 1: and that's I think why a lot of people go 961 00:52:34,800 --> 00:52:38,480 Speaker 1: to a with a company that markets heavily. They're just like, 962 00:52:38,560 --> 00:52:41,560 Speaker 1: I guess that's the place to turn. Yeah, so, and 963 00:52:41,600 --> 00:52:45,200 Speaker 1: that's that's why you created wealth Ramp. What does wealth 964 00:52:45,280 --> 00:52:50,120 Speaker 1: Ramp do that was necessary in the marketplace? And also 965 00:52:50,880 --> 00:52:53,880 Speaker 1: just tell me too, I know you were like reticent 966 00:52:54,160 --> 00:52:56,239 Speaker 1: to launch this car or to really get into this 967 00:52:56,800 --> 00:53:00,320 Speaker 1: service of helping pair individuals with advisors. I knew it 968 00:53:00,400 --> 00:53:01,799 Speaker 1: was a big problem, but you were like, I don't 969 00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:04,040 Speaker 1: want to tackle it. I wanted to actually tackle it. 970 00:53:04,160 --> 00:53:05,680 Speaker 2: I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to 971 00:53:05,680 --> 00:53:07,600 Speaker 2: be when somebody said to me, you know, I had 972 00:53:07,600 --> 00:53:10,440 Speaker 2: a television series called money Track that was on two 973 00:53:10,520 --> 00:53:14,520 Speaker 2: hundred plus PBS stations for years. John Bogel was a regular. 974 00:53:14,640 --> 00:53:17,880 Speaker 2: I was telling people how to DIY. The last thing 975 00:53:17,920 --> 00:53:19,880 Speaker 2: I was going to do is talk about the greatness 976 00:53:19,920 --> 00:53:25,920 Speaker 2: of financial advisors. But our viewers, our viewers kept emailing 977 00:53:25,960 --> 00:53:28,319 Speaker 2: me and saying, Pam, there's nothing out there. If I 978 00:53:28,360 --> 00:53:32,080 Speaker 2: do want an advisor and you've given us great vetting tips, 979 00:53:32,120 --> 00:53:34,839 Speaker 2: we don't know where to go. Can't you give us 980 00:53:34,880 --> 00:53:38,719 Speaker 2: some referrals? And my first answer, my first inclination, was 981 00:53:39,719 --> 00:53:43,320 Speaker 2: I'm never going to do that. And now fast forward, 982 00:53:43,400 --> 00:53:46,359 Speaker 2: I'm in love. I'm in love with doing this and 983 00:53:46,480 --> 00:53:48,799 Speaker 2: if it's hard for me to find these advisors, it's 984 00:53:48,840 --> 00:53:50,880 Speaker 2: going to be hard for everybody to find these advisors 985 00:53:50,920 --> 00:53:54,319 Speaker 2: because I'm looking for the exceptional, not just the pretty good. 986 00:53:54,760 --> 00:53:56,560 Speaker 2: So it took me a long time to curate a 987 00:53:56,560 --> 00:53:59,680 Speaker 2: network of two hundred and thirty different fee only firms. 988 00:54:00,080 --> 00:54:02,239 Speaker 1: You say a long time, you mean multiple years and 989 00:54:02,320 --> 00:54:05,200 Speaker 1: lots of conversations with individual advisors around the country. You're 990 00:54:05,239 --> 00:54:08,239 Speaker 1: not just relying on internet reviews. This is not yelping 991 00:54:08,440 --> 00:54:10,680 Speaker 1: your way to this website. This is a lot of 992 00:54:10,680 --> 00:54:13,680 Speaker 1: personal relationships and a lot of h oh my painstaking effort. 993 00:54:13,760 --> 00:54:16,600 Speaker 2: Oh my god. My name is on every referral. My 994 00:54:16,719 --> 00:54:20,359 Speaker 2: name is on every single referral. So the vetting has 995 00:54:20,440 --> 00:54:25,600 Speaker 2: to reflect me. And that took me about eighteen months. 996 00:54:26,040 --> 00:54:28,600 Speaker 2: And even people that were close to me, my family, 997 00:54:28,719 --> 00:54:31,360 Speaker 2: my friends when I was starting this that were like, Pam, 998 00:54:31,440 --> 00:54:34,080 Speaker 2: are you ever going to launch this thing? And I 999 00:54:34,120 --> 00:54:39,000 Speaker 2: was like, you don't understand. I can't launch this until 1000 00:54:39,120 --> 00:54:42,960 Speaker 2: everything is curated and that I've done the vetting. That 1001 00:54:43,040 --> 00:54:48,400 Speaker 2: means interviewing every single advisor I'm interested in and kissing 1002 00:54:48,520 --> 00:54:52,560 Speaker 2: tons and tons of frogs. Then the other important aspect 1003 00:54:52,680 --> 00:54:56,720 Speaker 2: was I had to make a private which meant very limiting. 1004 00:54:56,960 --> 00:54:59,480 Speaker 2: It meant that the people who come to wealthamp dot 1005 00:54:59,520 --> 00:55:02,440 Speaker 2: com and go through the survey, get matched with an advisor. 1006 00:55:02,440 --> 00:55:05,440 Speaker 2: They see the three advisors, so you can see the 1007 00:55:05,480 --> 00:55:08,680 Speaker 2: advisors that I am recommending for you. But it's a 1008 00:55:08,680 --> 00:55:12,759 Speaker 2: one way mirror, so I've designed it so that you 1009 00:55:12,840 --> 00:55:17,239 Speaker 2: can see them, they can't see you. So you have 1010 00:55:17,480 --> 00:55:22,000 Speaker 2: all the power. You have all of the control over 1011 00:55:22,080 --> 00:55:26,400 Speaker 2: how and when you want to initiate a conversation with 1012 00:55:26,440 --> 00:55:29,640 Speaker 2: an advisor. Now, I know a lot of people will say, well, 1013 00:55:29,680 --> 00:55:31,719 Speaker 2: I'm kind of shy. Can I have the advisor reach 1014 00:55:31,760 --> 00:55:34,960 Speaker 2: out to me. Yes, we can make that happen. Course, 1015 00:55:35,160 --> 00:55:37,680 Speaker 2: we're going to make it super easy on the platform, 1016 00:55:38,080 --> 00:55:40,319 Speaker 2: but I Am not going to go into this with 1017 00:55:40,360 --> 00:55:43,239 Speaker 2: an assumption that you want an advisor to contact you 1018 00:55:43,800 --> 00:55:47,080 Speaker 2: unless you tell me, and you're the one right on 1019 00:55:47,080 --> 00:55:50,560 Speaker 2: the website. You can schedule the meeting right there or 1020 00:55:51,000 --> 00:55:53,440 Speaker 2: send a message to that to that advisor. But I 1021 00:55:53,560 --> 00:55:54,880 Speaker 2: want you to be in control. 1022 00:55:55,280 --> 00:55:57,319 Speaker 1: And that's been another one of the problems with some 1023 00:55:57,360 --> 00:55:59,440 Speaker 1: of those websites in the past, is you put in 1024 00:55:59,440 --> 00:56:01,160 Speaker 1: your information and it's like, yeah, we're going to find 1025 00:56:01,160 --> 00:56:03,240 Speaker 1: the right person for you, and then you get hounded 1026 00:56:03,239 --> 00:56:05,840 Speaker 1: with emails and phone calls just just like one of 1027 00:56:05,840 --> 00:56:08,960 Speaker 1: those mortgage shopping websites and you're like, I didn't realize 1028 00:56:08,960 --> 00:56:10,839 Speaker 1: I was going to get called this many times and 1029 00:56:10,960 --> 00:56:14,759 Speaker 1: you just you shut down and that good. No, it's 1030 00:56:14,760 --> 00:56:18,640 Speaker 1: a crummy feeling. So I love the integrity that you're 1031 00:56:18,680 --> 00:56:21,960 Speaker 1: approaching this topic and the website that you've built to 1032 00:56:22,040 --> 00:56:25,600 Speaker 1: really help people connect to a financial advisor if it's 1033 00:56:25,640 --> 00:56:28,480 Speaker 1: right for them, and with the right advisor that you've vetted, 1034 00:56:28,520 --> 00:56:32,000 Speaker 1: because again, like you said, you want a great one, 1035 00:56:31,560 --> 00:56:35,520 Speaker 1: not an average one. So Pam, where where else where 1036 00:56:35,520 --> 00:56:38,120 Speaker 1: can how the money listeners find out more about you 1037 00:56:38,200 --> 00:56:40,040 Speaker 1: and more about what you're up to At. 1038 00:56:40,000 --> 00:56:43,400 Speaker 2: Wealthramp wellthrapped dot com is the website I write for 1039 00:56:43,480 --> 00:56:47,399 Speaker 2: Kiplinger about once a month so and I have a 1040 00:56:47,400 --> 00:56:51,319 Speaker 2: lot of educational materials that are just out there. There's 1041 00:56:51,360 --> 00:56:54,920 Speaker 2: Pam Krueger dot com, this money track dot org. But 1042 00:56:54,960 --> 00:56:58,200 Speaker 2: Wealthrapped dot com is a great starting place because that's 1043 00:56:58,200 --> 00:57:01,480 Speaker 2: where you're going to see the blog and the conversations 1044 00:57:01,560 --> 00:57:06,360 Speaker 2: around educating how to financial advisors operate, how do they charge, 1045 00:57:06,400 --> 00:57:08,200 Speaker 2: how much do you pay? And what the heck do 1046 00:57:08,280 --> 00:57:09,879 Speaker 2: you get out of it? And how do you work 1047 00:57:09,920 --> 00:57:11,520 Speaker 2: with them? And then how do you break up with them? 1048 00:57:12,640 --> 00:57:15,040 Speaker 3: The whole game our no, no. 1049 00:57:15,040 --> 00:57:17,520 Speaker 2: I want important really, I'll give you this one tidbit 1050 00:57:17,800 --> 00:57:22,200 Speaker 2: really quick. One metric I look at that's so telling 1051 00:57:22,720 --> 00:57:25,960 Speaker 2: is the advisor has a ninety on wealth Rampa has 1052 00:57:26,400 --> 00:57:31,400 Speaker 2: ninety eight percent client retention rate. So clients are clients 1053 00:57:31,440 --> 00:57:35,080 Speaker 2: once they once they find the right advisor, they are 1054 00:57:35,120 --> 00:57:35,960 Speaker 2: with that advisor. 1055 00:57:36,080 --> 00:57:38,360 Speaker 1: That's a good point. That's another good metric to use. Yeah, 1056 00:57:38,440 --> 00:57:40,560 Speaker 1: do people want to keep working with them, then you 1057 00:57:40,640 --> 00:57:43,080 Speaker 1: might want to work with them. Pam, this has been 1058 00:57:43,080 --> 00:57:45,000 Speaker 1: such a great conversation. Thank you so much for joining 1059 00:57:45,000 --> 00:57:45,400 Speaker 1: me today. 1060 00:57:45,760 --> 00:57:46,880 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me. 1061 00:57:47,760 --> 00:57:52,120 Speaker 1: Man, what a great conversation with Pam. And I just 1062 00:57:52,600 --> 00:57:55,600 Speaker 1: I really love the integrity, the heart that she's brought 1063 00:57:55,600 --> 00:58:00,080 Speaker 1: into something that can seem so stuffy and boring to 1064 00:58:00,160 --> 00:58:04,920 Speaker 1: so many people, the financial advisor space and truly just 1065 00:58:05,040 --> 00:58:11,360 Speaker 1: daunting and hard for a lot of people to figure out. Right, 1066 00:58:11,400 --> 00:58:17,320 Speaker 1: it's confusing. So to make finding an advisor simple less 1067 00:58:17,360 --> 00:58:21,000 Speaker 1: fraught with potential for error, Pam's done a great job 1068 00:58:21,040 --> 00:58:23,960 Speaker 1: with her site, wealth Ramp, making that happen. And actually 1069 00:58:24,200 --> 00:58:27,920 Speaker 1: we've incorporated wealth Ramp into the how to Money site, 1070 00:58:27,960 --> 00:58:29,840 Speaker 1: so if you're looking to find an advisor, you can 1071 00:58:29,840 --> 00:58:33,680 Speaker 1: go to how to money dot com slash advisor after 1072 00:58:33,760 --> 00:58:36,760 Speaker 1: listening to this, and we have a custom page made 1073 00:58:36,840 --> 00:58:40,240 Speaker 1: up because we so believe in this site that Pam 1074 00:58:40,280 --> 00:58:44,080 Speaker 1: has created to help people find a financial advisor. You know, 1075 00:58:44,120 --> 00:58:46,440 Speaker 1: there's a decent chance you're listening and a financial advisor 1076 00:58:46,480 --> 00:58:48,520 Speaker 1: doesn't make sense for you, and that's something we talk 1077 00:58:48,560 --> 00:58:51,200 Speaker 1: about regularly here on the show. If that's the case, 1078 00:58:51,600 --> 00:58:53,160 Speaker 1: don't go there, or unless you just want to like 1079 00:58:53,200 --> 00:58:56,640 Speaker 1: monkey around and see what's going on, do that. But 1080 00:58:57,120 --> 00:59:00,960 Speaker 1: if a financial advisor doesn't make sense you at this juncture, 1081 00:59:01,280 --> 00:59:04,440 Speaker 1: which for so many DIY investors it just it doesn't, 1082 00:59:04,520 --> 00:59:06,760 Speaker 1: especially in those early years, stay away. 1083 00:59:07,160 --> 00:59:09,000 Speaker 3: But if you feel. 1084 00:59:08,680 --> 00:59:10,880 Speaker 1: Like you're at one of those junctures and a financial 1085 00:59:10,880 --> 00:59:13,160 Speaker 1: advisor makes sense for you, you want to hire a 1086 00:59:13,280 --> 00:59:15,400 Speaker 1: good one, not a bad one. You want to hire 1087 00:59:15,440 --> 00:59:17,400 Speaker 1: one of the best ones. And typically the best doesn't 1088 00:59:17,440 --> 00:59:20,400 Speaker 1: cost more, could cost less, like Pam said, which I 1089 00:59:20,400 --> 00:59:22,720 Speaker 1: think is so cool. So I don't know what was 1090 00:59:22,800 --> 00:59:25,960 Speaker 1: my big takeaway from this conversation. I love how she 1091 00:59:26,080 --> 00:59:29,600 Speaker 1: emphasized the reality that you, as the individual who's listening 1092 00:59:29,680 --> 00:59:33,200 Speaker 1: right now, you are the silver bullet. Yeah, you might 1093 00:59:33,200 --> 00:59:36,280 Speaker 1: need a coach, you might need someone in your corner, 1094 00:59:36,480 --> 00:59:39,280 Speaker 1: but you're the silver bullet. And you can't expect someone 1095 00:59:39,280 --> 00:59:43,800 Speaker 1: else to take the reins of your financial life and 1096 00:59:44,640 --> 00:59:47,720 Speaker 1: make home run decisions. You have to be involved, and 1097 00:59:47,760 --> 00:59:53,880 Speaker 1: there's just no way around that. And if you do try, 1098 00:59:54,120 --> 00:59:56,480 Speaker 1: if you do try to get out of managing your 1099 00:59:56,480 --> 00:59:58,920 Speaker 1: own finances, nobody's going to care about your money as 1100 00:59:58,960 --> 01:00:01,240 Speaker 1: much as you care about your money. And I think 1101 01:00:01,280 --> 01:00:05,560 Speaker 1: the likelihood of doing business with someone who isn't doing 1102 01:00:06,440 --> 01:00:10,360 Speaker 1: isn't operating in your best interest goes up exponentially. If 1103 01:00:11,360 --> 01:00:13,400 Speaker 1: if you take a side seat and you're not even 1104 01:00:13,440 --> 01:00:15,680 Speaker 1: in you're not even in the passenger seat, but you're 1105 01:00:15,720 --> 01:00:17,920 Speaker 1: like riding in the trunk or something like that. You 1106 01:00:17,960 --> 01:00:19,480 Speaker 1: don't want to be in that position when it comes 1107 01:00:19,520 --> 01:00:22,080 Speaker 1: to your finances. So, yes, an advisor can help a 1108 01:00:22,120 --> 01:00:24,439 Speaker 1: segment of the population, and you want to make sure 1109 01:00:24,560 --> 01:00:28,000 Speaker 1: you go about doing it the right way. But no 1110 01:00:28,040 --> 01:00:30,800 Speaker 1: matter what, you want to collaborate with that advisor. That 1111 01:00:30,840 --> 01:00:33,000 Speaker 1: was something that Pam said, and I love that way 1112 01:00:33,000 --> 01:00:37,840 Speaker 1: of thinking. Collaborate with not just say hey, this is 1113 01:00:37,880 --> 01:00:41,960 Speaker 1: your job, now make it happen. The collaboration is crucial, 1114 01:00:42,160 --> 01:00:44,280 Speaker 1: and so much of it really is about what your 1115 01:00:44,320 --> 01:00:46,760 Speaker 1: hopes and dreams and goals are and talking through that 1116 01:00:46,840 --> 01:00:49,240 Speaker 1: with an advisor and then making a plan to help 1117 01:00:49,280 --> 01:00:52,400 Speaker 1: you get there. So I hope you enjoyed this episode, 1118 01:00:52,440 --> 01:00:54,280 Speaker 1: and I hope for some of you is reassuring that 1119 01:00:54,680 --> 01:00:56,680 Speaker 1: I'm actually doing pretty good on my own and maybe 1120 01:00:56,720 --> 01:00:58,640 Speaker 1: I don't need to hire anybody, because I do think 1121 01:00:58,680 --> 01:01:00,800 Speaker 1: that's the case, that that's the position that a lot 1122 01:01:00,800 --> 01:01:03,600 Speaker 1: of How to Money listeners find themselves in. But again, 1123 01:01:03,680 --> 01:01:05,880 Speaker 1: of course, there are a lot of folks out there 1124 01:01:05,920 --> 01:01:07,480 Speaker 1: too who are like, I've made a lot of progress 1125 01:01:07,480 --> 01:01:09,520 Speaker 1: and now I want to pro to come in and 1126 01:01:09,600 --> 01:01:13,280 Speaker 1: help me professionalize this a little bit, all right. We 1127 01:01:13,320 --> 01:01:16,160 Speaker 1: will have links to everything that we mentioned up in 1128 01:01:16,200 --> 01:01:18,439 Speaker 1: the show notes on the website at howdomoney dot com, 1129 01:01:18,480 --> 01:01:23,160 Speaker 1: including the new landing page howdomoney dot com slash advisor, 1130 01:01:23,480 --> 01:01:26,520 Speaker 1: where you can find a financial advisor that works within 1131 01:01:26,600 --> 01:01:30,320 Speaker 1: those wealth parameters. They're vetted by Pam, who you just 1132 01:01:30,360 --> 01:01:32,840 Speaker 1: heard on the show. Thanks so much for listening. Until 1133 01:01:32,840 --> 01:01:34,520 Speaker 1: next time, Best friend Out