Investment Advisors
 

I would like to transfer my investment portfolio from my account up north to an advisor here in The Villages. Based on your experience, can anyone recommend a person/firm that you are pleased with? Thanks.

Talk to several and have them put together a suggested portfolio for your funds, then decide on an advisor or take the best of 2 or 3. You will see some real differences in the portfolio suggestions and who they rely on to do their research and portfolio construction and downstream management.
You might consider talking to David Blackston at his own firm , Mike Hopkins at Wells Fargo, Paul Zirakian at Raymond James, and one of the Fross brothers at Fross & Fross (if your portfolio is over 1 million).
A couple of other big advertisers around The Villages are basically annuity sellers so if you are into stocks/bonds and the market, don't spend much time with them.

I tried one of the advisors listed above and found they are fee based not fee only. don't let the glitz fool you--someone is paying for it. I transferred everything to Fidelity. I can manage it myself with their advice (which costs nothing) or have them do it for a reasonable fee. They have an office in Lake Sumter Landing.

Having had some unsatisfactory experiences in the past (not in TV) I choose my advisors not based upon where I reside but on their abilities and expertise. Any of them are just a phone call away. At present the people I use are in major metropolitan areas.

If one is happy with whom one is using why change?

For business and personal, I've been with Wells Fargo for 30 years. I had their Private Banking division, Investment Advisors review my investments for free. (The wanted to sell me their investment services & charge me 1%).

They came back with minor changes/recommendations (I'm too heavy into equities), but said overall........wouldn't change a thing. This was a good exercise and confirmation. I hold my investments in Wells Trade, the account is free and I get 100 trades per year, per account FREE. I do use a Wells Fargo broker once a year for a trade, costs me a few hundred, but I get all their investment advise, they review my portfolio and I get free seminars.

Works for me.

Graunke and Hentz in Bailey Plaza in Summerfield. Honest and helpful. I'm sorry I don't have their phone # but you can google for that information. I sent you a private message!

Consider keeping your current advisor if you can and are happy with the adv..
Be sure to understand the fees you are paying?
I would look at Schwab's new Intelligence Portfolios program coming out this month.
Other brokers have similar programs.