[livsea2]

Has anyone attended one of these free lunch financial seminars advertised in the sun? I was wondering if there's any pressure to buy their services. I saw one today that looked interesting but I am leery since they are providing a meal they expect something for it.

[villages07]

I went to one at Bonefish yesterday put on by Fross and Fross....was curious to hear their take on "How to help protect and grow your assets in unstable markets" and also just to see them in action after hearing so much about them.

I found it informative and definitely not a hard sell...barely a soft sell.

But, this is just one example... I'm sure experiences range all over the spectrum.

The food was good!!! Choice of sirloin, chicken marsala, or tilapia dishes. Modest lunch portions.

I went to one other several years ago put on by Lawson Financial at Golden Corral (Muni Bonds). I got the impression that 90% of the people there were only interested in the free buffet meal. Again, the company did not put on a hard sell.

[graciegirl]

I can't take lunch from anyone trying to sell me anything. I have never bought into those kinds of freebies. It is just me.

I was so delighted that The Villages never, ever, ever, overtly tried to sell me a house.

They are so sneaky. Just get them here and they will buy.

I still believe to my toes. THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by livsea2

Has anyone attended one of these free lunch financial seminars advertised in the sun? I was wondering if there's any pressure to buy their services. I saw one today that looked interesting but I am leery since they are providing a meal they expect something for it.

In any event, the cost of the food is recovered many times over in their fees. If you eat their lunch once, they may be eating yours for years. If you can't actively manage your own investments, think of low fees. E.g., Vanguard index funds-- shop around.

[livsea2]

Originally Posted by Advogado

In any event, the cost of the food is recovered many times over in their fees. If you eat their lunch once, they may be eating yours for years. If you can't actively manage your own investments, think of low fees. E.g., Vanguard index funds-- shop around.

I have had a financial adviser for the last ten years and wish I had done so earlier. I was very foolish. I guess you drill your own teeth too? Someone who is schooled and follows the market full time as their job can always always out perform an amateur. I don't care how diligent you are.
I did my own investing prior to seeing the value for myself. I guarantee I have made an extra 3 to 5 percent more on my money by using an adviser. year over year. He has made me much more than the 1/2 to 1 percent he charges. Try a "shadow portfolio" from a reputable financial adviser for six months or a year.
And by all means use an independent adviser and not one from a big company like Fidelity or Raymond James etc as they are just salesmen. An Independent can use products from any source not just their own company.
Off my soapbox now.....

[kbace6]

Originally Posted by livsea2

I have had a financial adviser for the last ten years and wish I had done so earlier. I was very foolish. I guess you drill your own teeth too? Someone who is schooled and follows the market full time as their job can always always out perform an amateur. I don't care how diligent you are.
I did my own investing prior to seeing the value for myself. I guarantee I have made an extra 3 to 5 percent more on my money by using an adviser. year over year. He has made me much more than the 1/2 to 1 percent he charges. Try a "shadow portfolio" from a reputable financial adviser for six months or a year.
And by all means use an independent adviser and not one from a big company like Fidelity or Raymond James etc as they are just salesmen. An Independent can use products from any source not just their own company.
Off my soapbox now.....

I can't say anything more other than it was so liberating when I got mine. I feel I have a plan now and funding our retirement is no longer a wait and see thing. It is real and it is coming up and I KNOW we will have enough to live the kind of lifestyle we want.

I have found getting not a salesperson but "A real" financial advisor invaluable!

[784caroline]

There are many reasons why one would go to a financial advisor to manage their investments....and believe it or not, its not always to obtain maximum gain on your investments. Of course everyone who is in the markets wants to stay the course with the averages and for most of us if you are thinking about using a financial advisor you have been doing something right up to now. But there is more to think about!

IN most household situations however there is one main person responsible for making the key financial decisions as it pertains to investments, while the other is not in the loop and in fact most often clueless on how to proceed with any type of investing. AS long as things are status-quo, meaning the household unit stays as it has been, everyones healthy etc, fine .... continue what you are doing. BUT what will happen when (not IF) the time comes when the knowledgeable person can no longer make the necessary financial decisions and you are faced with issues such as 1) I need money to take care of everyday business or 2) I have accumulated a fair amount of assests and I need help managing it and have no concept as to what a mutual fund is compared to an ETF or bond and I never executed a stock trade in my life???? Yes, I can find my accounts BUT, I dont really have a "person" to turn to for we always dealt with "discount" firms.

Getting to know a financial advisor (im not talking about a stock broker here) while you are healthy, knowing their philosphy on investing while they also learn your situation will greatly ease any transition that will be needed at some time in the future. In trying to select an advisor, you need to learn his/her philosphy and how they invest..., are your goals compitable, are they big on annuities(what is an annunity and do I need it?), use only mutual funds or ETFs or do they invest in individual stocks and bonds. How are they paid, who will you call and talk to, will I be dealing with only one person or a firm, what happens if my key person leaves the firm, communication expectations? Once selected, bring other members in the household to these meetings so they get to know who is who and they start becomming more familiar with your financial sitaution. If you are fortunate enough to have a fair amount of assets im not saying give everything to a financial advisor, keep some yourself and play with it as you would, but by starting the relationship early, you will be preparing for the future in more than simply monetary terms.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by 784caroline

There are many reasons why one would go to a financial advisor to manage their investments....and believe it or not, its not always to obtain maximum gain on your investments. Of course everyone who is in the markets wants to stay the course with the averages and for most of us if you are thinking about using a financial advisor you have been doing something right up to now. But there is more to think about!

IN most household situations however there is one main person resonsible for making the key financial decisions as it pertains to investments, while the other is not in the loop and in fact most often clueless on how to proceed with any type of investing. AS long as things are status-quo, meaning the household unit stays as it has been, everyones healthy etc, fine .... continue what you are doing. BUT what will happen when (not IF) the time comes when the knowledgeable person can no longer make the necessary financial decisions and you are faced with issues such as 1) I need money to take care of everyday business or 2) I have accumulated a fair amount of assests and I need help managing it and have no concept as to what a mutual fund is compared to an ETF or bond and I never executed a stock trade in my life???? Yes, I can find my accounts BUT, I dont really have a "person" to turn to for we always dealt with "discount" firms.

Getting to know a financial advisor while you are healthy, knowing their philosphy on investing while they also learn your situation will greatly ease any transition that will be needed at some time in the future. In trying to select an advisor, you need to learn his/her philosphy and how they invest..., are your goals compitable, are they big on annuities, use only mutual funds or ETFs or do they invest in individual stocks and bonds. How are they paid, who will you call and talk to, will I be dealing with only one person or a firm, what happens if my key person leaves the firm, communication expectations? Once selected, bring other members in the household to these meetings so they get to know who is who and they start becomming more familiar with your financial sitaution. If you are fortunate enough to have a fair amount of assets im not saying give everything to a financial advisor, keep some yourself and play with it as you would, but by starting the relationship early, you will be preparing for the future in more than simply monetary terms.

Well said as usual, sir.

[NotGolfer]

We've done a few...but mostly for the "free lunch"....truth be told, while the food might be good you eat what they offer and nothing off the menu. NEVER have we had a hard-sell experience. They'll have you fill out something "IF" you want to be contacted. We just say "no thank you!" Now that we've lived here a number of years---I'd say we just throw those "invitations" out!!

[livsea2]

I normally do throw out the invitations. I wasn't asking because I was looking for a free lunch rather for the content. I saw one where the subject matter grabbed my attention. I didn't want to go if there is pressure to buy though. Thanks for all the input.

[asianthree]

I always feel like I am buying a timeshare...

[BarryRX]

Originally Posted by asianthree

I always feel like I am buying a timeshare...

The food is usually good, there usually is no "hard sell", and you may just hear something or learn something that you didn't know. Maybe you know the stock market, but you can learn something about estate planning and saving your heirs taxes. I personally have a portion of my portfolio managed by a professional and I manage a portion myself. The two portfolios have performed pretty much the same. But I have learned things from the pro that I sometimes apply to my portfolio.