Resources

SELECTING A FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Paladin Registry, LLC
http://paladinregistry.com/
The Paladin Registry, is a free independent public service that helps consumers find high quality professionals who have the documented competence and integrity to help them achieve their goals and to avoid the risks and consequences of bad advice. You can search for advisors by geographic region, number of years in business, credentials, business practices, services and fees and then receive a complete profile and credentials for the advisors that interest you. The site has four-star rating from Kiplinger.com for its wealth of free articles and resources for consumers.

Financial Planning Association
http://www.fpanet.org/plannersearch/search.cfm
This site offers consumer tools on how to find, interview, hire and work well with a financial planner.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
http://www.cfp.net/search/

This site helps you look up the individuals who are currently authorized to use the CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification marks. Planners who have been publicly disciplined by the CFP® Board will also be listed.

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
http://FINRA.org/
FINRA Investor Information and FINRA BrokerCheck are resources to help consumers learn about the professional background, registration/license status and disciplinary history of firms and brokers in business. Information is available on nearly 5,100 registered firms and more than 660,000 brokers. FINRA also offers helpful information for investors on common scams, complicated products, claim restitution funds, and a mutual fund expense analyzer.