There are plenty of good reasons for NOT hiring an investment broker but from a practical perspective, most people do hire one at some point in time. Perhaps one of the following reasons strikes a chord with you.

1. You are confused and experiencing financial information overload.

2. You hate having to think about finances and investing but know it is important to your family's security and future.

3. You want to align your financial life with your personal goals, and work on those goals that will bring you the most pleasure and satisfaction both today and in the future.

4. You have reached your "middle" years and have come face-to-face with the need to plan and invest for your last 30 years.

5. You have decided to retire and want to know if this is the right time to do so, and you want a professional to manage your life savings so you can have the time to enjoy new experiences.

6. You’ve been through a traumatic divorce or death of a loved one and need some financial guidance and direction to help you through this difficult phase.

7. Your investments have been neglected for too long and/or are increasing your taxable income and you don't know what to do about it.

8. You used to enjoy taking care of your investments but now you want to spend more time on the pursuit of other things.

9. You've been through the "canned" plan program and now want to work with someone who will tailor your investments to address your specific circumstances.

10. You've won the lottery, acquired stock options, inherited money, or have been the recipient of a legal settlement that has put you "beyond wealth" and into creating a new lifestyle for yourself.

Now that you have made the decision to hire an investment broker, you need to do 3 things:

• Make a short list of reputable brokers – ask friends and relatives who they use. Also, check potential brokers out with State and Federal regulatory bodies.
• Interview at least 3 investment brokers – don’t make any decisions until you have interviewed all three.
• Choose an investment broker who is credentialed, experienced and one you personally feel comfortable with.