Make sure you adviser is properly licensed. If he/she is recommending an insurance product such as a fixed annuity, check with the Insurance Department of your state. If recommending variable annuites, mutual funds or other investments, check with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (”FINRA”) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (”SEC”). In all cases, you will learn whether the adviser is properly licensed and if any disciplinary action was taken against them.

Also, be sure to ask how the adviser is compensated and that all fees and commissions are fully disclosed. At TAI, we built our reputation by providing full disclosure regarding our compensation and the thinking behind our advice. Another issue is to be mindful of fake and misleading titles or specialty services such as “Senior Care Adviser.”

Lastly, watch out for advisers touting that they only use so-called “low cost” mutual funds or ETFs, but add investment management fees of 2% or more making your investment cost nearly twice as much as the average mutual fund. And when you decide to invest, never make the check payable to the adviser or their company.

Retirement Portfolio Allocation – Living The Retirement Life Style

Whether you are retired or saving for retirement, having the right portfolio is essential.

Stocks can be volatile with greater risks than bonds but history has shown that stocks offer greater returns over the long-term. Cash and fixed income tend to be safer with more modest returns. What’s the right investment mix for you depends on your individual circumstances and tolerance for risk.

Below are two asset allocation models that you can use as a starting point in retirement.