So, what is actionable here? You need not only an advisor who is willing and able to find you the best courses of action as to the planning aspect of your finances, but one—perhaps not the same person—who will find the best product in each category that you need. Let’s focus now on individual professionals…

Firms and Compliance Departments Firms as well as individual professionals may be researched online now, but note this about firms: There is no investment or insurance manufacturer that has never had any lawsuits, settlements, or fines. Keep this in perspective and realize that when bad practices are discovered and dealt with, these manufacturers do fix…

Complex is “bad”? I was one of the invited speakers at a seniors’ luncheon in Charlotte, North Carolina. The host organization picked one professional from each of several areas of service to seniors. There was a Medicare expert from the government, who was very helpful and clear-speaking. There were two different types of safety experts…

Chapter 1 ADVICE, ADVISORS, AND WHAT’S NEW The following experience did not end well for anyone involved. Frank’s wife, Lu, felt a twinge in her neck as she jerked her head left, away from the overdue mortgage notice, toward her husband’s shout. “Bastards!” he yelled, crushing the annuity carrier’s letter. “What?” she gasped, simultaneously wiping…