In this episode of Money and Taxes from BB to XYZ, Jason Speciner, CFP®, EA, and Regina Neenan, CFP®, ABFP®, walk through the key questions to ask when choosing or re-evaluating a financial planning professional. They explain why titles, designations, and services can vary widely across the industry. They also review why it’s important to understand a planner’s qualifications, fiduciary status, planning scope, typical clients, fee structure, and investment philosophy. The conversation highlights potential conflicts of interest, the difference between advice and product sales, and how to check for disciplinary history using public regulatory tools. Whether you’re hiring a planner for the first time or revisiting an existing relationship, this episode helps listeners gain clarity and confidence in who they trust with their financial lives.

Takeaways

• Ask whether a planner is a fiduciary at all times, not just in certain parts of the relationship.
• Make sure their services, fees, client experience, and investment philosophy align with your needs.
• Use public tools like FINRA BrokerCheck or the SEC’s advisor database to look for potential red flags.

Have a tax question for the show?

Email podcast@fpfoco.com, and Jason or Regina might answer it in a future episode! New episodes drop every other Thursday, and they’re always ad-free with no subscription required. Learn more about FPFoCo at fpfoco.com and connect with us on social media @fpfoco.

Disclosures

Jason Speciner and Regina Neenan are investment advisor representatives of FPFoCo, a registered investment advisor. The information in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only. It may not apply to your individual circumstances and should not be considered financial, investment, or tax advice.

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