[Abigail Adams]

Is there ever a benefit to meeting with a financial advisor for things like how much do we need to save for retirement, or do we need long-term care insurance, or for tax strategies, etc?

Just wondering what people think.

[expat_panama]

Good Morning! Our new week begins with underachieving futures (stock indexes -0.10% and metals -.36%).   Easy start tho, w/ no econ announcements; morning reading:

• Stocks Mostly Rise as Weak China Data Boosts Stimulus Hopes
• Make Your Adviser Work Better for You - John Coumarianos, MarketWatch
• Earnings Season May Not Be Terribly Kind To Stocks - Patti Domm, CNBC
• Flattening Yield Curve Is the Latest Problem for Fed - Michael Casey, WSJ
• Stiffing the Tax Man: The part of the economy that has grown under Obama
• Overtaxed Workers Vote With Their Feet - Steve Moore, Washington Times

[expat_panama]

...a financial advisor for things like how much do we need to save for retirement, or do we need long-term care insurance, or for tax strategies...

While paying someone for the info can be easier and faster than just getting it direct/online the two big risks are conflict (asking a barber if you need a haircut) and the problem of doing something just because it cost so much --common mistake.  Everyone has their own needs but imho this info age is super; eg: retirement calculator links, msn seemed nice.

 

[abb]

Back when I was first asking those very questions some 25 years ago, I began reading a magazine called Changing Times, published by Kiplinger. It is now called Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

It is written for the novice and doesn’t talk down to its readers. It covers all the basics and has some advanced stuff.

I highly recommend it.