A personal note from Matt...

Why did I write the book?

In my tenure as a financial professional I have seen unfortunate situations of people who have been taken advantage of. I have seen people sold a product that they did not need, just so the sales person could make a commission, or products explained incorrectly for the same reason. No one held these salespeople accountable for the incorrect information they shared.

The truth is that our industry was created based on sales people. Unlike many other professions, there are minimal barriers to entry, meaning that you are up with people who are not working to do the right thing for the person sitting across from them. Big banks and financial institutions used to create sales contests or incentives to those that sold the most shares of stock or products. Very rarely were they coached on finding out if it is a beneficial product for the customer. They were coached in sales tactics and strategies to help them generate more commissions.

We have also witnessed extreme amounts of fraud, money laundering and scams that have stolen millions of dollars from hard-working individuals. All of these cases involved an individual taking advantage of the trust that people had put in them to manage their investments. Although trust is important, we need to go a step further and ask the right questions and perform the right due diligence.

Many people say the world has changed and I would have to agree with them. In the old days, things were predictable and reliable, but in today’s economy that’s not the case. We’re living through the greatest financial interventions in history and piling up debt that is unfathomable. Legislation is constantly changing tax laws and healthcare benefits do not provide clarity either.

On top that, people are retiring younger and living longer today. Although this is an opportunity, it creates many potential threats to a retiree today. Never before has there been a greater need for a trusted financial advisor to help you manage your financial life in retirement.

My goal is to not only share warning signs with you, but also the key things that could really help you choose the right financial advisor for your family. This book will reveal the truth about the industry and why it’s critical you fully understand how to find the financial advisor who fits your exact needs and goals.

I was brought up to always ‘do the right thing’, whether I gained from it or not – and that is the core value you want to find in an advisor. That’s why I’m going to take you ‘behind the scenes’ of this industry, sharing information that, as I’ve already alluded to, many of my peers would not want you to know.

Before we dig in, I should state clearly that my intent is not to tarnish anyone’s reputation or make assumptions of how other advisors are practicing. However, I have had exposure to lots of experiences that I want to share with you so you can avoid some of the mistakes and hardships that others have endured previously. There is no magic formula so we need to be diligent in the decisions we make.