Moving to Ireland? What to Look for in a Financial Planner

So, you’re about to move, or maybe have recently moved to Ireland. One important relationship that you will probably have left behind you was the one with your financial planner. Often this is someone who you have trusted deeply, and who has guided you for many years in making wise decisions about your money.

And now you’re in Ireland and don’t know any financial planners… How do you pick the right one for you? Selecting the best financial planner for you is one of the most important decisions you will make in relation to your personal finances. It is so important that you choose the right planner to meet your specific needs.

Of course, new colleagues or contacts in Ireland may recommend particular financial planning businesses to you. However, you are unlikely to be certain at this stage whether your new colleagues may share the same vision or values of what a good planner is.

We suggest it’s time to do some research yourself. To help you make the right decision, we recommend that you ask the following questions of any financial planner whose services you are considering.

1. What services will you provide? You need to ensure that the services they offer and the way that they are delivered meet your needs and expectations.
2. What conflicts of interest do you possess with respect to the advice you may provide to me? You want to know in advance and in writing if any conflicts exist – for example will the advisor be better rewarded by guiding you towards certain product solutions.
3. Will you be recommending any proprietary products to me? You want to know if in-house solutions are being recommended. These may be the best solutions for you; however, the advisor should be crystal clear about how any conflicts are avoided.
4. What are the total fees and costs I will pay with regard to my investment portfolio? The word “total” is crucial here. You want clarity and certainty of all costs, not just a headline annual management fee.
5. What are your qualifications? You should satisfy yourself that the prospective financial planner has the expertise and knowledge to meet your needs. Check out their qualifications.
6. Have you ever been cited by a professional or regulatory governing body for disciplinary reasons? It is worth asking the question. A planner who has been cited is unlikely to promote this fact…

At Everlake, we are always happy to be asked these types of questions. From our experience, a new client who is comfortable from the outset about our credentials remains a client for many years. So please ask us every question you want to get comfortable with us!

As a snapshot though, we’ve set out the ten principles of how we operate.

• Our guiding principle is that our advice will always be in your best interest.
• We provide you with a high standard of personal care and attention.
• We are a fee-based investment advisor.
• We fully disclose any potential conflicts.
• Our advice is based on academic research, not on our opinions.
• We are client centric. We don’t sell products, instead we provide advice.
• We provide a high level of personal attention to our clients.
• We provide comprehensive financial planning that integrates investments, tax, estate planning and risk management solutions.
• Our advice is always goal oriented, evaluating each decision not in isolation but in terms of its impact on the likelihood of success of the overall plan.
• Our comprehensive financial planning is provided by highly qualified professionals.

We would love the opportunity to meet you for an introductory chat, to figure out if we’re a good fit for each other. This meeting is at our expense and we provide nice coffee.

Schedule a Call