1. An Independent Financial Planner can make recommendations on a completely independent basis. What difference does independence make? An Independent Financial Planner can offer a myriad of investment options from a wide variety of world class money managers. A Financial Planner is only truly independent if his or her firm does not offer any proprietary products. This independence means that the recommendations made by your Financial Planner will be without any undue influence that can occur with planners who act on behalf of product suppliers.

2. An Independent Financial Planner ... takes the time to understand you and your goals. An Independent Financial Planner makes it his or her business to learn who you are, where you are with your investment program and where you want to go. From this "getting to know you" process, your planner can offer customized strategies for retirement planning, increasing after tax yields, funding your children's education, and planning for your parents financial needs in their later years.

3. An Independent Financial Planner ... analyzes how changing conditions affect you. Financial publications like to show listings of hot funds to buy now. But those recommendations change frequently. Whose list should you believe? With a professional on your side, you can gain an understanding of how changing economic and market conditions affect your particular situation. So when you do make a change in your financial plan, there's a logical reason behind it. Which would you prefer; the personalized services of an Independent Financial Planner whom you know and trust OR generalized information from a journalist?

4. An Independent Financial Planner ... helps make investing more convenient. What does it take to develop a personalized investment program, monitor your investments and keep track of all the paperwork, too? More time than your busy day may allow.
Your Independent Financial Planner offers a professional approach to your customized investment program that may not demand a lot of work or time on your part ... and a level knowledge and expertise that may be difficult for you to achieve on your own. Your planner can help you create a long-term investment plan that fits both your objectives and your budget requirements ... right down to how much you'll likely need to invest per month to reach your goal.

5. An Independent Financial Planner ... works to deliver information while it's still timely. By the time important investment news reaches the financial media, it may lose its value for the average investor. An Independent Financial Planner can let you know about an opportunity while it is still an opportunity. That's because they're supported by a team of analysts who have access to the latest research data. When you choose an Independent Financial Planner, you put a team of investment professionals on your side.

6. An Independent Financial Planner ... may help you increase your investment results. A 10 1/2 year study of investments made over 5,000 Mutual Funds conducted by DALBAR Financial Services (ending May 31, 1995) illustrates why. Investors who used an Independent Financial Planner outperformed those who didn't by over 17% in their equity fund investments and approximately 21% in their fixed income fund investments.

7. An Independent Financial Planner ... can recommend funds that fit your needs. Mutual Funds offer professional management, diversification and liquidity. But how do you choose among the over 7,500 funds? Your Independent Financial Planner can help you see how well a funds objectives, track record and management style match your specific needs and goals. You owe it to yourself not to overlook any potential fund opportunities. Your Independent Financial Planner can help you make your investment decision an informed one.

8. An Independent Financial Planner ... helps you decide how to allocate your assets. Owning just one asset isn't always the best strategy. Diversifying your investment among a number of assets classes reduces your overall risk. An Independent Financial Planner helps you reallocate your portfolio to meet changing needs. Your planner will learn your objectives, time horizon and risk tolerance and will offer recommendations tailored to your individual needs. Your planner will also inform you whenever there's a change in the management style or objective of your investments that you have chosen.