Rope one in

Entrepreneur, Dec, 1997 by Lorayne Fiorillo

Thirty-one thousand individuals have earned the right to use the CFP designation. Planners' records are checked annually to make sure they are properly registered. "Written complaints received by the board against a CFP licensee must be answered in writing within 20 days," says Bob Goss, president of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. "Failure to respond or cooperate is grounds for suspension or revocation of the CFP license."

* ANNIE, GET YOUR BROKER

There's no such thing as a perfect financial advisor. No one can predict the markets. While most financial advisors will bend over backward to keep your business, some clients are favored over others - and not necessarily the ones who generate the most commissions or the highest fees.

Remember to treat your financial advisor and his or her staff with respect. Don't call your advisor with paperwork questions; that's a job for his or her assistant. If you have a complex question, call when the stock market is closed - your advisor will have more time to talk. Most of all, keep the communication lines open. If you plan to dance with bulls, make sure to start out on the right foot. Happy trails to you!

Lorayne Fiorillo is a financial advisor and first vice president at Prudential Securities Inc. She presents retirement planning and personal finance workshops worldwide. For more information, write to her in care of Entrepreneur, 2392 Morse Ave., Irvine, CA 92614. All figures are courtesy of Prudential Securities. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.