Would you hire a financial advisor?

Thanks for taking 5 minutes to send me your thoughts on hiring a financial advisor! (Once you complete the survey you can see the results of everyone else’s opinions.)

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If you're ok with it, I might follow up with you to learn more about your answers if you would leave your email. Thanks!

Have you ever used a financial advisor / investment professional before? *

Don't include accountants.

Ever considered hiring a financial advisor/investment manager in the future? *

Not sure; never really thought about it.
No, I don't see the need/value for my situation.
No, I already have someone I work with that I like.
Yes.

Which of these reasons describe why you have NOT hired an advisor (or a different advisor if you already have one)? *

Haven't made the time to do it.
Too expensive / not worth it
I'm not sure what an advisor can do for me
An advisor wouldn't be useful for me.
My finances are NOT at a place that I'd want to hire an advisor
I know enough/my finances are in such great shape that I don't need an advisor
Other reason:

Check all that apply

Would any of these things, IF TRUE, convince you to hire an Advisor soon?

	Definitely not	Probably not	Maybe	Probably would	Definitely would
Advisor could lower my current TAXES or INVESTMENT FEES.	Definitely notAdvisor could lower my current TAXES or INVESTMENT FEES. Definitely not	Probably notAdvisor could lower my current TAXES or INVESTMENT FEES. Probably not	MaybeAdvisor could lower my current TAXES or INVESTMENT FEES. Maybe	Probably wouldAdvisor could lower my current TAXES or INVESTMENT FEES. Probably would	Definitely wouldAdvisor could lower my current TAXES or INVESTMENT FEES. Definitely would
Advisor could help me CUT MY SPENDING.	Definitely notAdvisor could help me CUT MY SPENDING. Definitely not	Probably notAdvisor could help me CUT MY SPENDING. Probably not	MaybeAdvisor could help me CUT MY SPENDING. Maybe	Probably wouldAdvisor could help me CUT MY SPENDING. Probably would	Definitely wouldAdvisor could help me CUT MY SPENDING. Definitely would
Advisor would try to BEAT THE MARKET with their investment advice.	Definitely notAdvisor would try to BEAT THE MARKET with their investment advice. Definitely not	Probably notAdvisor would try to BEAT THE MARKET with their investment advice. Probably not	MaybeAdvisor would try to BEAT THE MARKET with their investment advice. Maybe	Probably wouldAdvisor would try to BEAT THE MARKET with their investment advice. Probably would	Definitely wouldAdvisor would try to BEAT THE MARKET with their investment advice. Definitely would
Advisor sets me up to RETIRE EARLY (before age 60)	Definitely notAdvisor sets me up to RETIRE EARLY (before age 60) Definitely not	Probably notAdvisor sets me up to RETIRE EARLY (before age 60) Probably not	MaybeAdvisor sets me up to RETIRE EARLY (before age 60) Maybe	Probably wouldAdvisor sets me up to RETIRE EARLY (before age 60) Probably would	Definitely wouldAdvisor sets me up to RETIRE EARLY (before age 60) Definitely would
Advisor makes sure I can RETIRE ON TIME (age 60-67)	Definitely notAdvisor makes sure I can RETIRE ON TIME (age 60-67) Definitely not	Probably notAdvisor makes sure I can RETIRE ON TIME (age 60-67) Probably not	MaybeAdvisor makes sure I can RETIRE ON TIME (age 60-67) Maybe	Probably wouldAdvisor makes sure I can RETIRE ON TIME (age 60-67) Probably would	Definitely wouldAdvisor makes sure I can RETIRE ON TIME (age 60-67) Definitely would
Advisor helps me GET OUT OF DEBT	Definitely notAdvisor helps me GET OUT OF DEBT Definitely not	Probably notAdvisor helps me GET OUT OF DEBT Probably not	MaybeAdvisor helps me GET OUT OF DEBT Maybe	Probably wouldAdvisor helps me GET OUT OF DEBT Probably would	Definitely wouldAdvisor helps me GET OUT OF DEBT Definitely would
Advisor dramatically SIMPLIFIES my financial life.	Definitely notAdvisor dramatically SIMPLIFIES my financial life. Definitely not	Probably notAdvisor dramatically SIMPLIFIES my financial life. Probably not	MaybeAdvisor dramatically SIMPLIFIES my financial life. Maybe	Probably wouldAdvisor dramatically SIMPLIFIES my financial life. Probably would	Definitely wouldAdvisor dramatically SIMPLIFIES my financial life. Definitely would
Advisor EDUCATES me on investing, etc.	Definitely notAdvisor EDUCATES me on investing, etc. Definitely not	Probably notAdvisor EDUCATES me on investing, etc. Probably not	MaybeAdvisor EDUCATES me on investing, etc. Maybe	Probably wouldAdvisor EDUCATES me on investing, etc. Probably would	Definitely wouldAdvisor EDUCATES me on investing, etc. Definitely would

What else might an Advisor do for you that would convince you to hire them?

What about the Advisor, IF TRUE, would matter to you?

	Doesn't matter / not something I think about	Matters a little	Matters a LOT
Advisor is a 'fiduciary'.	Doesn't matter / not something I think aboutAdvisor is a 'fiduciary'. Doesn't matter / not something I think about	Matters a littleAdvisor is a 'fiduciary'. Matters a little	Matters a LOTAdvisor is a 'fiduciary'. Matters a LOT
They WON'T ask me to change my spending habits.	Doesn't matter / not something I think aboutThey WON'T ask me to change my spending habits. Doesn't matter / not something I think about	Matters a littleThey WON'T ask me to change my spending habits. Matters a little	Matters a LOTThey WON'T ask me to change my spending habits. Matters a LOT
They WILL help me change my spending habits.	Doesn't matter / not something I think aboutThey WILL help me change my spending habits. Doesn't matter / not something I think about	Matters a littleThey WILL help me change my spending habits. Matters a little	Matters a LOTThey WILL help me change my spending habits. Matters a LOT
Advisor is ok if my finances are a mess when we start / won't judge me.	Doesn't matter / not something I think aboutAdvisor is ok if my finances are a mess when we start / won't judge me. Doesn't matter / not something I think about	Matters a littleAdvisor is ok if my finances are a mess when we start / won't judge me. Matters a little	Matters a LOTAdvisor is ok if my finances are a mess when we start / won't judge me. Matters a LOT
Advisor is NOT going to push other financial products on me / doesn't receive commissions.	Doesn't matter / not something I think aboutAdvisor is NOT going to push other financial products on me / doesn't receive commissions. Doesn't matter / not something I think about	Matters a littleAdvisor is NOT going to push other financial products on me / doesn't receive commissions. Matters a little	Matters a LOTAdvisor is NOT going to push other financial products on me / doesn't receive commissions. Matters a LOT
Their fees are LOWER than most other advisors.	Doesn't matter / not something I think aboutTheir fees are LOWER than most other advisors. Doesn't matter / not something I think about	Matters a littleTheir fees are LOWER than most other advisors. Matters a little	Matters a LOTTheir fees are LOWER than most other advisors. Matters a LOT
They offer a MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE if their services don't end up being worth it to me.	Doesn't matter / not something I think aboutThey offer a MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE if their services don't end up being worth it to me. Doesn't matter / not something I think about	Matters a littleThey offer a MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE if their services don't end up being worth it to me. Matters a little	Matters a LOTThey offer a MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE if their services don't end up being worth it to me. Matters a LOT
Advisor themselves ARE WEALTHY / show me their own investments or decisions.	Doesn't matter / not something I think aboutAdvisor themselves ARE WEALTHY / show me their own investments or decisions. Doesn't matter / not something I think about	Matters a littleAdvisor themselves ARE WEALTHY / show me their own investments or decisions. Matters a little	Matters a LOTAdvisor themselves ARE WEALTHY / show me their own investments or decisions. Matters a LOT

If you don't know what fiduciary means, go ahead and indicate that it 'Doesn't matter'!

How much would YOU want to pay for a ONE-TIME FLAT fee to hire an advisor? *

Assume this fee covers any financial topic you want, including investing, retirement planning, savings & spending, insurance, etc.

If you were going to pay on an ANNUAL basis instead, what feels like the right price ($s) PER YEAR?

Assume this fee covers initial financial planning during the first year, then switches to annual 'maintenance' of your finances in future years.

Anything else matter to you about hiring an advisor?

How happy are you with your finances right now?

Selected Value: 3

1 = Very unhappy, 2 = A bit unhappy, 3 = They're ok, 4 = Pretty happy, 5 = Very happy!

Your (family's) annual income?

Less than $50,000
$50,000 - $99,999
$100,000 - $249,999
More than $250,000

Thank you for filling out these additional demographic questions! They will really help me understand my target client audience.

Your (family's) total net worth?

Take all your assets (home + investments + cash etc) and subtract your debts (mortgage + credit card/student loan/auto loan/other debt)).

Your (family's) FINANCIAL net worth?

Subtract your home equity (= your home value(s) minus mortgage debt) and any other non-investment assets (e.g.: cars, land, jewelry) from your above net worth.

Gender?

Female
Male
Non-binary

Do you have credit card debt?

Nope, I pay it off each month
Yes, under $5,000
Yes, more than $5,000

Only count amounts that you DON'T pay off each month.

Do you plan on MAXING OUT either a workplace retirement account (ex: 401k) OR an IRA this year?

No, I probably won't contribute to any retirement accounts this year.
No, but I DO contribute something to a retirement account.
Yes, I'll be maxing out some kind of retirement account!

The IRS max is $19,500 for 401k/403bs, and $6,000 for IRAs. (For those over 50, It's $26,500 for 401ks and $7,000 for IRAs.)

Do any of the following apply to you? (Check all that apply)

Anything else you want to tell me?