Six tips for finding an investment advisor: trust is key when looking for someone to manage your money.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Position: INVESTMENTS

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

For years you've worked hard and saved money; now it's time to put your money to work for you. But if you're not an expert on investing, you may want to find an expert to help you get the best return on your money so that you can better enjoy retirement, fund a child's college education, or leave a legacy for your loved ones.

However, finding an investment advisor isn't as simple as looking for a name in the Yellow Pages or scanning sites on the Internet. There are different types of brokers or advisors; different ways of collecting fees and commissions; and different personalities that may or may not click with yours. In addition to looking for certain qualifications in an investment advisor, it's also important to review your own priorities before you begin your search--knowing what you want your money to do is just as important as knowing who to choose to make it happen.

"Overall, I'd say that trust is at the top of the list: you want to work with someone who you can create a relationship with," said Wesley Roberts, a financial advisor for Edward Jones in Anchorage. "You also want to look for someone who asks a lot of questions--who wants to know about your goals. This is an industry of communication; therefore, consistent communication should be the foundation of an ongoing, trusting relationship."

"You want someone hardworking, ethical and honest, who is on the same wavelength as you," agreed Robert A. Bracco Jr., CIMA, first vice president of investments and senior financial advisor, Merrill Lynch. "When you meet to discuss your situation, you don't say 'dog' and they say 'cat.' You say 'dog' and they say 'German Shepherd.' You want someone you like and trust, because if you don't like them, you're never going to trust them."

A QUESTION OF TERMINOLOGY

Even before you search for an advisor, it's best to understand what you're looking for. While those who invest money are sometimes called brokers, the industry has been moving away from that term to better represent who they are and what they do.

"The term 'broker' refers to a person who does a transaction for you; imagine a person flipping through their Rolodex, calling 20 different people and giving them a spiel about how Apple Corporation is great, and making a commission on whoever invests," said Bracco. "That is not what an advisor does. I'd say that 90 percent of what I do is fee-based advisory; I may recommend Apple, but that's because I'm familiar with my...