What do professional designations for financial advisors mean to you?

By staff Writer

July 31, 2011 at 08:00 PM

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That's a good question. I do put some stock in designations. You better your odds with the more disciplined designations, but sometimes you have to sit across the desk from someone and look the
person in the eye.
-Kip, 64, Dallas

Gosh, I don't know much about the designations. My kid brother is my advisor. To tell you the truth, I don't know what designations he has on the financial side. He's an attorney. I do know that, but somewhere down the line he got into financial advising.
-Frank, 71, Little Rock, Ark.

I want an advisor that I can trust. That is the number one thing I am looking for: trust. The designations are not the end-all things for me. Trust is the real key. If you do not have trust and if your advisor does not do right by you, then you are in trouble from the get-go.
-Margie, 62, Miami

I want someone who has a CFP at least. That designation is very important. It tells me how seriously they take their profession and that shows me how seriously they take me. Do you want a doctor who doesn't have a medical degree? I know I don't. To me it's the same thing. You want someone who wants to achieve at that highest level.
-Jane, 66, Las Vegas

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