 We all want to make sure we are aware of good financial opportunities, but how often have you spent valuable time at an event that was pitched as the “best possible use of your time” and left feeling that doing almost anything else would have been a better way to spend the day? Are all financial seminars equal? Of course not! How, then, can you determine whether a seminar will be worth your time and/or attention?
The Presenter
The first determinant wh en it comes to a financial seminar is that the firm and/or person making the presentation must be properly licensed in the discipline. You can check this with the appropriate federal and/or state licensing agency. A legitimate securities agent must be registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and his or her firm must be registered with a state securities regulator or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Insurance agents must be licensed by the state’s insurance commissioner. Please visit the Important Links page on our website for direct links to these agencies.
Seminar presenters should not suggest that past performance is an indication of future performance, as no financial “expert” can ever predict the future. The fact that a financial product performed well in the past does not guarantee that it will do well in the future.
The Information & Decision Process
Information presented at seminars is usually general and should therefore be viewed as the first step in a process. It is important to make sure the information provided will work in your specific situation. One should thus be concerned if a false sense of urgency is created by suggesting, for example, that you purchase a product(s) that is available for a limited time only. This is not to suggest that you should unnecessarily procrastinate, but if you’re sensing any pressure to “buy now or lose out,” you need to be very careful.
It behooves you, as an investor, to get a complete understanding of where your money is going before you sign any documents or write any checks. Ask as many questions as necessary to be sure you understand what you are buying, especially the associated risks and costs. Failure to receive satisfactory answers could be a sign that a particular financial product may not be for you. Some good areas to cover include:
· Risks associated with the financial product
· Initial as well as any associated ongoing costs
· How readily the investment can be accessed for cash
· Surrender charges or any other fees associated with cashing out
· Net returns after fees, as returns quoted are usually the gross, and which regulator the investment is registered with
Please, please, please take the time to confirm the answers to all of these questions before investing your money.
A Unique Approach
Laser Financial Group presents many educational seminars and webinars; however, it takes an additional three to six weeks before any actual implementation occurs. During that time, our potential clients go through a customized consultative plan design and review exercise during which we fully assess their needs vis-ŕ-vis alternative solutions and products.
Please visit www.LaserFG.com or call (301) 949-4449 for a complete list of our educational seminars/webinars. And also request your no-obligation consultation with a licensed strategist today! | 
