bright. Just named one of best in NC by Forbes. Tell him Don sent you. I can get you contact info if you desire ( below). Went to App St. has an MBA and CFA certification. Not pushy and adapts to your style. I have most of my retirement funds at Vanguard but have a brokerage account at Wells, mostly self managed but he has made some good recommendations. ** Edited by DonHo-kieHi at 5/6/2024, 12:54:19 PM

VT class of 86

** Edited by chumley at 5/6/2024, 10:15:35 AM

I'm in VA, so it wouldn't help you, although I DO have part of my holdings in an IRA at Wells Fargo Securities out of Wilmington NC. Check around to see if they have to be in your state. I WILL say that it is best IMO. I meet with my financial advisor quarterly, and have access whenever I want. The majority of my stuff is with these folks in VA. Maybe it's my age, but I think it is good to have them close enough to sit down face to face You are at a great age. I was 55+ and had managed my holdings and investments mostly by myself . First question my advisor asked me when we sat down was... WHY? He said you have done well it seems, so why come to us? BOY, was that a credibility builder with me (and probably "Financial Consultant Sales 101). Still, it mattered to me. I told him that I'd been running full speed ahead with my eyes closed and saving as much as I could for many years..I was starting to sense the "wall" ahead, and wanted someone to assist me before I ran slam into it! I was 55 or so, and it has been a real help. I recognize I'd have done even better with them earlier on... 40 is a great age to enlist the help of a professional (in MY opinion). I have friends who prefer to manage their own portfolio and that is certainly fine.. It IS cheaper that way, but that's not me. I have a deal with my advisor, as well as the folks at Wells Fargo. As long as I net more working with you than I could on my own, I will continue on..It works for me anyway. ** Edited by HOKIERIT at 5/6/2024, 10:11:37 AM

to [email protected]

If not, you're screwed. And that advice was free 😁

...over the long term, then invest heavily every month. Recommend a few different funds to diversify your investments. Read up on how the fund managers get paid, and let that factor into your investment decisions. (i.e. no load, front load, etc.) The "white haired" Fidelity dude wrote a good book on investments. He preferred stock funds to beat inflation. Some here really like index funds, some growth, some aggressive growth, some large caps...

well when your portfolio does well. They use a guy in Roanoke, but I'm sure there is one in NC.

It is really rare for a money manager to outperform an index fund over the long term. If you did manage to find a mutual fund that is outperforming an index, you would need to keep up with who the fund manager is in case they ever leave or retire. Splitting money between a large cap, mid cap, small cap, and international index fund is both really simple and would give you a tough portfolio to beat over the long term. The real key is "the long term." Beating an index for a month or quarter or even a couple of years is pretty easy. But outsmarting the entire US and world economy is really, really hard.

totality and if we need to pivot or do something different, identify it while we still have time.

...then you're probably a little late to worry if you're making the right decisions...lol

Unless you are planning on dying soon thereafter. Most people can expect to live 10-15 years after retiring, and quite a few make it 25+. Even if retirement is imminent, at least some of your money still has a long investment horizon.

retirement funds soon, it probably is a good idea to speak with a financial advisor. While some of your money still needs to be invested for the long term, some is money you will need soon and would need to be handled differently. Investing for long term growth is pretty simple (and anyone who tries to make it complicated is selling something). But investing for income replacement is trickier and probably not something your layperson can do well on their own.