Getting Started as a Financial Planner: Revised and Updated Edition

369 Pages·2005·2.25 MB·english

by  Jeffrey H Rattiner CPA CFP

PRAISE FOR THE NEW EDITION OF
Getting Started as a Financial Planner
by Jeffrey H. Rattiner
“ Jeff Rattiner has been intimately involved with the development
of the financial planning profession for nearly twenty years as
a planner, teacher, author, and educational innovator. For any-
one who is serious about entering financial planning as a first or
new career, Getting Started as a Financial Planner provides great
insight from someone who can really say he’s been there and done
that. It’s a must-read.”
marvin w. tuttle, jr., cae
Executive Director/CEO
Financial Planning Association
“ Getting Started as a Financial Planner is a must-read for any pro-
fessional interested in a career in financial planning. As one of
the industry’s most respected teachers and practitioners, Jeff’s
book is packed with useful insights that every newcomer needs to
be successful.”
john whelan
Publisher
Financial Planning
PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION
“ When asked to recommend books for new advisers, we often
suggest Getting Started as a Financial Planner.”
Investment Advisor
“A must-read for emerging financial planners.”
Advisor Today
“ For anyone entering the profession or transitioning to financial
planning from a related field, Getting Started as a Financial Planner
is well worth reading. Experienced planners who never seem to
find the time to do practice planning should also benefit.”
horsesmouth.com
“ Right now, many people want to get into the field of financial
planning but may not know how. Jeff’s easy-to-read, comprehen-
sive primer is an excellent tool for those looking to get started in the
profession and highlights the client-centered approach that is crucial
to the success of any financial planning practice.”
robert p. goss, j.d., ph.d., cfp(cid:1)
(cid:1)
Former President and CEO
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards
“ Thinking of becoming a financial planner or adding the
planning discipline to your current professional practice? Jeff
Rattiner has written the perfect cookbook for those who want to enter
the financial planning profession. His book is chockful of winning
recipes that will undoubtedly help newcomers create truly successful
financial planning practices.”
deena katz, cfp(cid:1)
(cid:1)
President, Evensky & Katz
Author of Deena Katz’s Tools and Templates for Your Practice
and Deena Katz on Practice Management
“ If you truly want to serve your clients successfully, then you owe
it to yourself and your clients to read this book. It’s a step-by-step
guide that will help your clients achieve their financial dreams.”
john bowen(cid:1)
(cid:1)
President and CEO
CEG Worldwide
“I wish this book had been available when I started in financial
planning. The book manages to integrate how to be a finan-
cial planner with the academics of financial planning. The
step-by-step, programmed approach can serve as a daily guide.
Mr. Rattiner’s extensive experience as a teacher, resource person,
and planner gives a perspective lacking in today’s curriculum.”
steven i. levey, cpa/pfs(cid:1)
(cid:1)
Managing Director
GHP Horwath, P.C.
“ Jeff Rattiner has done outstanding work with this new book.
Practitioners, both new and veteran, can now have a terrific road map
to use to chart their success in the financial planning business.”
jim cannon(cid:1)
(cid:1)
President
SunAmerica Securities, Inc.
“ I’m impressed. Jeff has done it! This book gives hands-on advice
in a logical fashion on creating, marketing, and managing a financial
planning firm.”
phyllis bernstein, cpa/pfs(cid:1)
(cid:1)
Former Director, Personal Financial Planning Division, AICPA
Author of Financial Planning for CPAs(cid:1)
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G E TT I N G
S TA R T E D
AS A
F I N A N CI A L
P L A N N E R
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM BLOOMBERG PRESS
Virtual-Office Tools for a High-Margin Practice(cid:1)
by David J. Drucker and Joel P. Bruckenstein
The Financial Services Marketing Handbook(cid:1)
by Evelyn Ehrlich and Duke Fanelli
The New Fiduciary Standard
by Tim Hatton, CFP, CIMA, AIF
Deena Katz on Practice Management(cid:1)
for Financial Advisers, Planners, and Wealth Managers(cid:1)
by Deena B. Katz
Deena Katz’s Tools and Templates for Your Practice(cid:1)
for Financial Advisers, Planners, and Wealth Managers(cid:1)
by Deena B. Katz
Building a High-End Financial Services Practice
by Cliff Oberlin and Jill Powers
In Search of the Perfect Model
(cid:1)by Mary Rowland
Practice Made Perfect
by Mark C. Tibergien and Rebecca Pomering
A complete list of our titles is available at
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JEFFREY H. RATTINER
G E TT I N G
S TA R T E D
AS A
F I N A N CI A L
P L A N N E R
REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION
BLOOMBERG PRESS
NEW YORK
© 2005 by Jeffrey H. Rattiner. All rights reserved. Protected under the Berne
Convention. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
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This publication contains the author’s opinions and is designed to provide accurate
and authoritative information. It is sold with the understanding that the author, pub-
lisher, and Bloomberg L.P. are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, invest-
ment-planning, or other professional advice. The reader should seek the services of
a qualified professional for such advice; the author, publisher, and Bloomberg L.P.
cannot be held responsible for any loss incurred as a result of specific investments or
planning decisions made by the reader.
CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ are certification marks owned by Certified
Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.
Revised and Updated Edition published 2005.
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rattiner, Jeffrey H.
Getting started as a financial planner /Jeffrey H. Rattiner.--Rev. and
updated ed.
(cid:1)p. cm.
Summary: “A guide for financial planners, includes: business plan develop-
ment, client management, certification, legal compliance, client communica-
tion, and marketing strategies”--Provided by publisher.
Includes index.
ISBN 1-57660-185-4 (alk. paper)
1. Financial planners—United States. 2. Investment advisors—United States.
I. Title.
HG181.R278 2005
332.6’2--dc22
2005007057