You can learn more about this and other upcoming NAPFA consumer education webinars here.

One of the key differences between a NAPFA Fee-Only advisor and a broker is that NAPFA advisors serve their clients in a fiduciary capacity.  A fiduciary standard means that your advisor is putting your interests first.  Jason describes why this is important:

“A key factor still is missing from Finra’s suitability requirements: cost. Let’s say you tell your broker that you want to simplify your stock portfolio into an index fund. He then tells you that his firm manages an S&P-500 Index fund that is “suitable’ for you. He is under no obligation to tell you that the annual expenses that his firm charges on the fund are 10 times higher than an essentially identical fund from Vanguard. An adviser acting under fiduciary duty would have to disclose the conflict of interest and tell you that cheaper alternatives are available.

If brokers had to take cost and conflicts of interest into account in order to honor a fiduciary duty to their clients, their firms might hesitate before producing the kind of garbage that has blighted the portfolios of investors over the years.”

For more information, check out the Focus on Fiduciary site.

 You’re probably thinking “what’s the catch”, but there isn’t one.  This is a non-solicitation event – meaning no sales, no pitches, just a chance to sit down with local independent planners for 10-15 minutes and pick their brains! We should have 5-6 planners available to help people with their financial issues so make the most of it!

 It will probably be pretty busy around lunch. So if possible, try to make it during the day. This event is free and open to the public and is on a first-come, first served basis. For more information, check out the Money bus website at http://www.yourmoneybus.com

 Here’s the press Release:

 Portland residents are struggling to make ends meet right now. An unstable economy, rising unemployment rates and home foreclosures continue to impact consumers throughout the area.

 In recognition of this growing problem, three financial industry leaders are taking the issue of debt and saving to the Streets of Portland during a national bus tour stop to deliver complimentary financial advice from volunteer, independent registered investment advisors and education to help consumers reverse these startling trends.

 The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) Consumer Education Foundation, TD AMERITRADE Institutional and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine are collaborating on the Your Money Bus Tour.  Coming to Portland on March 26, 2009, the Your Money Bus Tour will deliver the important message that it is never too late to start taking steps to prepare for a secure financial future.

 During the stop in Portland, volunteer financial advisors will be on-hand to conduct the following events: 

• 10:00 am to 3:00 pm – Complimentary advice event at the Pioneer Courthouse Square, in the Morrison Corner (715 SW Morrison, Portland, OR). Bring your financial questions and chat one-on-one with a financial advisor to get your answers. Be sure to also pick-up a handy toolkit full of information on debt reduction and saving.

 To learn more about the event taking place in Portland, visit www.yourmoneybus.com for up-to-date schedule information.

  ”The Your Money Bus Tour is a way for our organizations to reach out to consumers in Portland and in other cities coast-to-coast to help them make better decisions for their futures,” said Michael Joyce, CFA, CFP^®, chairman of the NAPFA Consumer Education Foundation Board.  “We hope everyone in Portland has a chance to stop by the bus to get some complimentary advice and pick-up some literature.  We know they will be happy they did.”