Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
The author, Allison Nichol Longtin.
Allison Nichol Longtin
When my husband died, I had to figure out my financial future, which meant finding a financial advisor.
I was able to find a great financial advisor by thinking about my specific goals and needs.
Having an independent financial advisor isn’t cheap, but it’s been well worth the cost to me.
I started working with my independent financial advisor Liz in fall 2017, just months after my husband died suddenly, leaving me to manage a financial situation in flux and learn, for the first time, how to take control of my money.
When I began the search for a financial advisor to help me rebuild my life, I knew I needed to get clear on what (and who!) I was looking for. Here’s the checklist I used to settle on my fantastic financial planner.
See Insider’s picks for the best online financial advisors »
1. I knew I wanted to work with a woman
I’d always let men manage my money, whether my husband or my advisor at the bank. As a woman making a living on my own and just beginning my journey toward financial literacy, I knew I wanted a woman to help show me the way.
The New School of Finance, founded by certified financial planner and chartered investment manager Shannon Lee Simmons, is where I landed. My financial planner, Liz Schick, is part of the awesome all-female team. To say nothing of the gender-based pay gap and privileged position that can come with being male, it was important to me to work with a woman to start from a shared perspective and to support a female-owned and run business.
2. I was looking for someone with empathy
As a widow in the early stages of grief, I needed all the support I could get, including emotional support. I was doing the hard work of rebuilding my life after a shattering loss and I needed to know that my financial planner was on my side.
I’d just lost my partner in all things, including money management, and Liz stepped into her role as my financial …read more
Source:: Business Insider