In today's Personal Finance section was a quick article by Suzanne Barlyn uncovering the GAO's study on financial planners. Once again, the financial planning trade groups seek to expand their membership instead of solving the problem. In the letter I wrote to Senator Dodd last March, I outlined the need to have a set of standards for financial planning and the need for such to be taken back from FINRA.
Last fall when we were diligently working to develop Folioscore.com, an application that allows investors to audit how well their advisor is managing their portfolio towards achieving their financial planning goals, Andy Gluck sent me an insightful article, Broken Plans.
As the reality of an economic recession begins to appear more certain, investors are becoming increasingly skiddish as to whether they should stay the course or abandon their investment plans altogether by seeking a defensive position. While it is unknown as to the length and severity of this current crisis, fear looms we are in the midst of an unprecendented event.