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No matter what your financial dreams and goals, investing is the way to build wealth to achieve them. But investing is a complex matter, and there's a lot you need to know to do it successfully. We can help.
As you consider investing, ask yourself the following questions:
 | Have you clarified some specific goals for investing, along with your time frame for achieving them?
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| Do you understand the different kinds of investing vehicles: stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, to name just a few?
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| Do you know what kind of investor you are and what your risk tolerance is?
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| Do you understand the concepts of asset allocation and diversification?
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| Are you aware of the tax consequences of different types of investments?
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To help you develop an effective, customized plan, your financial representative needs a complete picture of your financial situation.
Before you meet, you may want to collect the following information that is applicable to you:
Recent statements illustrating your income, such as:
| Recent paycheck stubs
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| Tax statements for the last two years, showing withholdings
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Recent statements illustrating your current assets, such as:
| Bank checking, savings, and/or money market accounts
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| Retirement accounts (401(k), pension plan or personal IRA)
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| Investments such as mutual funds, annuities, stocks, bonds, investment properties
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| Insurance policies (life, disability, home, auto, medical, Medicare supplements, long-term care)
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| Home assessment/appraisal documents
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| Wills or trusts made by you or your spouse
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Recent statements illustrating your current liabilities, such as:
| Estimate of monthly business expenses (if you own a business)
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| Mortgage balance
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| Credit card, store card, and auto loan statements with balances, monthly payments, and interest rates
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If you own a business:
| Estimate of monthly business expenses (if you own a business)
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| Business agreements: buy-sell agreements, deferred compensation plans, stock options or bonus plans, salary continuation plans
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