n’t bother pulling weeds, thinning out less desirable plants, watering or fertilizing. Changes in the weather, such as a late frost or summer drought, would pass with little concern on their part. Passively tended gardens place your harvest at risk and may Choosing a financial advisor can be one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. If your advisor’s management style matches yours, it will allow you to sleep at night. If it doesn’t, you may be forced to endure countless sleepless nights. In part 2 of this series, we’ll look at the most important aspect of all to consider when choosing an advisor.

Simply put, how will this advisor manage your money? Once your money is invested, will they passively manage, only reviewing your account once or twice a year? Or will they actively manage it, having systems in place to constantly monitor each investment and make changes whenever necessary to protect your money, minimize your losses and maximize your returns?

Let me explain by using the analogy of a garden. Imagine paying someone to plant your garden and manage the harvest. A ‘passive’ gardener would plant seeds for you, but once they’re in the ground, they’d move on to plant their next customer’s garden without doing much to maintain yours. They wouldn’t bother pulling weeds, thinning out less desirable plants, watering or fertilizing. Changes in the weather, such as a late frost or summer drought, would pass with little concern on their part. Passively tended gardens place your harvest at risk and may n

of this series, we’ll look at the most important aspect of all to consider when choosing an advisor.

Simply put, how will this advisor manage your money? Once your money is invested, will they passively manage, only reviewing your account once or twice a year? Or will they actively manage it, having systems in place to constantly monitor each investment and make changes whenever necessary to protect your money, minimize your losses and maximize your returns?

Let me explain by using the analogy of a garden. Imagine paying someone to plant your garden and manage the harvest. A ‘passive’ gardener would plant seeds for you, but once they’re in the ground, they’d move on to plant their next customer’s garden without doing much to maintain yours. They wouldn’t bother pulling weeds, thinning out less desirable plants, watering or fertilizing. Changes in the weather, such as a late frost or summer drought, would pass with little concern on their part. Passively tended gardens place your harvest at risk and may

e a year? Or will they actively manage it, having systems in place to constantly monitor each investment and make changes whenever necessary to protect your money, minimize your losses and maximize your returns?

Let me explain by using the analogy of a garden. Imagine paying someone to plant your garden and manage the harvest. A ‘passive’ gardener would plant seeds for you, but once they’re in the ground, they’d move on to plant their next customer’s garden without doing much to maintain yours. They wouldn’t bother pulling weeds, thinning out less desirable plants, watering or fertilizing. Changes in the weather, such as a late frost or summer drought, would pass with little concern on their part. Passively tended gardens place your harvest at risk and may

garden. Imagine paying someone to plant your garden and manage the harvest. A ‘passive’ gardener would plant seeds for you, but once they’re in the ground, they’d move on to plant their next customer’s garden without doing much to maintain yours. They wouldn’t bother pulling weeds, thinning out less desirable plants, watering or fertilizing. Changes in the weather, such as a late frost or summer drought, would pass with little concern on their part. Passively tended gardens place your harvest at risk and may n’t bother pulling weeds, thinning out less desirable plants, watering or fertilizing. Changes in the weather, such as a late frost or summer drought, would pass with little concern on their part. Passively tended gardens place your harvest at risk and may not provide enough to last through the winter.

On the other hand, an ‘active’ gardener should have a far better result. They’d have picked the best seeds possible, and carefully monitor each plant’s progress. During a frost, they’d take action. During a dry season plants would be well watered. If a crop turned out to be a disappointment, they’d quickly be replaced. Each crop’s performance would be tracked carefully so under-performers would be thinned out.

Any gardener knows that a well tended garden results in less loss and a bountiful harvest. When your garden is being ‘actively’ tended, you can sleep at night, knowing your harvest is less likely to result in your going hungry in the coming winter.

Those of you who are avid gardeners wouldn’t dream of being ‘passive’ with your treasured plot of earth. But unlike the relaxation associated with ‘active’ gardening, ‘actively’ managing your finances would be a stressful do-it-yourself job.

When it comes to financial advisors, probably 90% are ‘p