Five Steps to Finding a Financial Advisor You Can Trust: What Questions to Ask, When to Ask Them, Why They're So Critical for a Worry-Free Retirement

by Randy L. Thurman

You’ve worked hard and planned carefully so that one day you can retire comfortably.
That time has finally arrived. So why doesn’t it feel as carefree as you imagined? After building your retirement account, it’s time to take money out and use it for everyday expenses ― and that requires an entirely new approach to financial planning. You have lots of questions. This book is a step-by-step guide to the answers you need to let go of your concerns. The key is to enlist the help of a financial professional with the experience to understand your needs now that you’ve retired. Learn which questions to ask and what answers to expect from an advisor with the specialized knowledge to help you enjoy the worry-free retirement you deserve, so can make your golden years the most meaningful and rewarding years of your life.

172 pages, Hardcover

Published July 18, 2023

About the author

I started out in banking in the mid 80s in Oklahoma City. I had saved up $6500 from college and had a stock broker call me up. He had a stock that was "poised to move." Silly me, I thought he meant up. I told him to send me the financials to analyze, which he did. It looked pretty good. I invested half my life savings ($3000) in a stock called Kelly-Johnsons. In 6 months, I lost it all. He called and apologized and said he "wanted to make it up to me." What a guy. He said he had an oil stock, they just hit a well, and we got to move fast. I invested the other half of my life savings in Plano petroleum. In 2 weeks it went from 40 to 6.

It was then, I became obsessed with financial planning and investing. Reading everything I could, taking classes, etc. I acquired a passion for financial planning and became and advisor, in 1987.

I have 4 degrees, two from Oklahoma State. A BS in Electrical Engineering, and an MBA. I have two associates degrees from Oklahoma City Community College, in Accounting and Real Estate Investing. Since the start of my sophomore year I paid my way through college.

I'm a CPA and CFP and run a fee-only investment advisory firm for conservative investors.

Pati, Levi and I live in South Oklahoma City and have a place in Stillwater. We enjoy Oklahoma State University sports and spending time in Stillwater.