It’s a common dilemma for investors, whether they’re just starting out or have owned mutual funds for a long time: do I need a financial professional, or am I OK doing it myself?
Financial professionals include registered financial professionals, also known as registered representatives, investment advisers and financial planners. These investment professionals are regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and/or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Everyone’s financial situation is unique, as is their level of financial knowledge. Ultimately, this is a very personal decision. Can you do what a financial professional does? What does a financial professional actually do? Here are a few questions you should ask yourself:
- How knowledgeable are you in financial matters?
- Do you have the time and interest to research mutual funds?
- Are you confident enough, and do you have enough time to maintain your portfolio and make any necessary changes as your situation changes?
It’s probably a safe bet that your answers to these questions are never going to be an unequivocal yes. Knowledge is relative, time and priorities shift, interest wanes over time and confidence wavers, especially in a volatile market environment. So, does this mean you need a financial professional? Not necessarily. Let’s look at the benefits of doing it yourself versus what a financial professional can provide you.
Financial investing yourself
When you decide to invest in mutual funds directly versus through a financial professional, you’ll need to make the following decisions:
- Your goals
- Which type of account will best fit those goals
- Your threshold for risk and time horizon
- Which fund to invest in
- How much to invest
- How often to invest
To help you make these decisions, Thrivent Asset Management provides information you’ll need to understand your options and feel confident in your decision. Your investment portfolio will be fully accessible online and you’ll be able to manage almost all your mutual fund activities yourself.
When you choose to invest directly on your own in mutual funds through Thrivent Asset Management, you don’t pay sales charges or ongoing account service fees. Depending on the fund, there is a potential you’ll face a low-balance fee. This means more of your money is invested and working for you. The fees you will pay are the customary expenses that all mutual funds charge for investment management, record-keeping, legal and accounting requirements. These fees are considered fund operating expenses and are represented as the net expense ratio of the fund. You will pay fund operating expenses regardless of whether you buy mutual funds online or through a financial professional. (See Understanding the fees and expenses of mutual funds.)