Susie's Qs
Questions for Choosing Your Professionals
Estate Planner
Tax and Financial Planning Pro
Medical Insurance Agent
You can also inquire at the state insurance board to see if there are any grievances filed against the agent you are considering. A google search may shed some additional light. Finally, ask yourself:
Realtor
(Call Susie at 801-599-8623 or go to her website at susienelsen.com or susienelsenrealtor.com)
Contractor
Moving Company
Mortuary
Also ask if they create a file with discharge papers, if you are a vet, and any authorizations for burial procedures such as cremation or embalming. Having those on file ahead of time will be helpful for your family.
Estate Planner
- How many years of experience in estate planning do you have?
- Do you specialize in estate planning? What percentage of your business is devoted to estate planning as opposed to other areas of law?
- Can you tell me about some of your experience?
- How many wills and trusts have you implemented for clients?
- Can you explain the differences between, and benefits of, a will and a trust to me in language I can understand? Can you tell me the importance of beneficiary designations and how they will affect my will or trust?
- How accessible are you? Will I be communicating with you primarily or with a paralegal?
- How do you keep up to date on any changes in the law?
- What are your fees?
- How do we get started?
Tax and Financial Planning Pro
- How long have you been a CPA (or Financial Planner)?
- What type of clients do you serve?
- What type of services do you perform?
- How will your services be beneficial to me in the areas of tax savings, planning and investment advice, and bookkeeping methods?
- Are you proactive with your clients? Do you ask questions of your clients to discern what steps and procedures will be most beneficial for them? Do you inform them throughout the year of any changes in the tax laws that will affect their planning?
- Are you available for questions throughout the year? How accessible are you? Do you charge for phone calls?
- (CPA) How involved are you in the preparation of my yearly return? Do you have someone else prepare it, and then review it? Or do you actually do the return yourself?
- (CPA)What is your fee schedule? Do you charge by the hour, form, or flat fee?
- (CFP) Are you fee-based, asset-based, or commission-based? (Steer clear of any commission-based fees unless they use a general, holistic approach and you are confident that they are offering you the best product to meet your needs, regardless of their commission.) Do you specialize in the senior market?
Medical Insurance Agent
- Do you specialize in the senior market?
- How many years have you been working in this type of insurance?
- Are you an independent agent? (Represents several companies)
- How many companies are you licensed with?
- Do you have any references I can read from any of your other clients?
You can also inquire at the state insurance board to see if there are any grievances filed against the agent you are considering. A google search may shed some additional light. Finally, ask yourself:
- Is this agent really listening to me to see what my needs are?
- Are they trying to push a certain product I don’t really want?
- Are they explaining my options in a way I can understand?
- Do they seem approachable and available?
Realtor
(Call Susie at 801-599-8623 or go to her website at susienelsen.com or susienelsenrealtor.com)
- How long have you been in the Real Estate business?
- Are you a REALTOR®?
- Do you like being a REALTOR®? What do you like about it?
- What type of clients have you served?
- Do you have any references or evaluations from past clients I could review?
- Do you, or someone on your team, hold the Seniors Residential Specialist SRES) Designation?
- What experience or other designations do you have that will be of benefit to me?
Contractor
- Are you licensed and bonded?
- How much are you bonded for?
- How long have you been in the business?
- What type of construction have you done?
- Do you have any past clients who can give me a reference?
- Will you be giving me a written estimate?
- How long will the project take?
- What is the payment schedule?
Moving Company
- How long have you been in business?
- Are you licensed in this state? Are you bonded?
- Do you have references?
- Are your movers full-time employees?
- How much experience do they have?
- Do you have adequate equipment to handle my larger items?
Mortuary
- How long have you been in business?
- What are the specific services you offer and what are the prices for each?
- What burial options do you offer and what are the prices for each?
- What kind of assistance do you offer for making decisions and recording wishes?
- What is involved if I opt to prepay for my arrangements? What kind of payment plans are available?
- Are any prepaid arrangements transferable to another location if I move away?
- What kind of support do you offer to the families of the deceased?
Also ask if they create a file with discharge papers, if you are a vet, and any authorizations for burial procedures such as cremation or embalming. Having those on file ahead of time will be helpful for your family.