Hi Dreamers!!!

I just had to jump on here and post my experience with our Financial Advisor.

I met with her so I could discuss our finances and so forth for when we plan to go Fulltime in 2013.  Needless to say, her reaction was LESS than supportive.

Essentially, she called our fifth wheel (which she had never heard of a fifth wheel before) our "Travel Circus on Wheels!"  She said that she didn't think we'd last out on the road, that the RV will depreciate and that there's no way we could afford the health insurance.

She also said that we should have ROOTS somewhere....

I listened to everything she had to say because I value hearing other peoples opinions. 

I left feeling more determined THAN EVER!

She didn't "get" it when I told her that our current lifestyle was killing us and that we yearn with all of our hearts and souls to be out in the world, meeting new people and seeing the beauty of our wonderful planet.

She REALLY didn't get it when I told her that I hate having a boss and that I wanted to work for myself.

I have been finding it a lot that people don't like to hear it when I say that I want to be my own boss.  Am I missing something here???  Why the negative reaction every time I say I want to work for myself?  Is it because I'm a woman? 

Anyhow...Just wanted to share this with you all.  Happy travels, everyone!

Woodchip

Simple, people fear what they do not know, Its an old story, stick with the dreamers, ignore the rest, G

You have my support.... keep workin on the dream to make it a reality. Howard posts some great financial strategies on this website also take a look at Dave Ramsey's website. Many fulltimers have used Dave Ramsey's techniques to get to their dream. see http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/

You know I haven't had a strong reaction in that direction, but I've heard the similar concerns, and there are certainly people who don't "get it", for whatever reason. Sometimes the reasons for the harsh reactions are actually pretty self serving if you think about it. This came from your financial advisor, a person who has a vested interest in seeing you make as much money as you can, while you can. Kind of showing her true colors, isn't she?

Our finanical planner has been extremely supportive and was very excited for us when we finally hit the road. He moved funds around for the most benefit to us as fulltimers. We are glad we took his advice some years ago and included some Roth IRAs. They will be a big help for the next year until Len is old enough for SS. (Sorry to admit but I already am). Anyway, do what YOU feel is best for you after looking at all options. Phyllis

ANY financial advisor that refers to your 5th wheel as a traveling circus needs to be looking for a replacement client. I would have been out the door within 10 seconds of her saying that. Find an advisor that understands real life, maybe ask phyllen for a reference. Sounds like they have found a jewel.

Find a different financial adviser , this lady doesn't have YOUR best interest at heart. I for one don't care what others think about my lifestyle, life's to short.

Onawave I really like the way you think.

It's unfortunate that your money person can't just do there job and simply make sure you are thinking about these things instead of injecting her own feelings.
 I have to admit that I expected the same from our person a couple weeks back when we had our 1st meeting about going full time. However to my surprise he seemed genuinly happy for us. That could change in our second meeting next week LOL. 

 And I'm curious why you made the comment of (is it because I'm a women). I have to be honest,,, We run through over 1000 paying customers a day and every once and a GREAT while I hear a comment like that and I always wonder what makes a person feel that way........... Is it because I'm a man?

-- Edited by Hdrider on Thursday 11th of February 2010 08:24:52 PM

Woodchip, that is unfortunate about your financial advisor.  I have worked for a financial planning company for 19 years....they have always done what is best for their client and what their client said they wanted for retirement.....no matter what it is.  Helping them TOWARDS their dreams has always been their #1 priority.  In fact my boss, who is also MY financial advisor is very happy for my DH and I to finally live our dream.....(April 2011)....in fact, he and his wife are a little jealous of us!

There's a reason you have been putting money away and now you can enjoy the lifestyle you have wanted....I agree with my peers on this one......you need a new financial advisor.

Good luck and enjoy the journey!

Before I took an early retirement at 62 and my wife left her job so we could go on the road fulltime I talked with my financial advisor. He was a little skeptical at first and he didn't think the budget I laid out for us to live on was realistic but he was supportive. Over two years later he stands amazed that we are still living on that budget and not drawing down our principal and he is now envious of the freedom we are experiencing as we travel all over the country. I agree with others, if your finacial advisor is not trying to help you reach you goals then he is not working in your interest. I can also vouch for Dave Ramsey's program which helped us to be debt free before hitting the road or we would not have gone when we did.

Hi there, Dreamers. Thank you for all of your encouragement and positive attitudes. After all of the suggestions and a night to sleep on it....I have come to the conclusion that my financial advisor will have a new vacancy in her roster of clients...very soon. I agree that she went overboard...especially on her descriptor of my home as, "Travel Circus on Wheels." I would be remiss to say, however, that I didn't value hearing her opinion. I mean...who knows....maybe she was going to lend me some advice or tell me something I hadn't thought of. But...when I went down the rap sheet of what the hubby and I have done to prepare for this...she didn't extend any congratulations or well-wishes...rather...she was very focused on telling me that living on the road fulltime would never work. Thank you for the Dave Ramsey suggestions. I've been following him for years and he and a couple of other money books are what have put the DH and I in this situation, whereas...no, we won't live an opulent life with money to throw around with abandon...but we will have our FREEDOM. As far as feeling like she was talking to me differently because I am a woman vs. being a male...I don't think she'd have the gumption to speak that way to a man. Or at least she would have used different phrasing. I get it all the time...when I sit with our money people. They talk to me like I just crawled out under a rock and to my husband as if he's an expert. :) Anyhow...again, thank you Dreamers. I am so appreciative for the support here. ~Woodchip~

As far as feeling like she was talking to me differently because I am a woman vs. being a male...I don't think she'd have the gumption to speak that way to a man. Or at least she would have used different phrasing. I get it all the time...when I sit with our money people. They talk to me like I just crawled out under a rock and to my husband as if he's an expert.


 Well thats just wrong,,, I guess at my place of work the woman in very much involved in and a lot of the time makes the final choice on things. So I (we) just cant understand that way of thinking.
 

I agree with the others FIND a new advisor. Our advisor is very supportive to the point he wishes he could do the same thing. We aren't "well off" but I look at a lot of people going full time with a lot less money and if they can do it so can we. Good luck and go for it.

What is an Investment Advisor ?

Go onto Dave Ramsey's web site and get the name of a new adviser.