Released on: July 18, 2008, 12:00 pm

Press Release Author: Cindy Stranad

Industry: Financial

Press Release Summary: Brant Spesshardt of Banyan Rock & Talent offers guidelines
for individuals seeking a Certified Financial Planner.

Press Release Body: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Wealth Strategist Provides Tips for Choosing a Certified Financial Planner
Brant Spesshardt Offers a Step-by-Step Process for Individuals Seeking CFPs

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 18, 2008)-Brant Spesshardt, a Banyan Rock & Talent wealth
strategist, provides guidelines for individuals seeking a Certified Financial
Planner (CFP), financial professionals with certified experience to handle financial
needs.

Every investor has a different attitude and method for how they wish to distribute
their assets. For this reason, it is important to find a financial professional that
shares the same outlook. As a guidance tool, Spesshardt offers ten questions to ask
while searching for a CFP:

1. What experience do you have?
Find out how long the planner has been in practice, as well as the number and types
of companies with which they have been associated. Ask the planner to briefly
describe their work experience and how it relates to their current practice.

2. What are your qualifications?
The term \"financial planner\" is used by many financial professionals. Ask the
planner what qualifies them to offer financial planning advice and whether they are
recognized as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERT professional or CFP® practitioner, a
Certified Public Accountant/ Personal Financial Specialist (CPA/PFS), or a Chartered
Financial Consultant (ChFC). Look for a planner who has proven experience in
financial planning topics such as insurance, tax planning, investments, estate
planning or retirement planning.

3. What services do you offer?
The services a financial planner offers depend on a number of factors including
credentials, licenses and areas of expertise. Generally, financial planners cannot
sell insurance or securities products such as mutual funds or stocks without the
proper licenses and registrations, or give investment advice unless registered with
state or Federal authorities.

4. What is your approach to financial planning?
Ask the financial planner about the type of clients and financial situations they
typically like to work with. Some planners prefer to develop one plan by bringing
together several of your financial goals. Others provide advice on specific areas,
as needed.

5. Will you be the only person working with me?
The financial planner may work with you directly or have others assist them. You may
want to meet everyone who will be working with you. If the planner works with
professionals outside of their own practice (attorneys, insurance agents or tax
specialists) to develop or carry out financial planning recommendations, get a list
of names to check on their backgrounds.

6. How will I pay for your services?
As part of your financial planning agreement, the financial planner should clearly
tell you in writing how they will be paid for the services to be provided. Some
financial advisors may charge fees based on an hourly rate, a flat rate, or on a
percentage of your assets and/or income. Other times, other rate structures may be
used.

7. How much do you typically charge?
While the amount you pay the planner will depend on your particular needs, the
financial planner should be able to provide you with an estimate of possible costs
based on the work to be performed. Such costs should include the planner\'s hourly
rates or flat fees or the percentage he would receive as commission.

8. Could anyone besides me benefit from your recommendations?
Some business relationships or partnerships that a planner has could affect their
professional judgment while working with you, inhibiting the planner from acting in
your best interest. For example, financial planners who sell insurance policies,
securities or mutual funds have a business relationship with the companies that
provide these financial products.

9. Have you ever been publicly disciplined for any unlawful or unethical actions in
your professional career?
Several government and professional regulatory organizations, such as the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), your state insurance and securities
departments, and CFP Board keep records on the disciplinary history of financial
planners and advisers. Ask what organizations the planner is regulated by and
contact these groups to conduct a background check. All registered financial
planners must be able to provide you with a disclosure form called Form ADV Part II
or the state equivalent of that form.

10. Can I have it in writing?
Ask the planner to provide you with a written agreement that details the services
that will be provided. Keep this document in your files for future reference.

For more information on a CFP, call Spesshardt at (919) 816-2589 or visit
www.brantspesshardt.com.

About Brant Spesshardt:
Brant Spesshardt, a financial advisor of Banyan Rock & Talent has been providing
superior service to financial services clients since 1998. Brant prides his career
on providing clients with the strategic means to optimize financial capabilities.
Though skilled in many areas, Brant specializes in college, retirement and other
family financial planning, with an emphasis on stewardship. Brant believes in giving
back to the community that supports him and his family by participating as a board
member of Community Partnerships, Inc., the Raleigh and Garner Chambers of Commerce,
Ducks Unlimited committee and volunteering as a committee member for his church
Garner United Methodist. In 2001, he was a recipient of the Impact 100 Award on
behalf of Business Leader Magazine. Visit www.BrantSpesshardt.comfor more
information.

About AIG Advisor Group, Inc.:
The AIG Advisor Group, Inc. is among the largest independent Registered
Representative networks in the United States and consists of Advantage Capital
Corporation, AIG Financial Advisors, Inc., FSC Securities Corporation and Royal
Alliance Associates, Inc., and are all members of FINRA & SIPC. These independent
broker-dealers, with more than 7,000 independent financial professionals, are all
wholly-owned subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). AIG Advisor
Group is a marketing designation for certain broker-dealers, and investment advisers
affiliated with American International Group, Inc.

Securities offered through FSC Securities Corporation, Member FINRA/SIPC. Banyan,
Rock & Talent is not affiliated with FSC Securities Corporation or registered as a
broker/dealer or investment advisor.

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Web Site: http://www.brantspesshardt.com

Contact Details: Media Contact:
Cindy Stranad
cindy@articulon.com
(919) 232-5008