Even if you have already decided that you are a dividend-oriented investor and can handle investing on your own, you may want professional help with other aspects of your financial affairs.
Doing it yourself or using an advisor is not a wrong-or-right issue. Many say that even for do-it-yourselfers, having an advisor can help prevent you from acting irrationally at the worst times, which can be very costly. For those opting for help — ranging from an occasional look-over to having an expert or experts handle everything — we’re going to devote this column and the two that follow to figuring out how to hire the best financial advisor for your needs.