Q & A with Todd Snider of SniderFive Financial

Q & A with Todd Snider by Ryan Cole

Where did you go to College? What did you Study?

I graduated from Washington State University in 1991. I have a BA in Communications and a BA in Business.

The economy is obviously suffering, what bit of advice can you offer to those who are self employed and need to manage their own investments?

The advice depends on the age and risk tolerance of each investor. The self employed are reliant on what they produce and they need to have an emergency fund set up first. Also, if you get out of the market now, you are locking in your losses. At what point do you get back in the market is the next question to ask. The most prudent advice is to dollar cost average your investments and make sure that you have portfolio diversification regardless of the age of the investor.

What is your take on the Real Estate Market?

This is an excellent question. It is a great time to buy if you can get a good loan interest rate. Some clients like to pay off their home with extra investment monies. This phenomenon is more mental than financial. In the last few years, home values have depreciated and the extra money that you have put towards your mortgage has disappeared. I suggest the option of investing the extra mortgage payments into a fixed income fund or fixed interest account. This account will grow over time and there is very little movement in principal. The client has access to these monies at any time.

You are highly recommended by your clients. What do you attribute to your success?

Listening to what each client wants. Their goals become my goals. I am realistic with my clients and set reasonable expectations for them. Each client is different and I explain that to them, I do not sell anything to them in the first few appointments, I want to know their goals and plans and how they want to reach those. I then provide them with several options on how to reach those goals and come to a decision together on how to achieve the desired results.