Legal Definitions - Investor Protection Guide: Misleading Senior Designations

Financial advisors may use the title "senior specialist" to make it seem like they have special training and knowledge about issues that are important to older people. However, there are over 50 different titles that financial advisors can use, which can be very confusing for consumers. Some of these titles are legitimate and require a lot of education and training, but many of them are just marketing tools that are used to sell risky financial products to older people.

For example, some senior specialists will hold seminars where they review older people's assets, including their investments. They might recommend that the older person sell their investments and use the money to buy complex and risky financial products that are not suitable for them. This can be very dangerous for older people who are relying on their investments to support them in retirement.

If you are an older person who is considering working with a financial advisor, it is important to check their credentials and make sure that they are properly licensed. You can also check with your state or federal securities regulators to see if there have been any complaints or disciplinary actions against the advisor.

Examples:

• A financial advisor calls himself a "senior specialist" and offers to review an older person's investments. During the review, he recommends that the older person sell their stocks and use the money to buy a complex annuity that is not suitable for their needs.
• A financial advisor uses the title "retirement income specialist" to market himself to older people. However, he has no special training or education in retirement planning and is just using the title to make himself seem more knowledgeable.

These examples illustrate how financial advisors can use misleading titles to sell risky financial products to older people. It is important for older people to be aware of these tactics and to do their research before working with a financial advisor.